ABOUT

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​​Born in Oxford as a British, German and Irish citizen. After internships in various areas of film and television, Melissa Byrne studied Production and Media Business at the University of Television and Film Munich 'til 2022. She received scholarships from the VFF and Cusanuswerk, and was honoured by the DAAD. 

 

During her studies, she produced various films which were presented in competition at the Palm Springs Int. Shortfest, South By South West (SXSW), Filmfestival Max-Ophüls-Preis and Festival Premier Plans d'Angers, among others, and received numerous awards. Melissas graduation feature film as a producer, LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITION, BUT I'M WINNING, celebrated its world premiere in the Settimana Della Critica at the Venice Int. Film Festival 2023, was awarded the FIRST STEPS Award, among others, and has been screened around the world since, including in the competition of the BFI Flare Film Festival in London 2024, before being sold to MUBI.  

 

Together with director Berthold Wahjudi, she also runs the artistic film production company allergikerfilm. In 2021, allergikerfilm's first production, the film BRAT [GÖR], won the German Film Award (Golden LOLA) for Best Short Film. Their current coproduction VATERLAND or A BULE NAMED YANTO (directed by Berthold Wahjudi) is celebrating its world premiere at Semaine de la Critique, Cannes 2026.

 

Melissa also works as a writer and developed projects for Claussen+Putz, Hager Moss and Tobis Film, before starting to work full-time as a writing producer at the Munich-based production company NORDPOLARIS. With NORDPOLARIS, she has been the development producer for the ZDF feature film CHRISTMAS AT OLYMP, the RTL+ comedy series HIGHTER & WOLKIG as well as the upcoming theatrical feature films AGNES & AMIR (WT) and GIRLS IN UNIFORM (main producer). 

 

She is a member of the German and European Film Academy and has been selected to be part of the ACE Mentoring Programme in 2026.