I'm a self-shooting director originally from Copenhagen, with a fine arts and film background. I’ve worked across exhibitions, screenings, and public facing projects, coordinating teams and overseeing short films from development to post-production. Within my own work I’ve directed and shot unscripted short documentaries which tend to revolve around people on the fringes of society, inevitably leading me to very remote landscapes. I’ve recently completed an MFA in Directing Documentary at the National Film and Television School (as of January 2026). My work focuses on human stories and social issues, with a strong sense of emotion and aesthetic through a visually distinctive style.

Nirmala Lan Hessellund

I'm a self-shooting director originally from Copenhagen, with a fine arts and film background. I’ve worked across exhibitions, screenings, and public facing projects, coordinating teams and overseeing short films from development to post-production. Within my own work I’ve directed and shot unscripted short documentaries which tend to revolve around people on the fringes of society, inevitably leading me to very remote landscapes. I’ve recently completed an MFA in Directing Documentary at the National Film and Television School (as of January 2026). My work focuses on human stories and social issues, with a strong sense of emotion and aesthetic through a visually distinctive style.

Available to hire

I’m a self-shooting director originally from Copenhagen, with a fine arts and film background. I’ve worked across exhibitions, screenings, and public facing projects, coordinating teams and overseeing short films from development to post-production. Within my own work I’ve directed and shot unscripted short documentaries which tend to revolve around people on the fringes of society, inevitably leading me to very remote landscapes.

I’ve recently completed an MFA in Directing Documentary at the National Film and Television School (as of January 2026). My work focuses on human stories and social issues, with a strong sense of emotion and aesthetic through a visually distinctive style.

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Language

Danish
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Researcher at Minnow Films
January 1, 2024 - Present
Two-week work experience as a researcher on an upcoming Netflix documentary (release 2026).
Assistant Producer at Triple Film House
January 1, 2023 - April 1, 2023
AP responsible for location scouting, casting, and liaising with the international market; supported distribution of the feature doc Salute (which won best cinematography at Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2022).
Outreach Coordinator / Liaison at THE WHY
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
Connected with young audiences through outreach screenings of human rights documentaries, liaising with school teachers, writing grant applications, BTS videography, interviews and graphic design.
Assistant Camera at TedxGeneva
January 1, 2019 - Present
Assistant camera for 2019 event.

Education

MFA Directing Documentary at National Film and Television School
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2026
Artist Residency at LungA
January 1, 2023 - May 15, 2026
3 month programme in documentary film at Københavns Kunstskole (Copenhagen School of Art)
January 1, 2022 - May 15, 2026
BFA Interdisciplinary Art at Maastricht Academy of Interdisciplinary Arts
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Ecovillage Design Education at Ecovillage Design Education
January 1, 2020 - January 31, 2020
3 month programme in Fine Art at Københavns Kunstskole (Copenhagen School of Art)
January 1, 2016 - April 1, 2016
Learning Chinese characters at National Taiwan Normal University
January 1, 2015 - May 15, 2026
Danish High School at Virum Gymnasium
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2015

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services