Michele Josue is an Emmy award-winning Filipino-American director.
Michele Josue is an Emmy Award-winning Filipino American documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Her acclaimed feature debut, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, garnered 10 Best Documentary and Audience Awards from film festivals around the world and holds a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film earned the 2016 Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Special." A deeply personal and powerful chronicle, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine explores the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man whose brutal murder became one of the most infamous hate crimes in U.S. history. The film has screened at prestigious festivals including IDFA, DOC NYC, and Mill Valley, and has been featured at notable venues such as the Washington National Cathedral and the U.S. Department of State. In partnership with the U.S. State Department, Michele has presented the film in Washington D.C., Moscow, and St. Petersburg, Russia, fostering international dialogue on LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. She has also worked closely with advocacy organizations like The Matthew Shepard Foundation, PFLAG, GLAAD, The Trevor Project, and the Human Rights Campaign in amplifying Matthew’s story.
Michele served as Executive Producer, Director, and Lead Editor of Happy Jail, a Netflix Original documentary series that offers an unprecedented look inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center—home of the world-famous "Dancing Inmates." The series, which won the 2021 Silver Telly Award for Best Documentary Series on Television, examines the facility’s inner workings while also contemplating the broader implications of President Duterte’s controversial Drug War.
Her most recent feature documentary, Nurse Unseen, spotlights the untold stories of Filipino nurses who have long been the unsung backbone of the U.S. healthcare system—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Produced by Jo Koy, the film weaves together personal narratives and historical context to honor the resilience and humanity of this essential workforce. Nurse Unseen has received multiple accolades and was supported by the Center for Asian American Media’s Documentary Fund grant. Michele was also named a Film Independent Fast Track Fellow for her work on the film.
Michele’s upcoming documentary, Food Roots, follows Fil-Am celebrity restaurateur Billy Dec as he journeys to the Philippines to discover ancestral recipes and reconnect with his cultural heritage. The film has been featured at notable festivals including the Chicago International Film Festival and Newport Beach Film Festival, and won both the Audience Award at the Nashville Film Festival and the Spirit of the Fest Award at the Riverbend Film Festival, among other festival awards.
Beyond her filmmaking, Michele is a dedicated advocate for diverse storytelling and emerging artists. She has served as a juror for several film festivals and has been invited to speak at the White House, the Philippine Embassy, on national television programs such as The View, and across numerous film panels and podcasts. Her written work has appeared in Indiewire, The Huffington Post, and The New York Times Upfront.
An alumna of the American School in Switzerland (TASIS) and Emerson College, Michele remains deeply engaged with both institutions—actively contributing to the TASIS alumni community and mentoring Emerson students pursuing careers in film. She is a 2022 delegate of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), a prestigious network of next-generation leaders working to advance the interests of the Filipino and Filipino American communities. In 2025, she was honored by The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the World.
In addition to her creative work, Michele is the co-owner of Para Sa’Yo, a curated online retail space and beloved community presence at Filipino events across Southern California and the Bay Area. Para Sa’Yo uplifts the talents of Filipinx artists, artisans, and small businesses by showcasing handcrafted and culturally rooted gift items.
Films
FOOD ROOTS
Documentary Feature Film
In FOOD ROOTS, Emmy-Award winning Chicago Restaurateur Billy Dec adventures through his mother’s native 7,641 Islands of the Philippines to learn recipes from his last living elders, while uncovering culinary and cultural treasures and family secrets.
NURSE UNSEEN
Documentary Feature Film
NURSE UNSEEN explores the little-known history and humanity of the unsung Filipino nurses risking their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing a resurgence of anti-Asian hate in the streets. This personal documentary unearths the colonial ties between the Philippines and the United States that have led to Filipino-American nurses becoming the unsung backbone of the United States healthcare system.
happy jail
A Netflix Original Documentary Series
The Philippine jail known for a viral Michael Jackson dance video comes under the management of a former convict, sparking controversy and criticism.
matt shepard is a friend of mine
Feature Film
MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE explores the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard, the gay student brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history. Framed through the personal lens of friends and family, it’s a story of loss, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
Awards & Honors
For MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE, a film by Michele Josue
American Library Association's Award for “2017 Notable Videos for Adults” - 2017
Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Special" - 2016
Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival’s Audience Award for Favorite Documentary - 2015
Outview Film Festival’s Jury Award for Best Documentary - 2015
Emerge Film Festival’s Best Documentary Award - 2015
Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival’s Bobik Award for Best Film - 2014
Out on Film-Atlanta LGBT Film Festival’s Jury Award for Best Documentary - 2014
North Louisiana Gay & Lesbian Film Festival’s Audience Award for Best Documentary - 2014
Kansas City LGBT Film Festival’s Celebration of Courage Award for Documentary - 2014
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival’s Audience Award for Best Documentary - 2014
Cleveland International Film Festival’s Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film - 2014
Cleveland International Film Festival’s Greg Gund Standing Up Award - 2014
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) Top 20 Audience Favorite - 2013
For FOOD ROOTS, a film by Michele Josue
River Bend Film Festival’s Spirit of the Fest - 2024
Vero Beach Film Festival’s Audience Award - Documentary Feature - 2024
Nashville Film Festival’s Spotlight Nashville Audience Award - Documentary Feature - 2023
For nurse unseen, a film by Michele Josue
Boston Asian American Film Festival’s Audience Choice Award - Documentary Feature - 2023
Asian American International Film Festival’s Audience Award - Documentary Feature - 2023
CAAMFest Audience Award - Documentary Feature - 2023
CAAM Documentary Fund Awardee - 2023
Cleveland International Film Festival’s Global Health Competition Award - 2023
For happy jail, a netflix documentary series directed by Michele Josue
Silver Telly Award for Series Documentary for Television - 2021
HAPPY JAIL selected for IFP’s Project Forum: Spotlight on Documentaries - 2017
For Michele Josue
Selected as a delegate of the Filipino Young Leaders Program - 2022
Selected as a Film Independent Fast Track fellow with NURSE UNSEEN - 2021
Selected for International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam’s World Documentary Exchange filmmaker program - 2013
The Reel Affirmation Film Festival’s Keith Clark & Barry Becker Filmmaker Award - 2011
