Mariella Kai is a freelance director, camera operator & photographer.
A good story is drafted on paper, transformed on set, and turned inside out during the edit.
Years of writing, directing and editing both documentary and narrative has taught Kai to find the heart of the story whether it’s motion picture or stills photography.
Being an avid snowboarder, surfer and windsurfer has given Kai an all-weather edge in chasing those stories up mountain peaks and across the ocean, usually strapped to a board herself.
Based in Japan & Australia, able to travel
MFA in Film Directing at Edinburgh College of Art (Screen Academy Scotland)
Languages: English (native), Japanese (fluent), French (fluent), German (fluent)
Narrative film, Documentary, TV, Commercials, Music Videos
Guest lecturer at the Tokyo Institute of Technology ( 東京工業大学) at undergraduate level
Contact mariellakaifilms@gmail.com for work & collaborations
DIRECTOR
Mt Fuji Huts: 6-Part Video Series & Stills
Hewlitt Packard: Conference Video & Stills
Panya Ashiya: SNS Promotion Video
Papers Salon: SNS Promotion Video
Hands in the Fire: Short Film
Akara: Short Film
CAMERA OPERATOR
Netflix - Chef’s Bento
Netflix - Encounters
Nikon
Mt Fuji Huts - Guide Videos
HP 2023 Tokyo Conference
Channel 9 News Australia
Queer Japan (Feature Documentary)
Jonnies Entertainment Behind the Scenes: Yamashita Tomohisa x Kinki Kids
Peek Me Up Commercial
Interview Series for SCCI Australia
Roll Ice Cream Commercial
UD Trucks Event
Niseko Luxury Resorts
Takami Clinic
Shu Uemura
CAMERA ASSISTANT
1ST AC
Amazon Prime: The Bake Off Japan
Nike Women’s World Cup
Panasonic
Microsoft
Drops of God (Live Action TV Drama)
NBA Documentary
JR Transport Japan
Hulu x BBC: Planet Sex
BBC Storyworks x Westin
Woman in the Chair (Feature Film)
Dreams on Fire (Feature Film)
Ruby - Dylan Rass Music Video
Offering / Kamidana- Short Film
Sage Morei Music Video
Wasuremono Feature Proof of Concept
CeeCee Short Proof of Concept
Noh Performance
Emoto Masaru Interview
Unsaid (Short Film)
Vans x Machina Branded Documentary
ASICS x Sabukaru Global Campaign
Kiyoshi Ryujin MV
Ploom X CM
Bvlgari Restaurants
Alblanc Beauty CM
Pilot Corporation
UFC
Government Energy
Kodo Documentary
D’Amelio Show
Karaoke - French Film
Rakuten
L’Ozier
・
2ND AC
Drops of God （神の雫）