Shannon Meilak
Director // Production Designer
“Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway.”
-Mary Kay Ash
Shannon Meilak is a multi-award-winning director and production designer, known for her boundary-defying approach to storytelling. As a disabled, neurodivergent and queer creative, Shannon leverages her unique perspective to find opportunity where others see limitation. Her directorial debut, Flatline—a satirical short film reflecting on her own experience with Australia’s welfare system—garnered international acclaim, winning at the Independent Horror Movie Awards and 6ix Screams International Horror Film Festival.
While pursuing her studies in film and television at Swinburne University, Shannon expanded her craft globally, producing her first short documentary, Highlight and Contour, during a mentorship with renowned Bollywood filmmakers in India. This documentary examines gender bias in the Bollywood industry. She further honed her expertise in Italian cinema during a study tour in North-Eastern Italy, delving into the tradition of Italian neorealism.
Shannon’s candid and unconventional filmmaking style has earned her recognition for her documentary directorial debut Beyond the Pointy Hat, an intimate exploration of witchcraft in Australia, which received awards at festivals such as the Bedford International Film Festival, South Shore Film Festival, and Virgin Spring Cinefest.
Beyond directing, Shannon is deeply passionate about production design, having lent her talents to various award-winning projects, including the short film The Forgotten Children. In 2018, she rebranded her media production company as Infinite Highway Productions to reflect its growth into film and television production. Shannon’s reputation in the creative industry was further solidified in 2020 when she was invited to judge the Free Speech Film Festival in Philadelphia and, in 2021, joined the Arts Advisory Committee for Brimbank City Council and began writing for Janks Reviews. Shannon Meilak is currently a contributing editorial writer for the independent newspaper, The Westsider.
With her distinctive creative vision and dedication, Shannon continues to push artistic boundaries, bringing authenticity, passion, and an unmistakable flair to all her projects.
Shannon is a proud member of:
Women In Film & Television (WIFT) Victorian Chapter
