Michael J. Lutman

San Franciscan born Michael J. Lutman is an award-winning independent filmmaker with a keen interest in environmental advocacy. His first feature documentary Plasticized (2011) followed Marcus Eriksen and the 5 Gyres Institute’s groundbreaking plastic pollution research in the South Atlantic ocean. This film, along with the topical follow up Baykeepers (2014, OIFF Best Short Documentary), helped show that marine plastic pollution is part of a global epidemic. He has also created an extensive body of work for numerous NGO’s covering topics such as battling poverty in Sri Lanka with Cycle on Ceylon (2012), created for the NGO Practical Action, to female employment in Afghanistan with Mercy Corps (2016). Bolstered by a commercial sensibility garnered from working as an editor for 8 years at one of Australia’s most respected post-production houses, The Butchery (archived edit reel linked here), Michael has a relentless passion for making soulful and thought provoking films challenging stagnant perspectives.