Emmanuel Vaugh-Lee is an award-winning director, producer, and writer who has been making films for over two decades. He is best known for his feature films, including the critically acclaimed drama "The Messenger" and the award-winning documentary "The Prison in Twelve Landscapes."
Vaugh-Lee was born in Texas and raised in New Orleans. He studied film at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television Production. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked in various roles on feature films and television.
In 2004, he wrote, directed, and produced his first feature film, "The Messenger," which was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was nominated for several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Deauville Film Festival and the Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Vaugh-Lee then went on to write and direct the award-winning documentary, "The Prison in Twelve Landscapes," which was released in 2016. The documentary was a recipient of the Special Jury Prize at the Camden International Film Festival and was named in the Top 10 Documentaries of 2016 by Screen Crush.
In 2017, Vaugh-Lee directed the feature film, "The Transfiguration," which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film has since gone on to be nominated for several awards, including the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Vaugh-Lee's work has been featured in the New York Times, Variety, and Indiewire, and he has appeared on CNN, NBC, and PBS to discuss his films. He also teaches film classes at the University of Southern California, where he is currently a professor.
Vaugh-Lee is a passionate storyteller, and his work has been praised for its ability to capture complex and often overlooked subjects. His films are thought-provoking and powerful, and he has become an acclaimed director in the independent film world.
