Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland is a Peabody-nominated, Emmy Award–winning director recognized for groundbreaking work in immersive and interactive storytelling. She was among the first directors to premiere a short film created with OpenAI’s SORA at the Tribeca Festival, and her original animated series drew over 2.2 million YouTube views in its first month.
Her acclaimed projects in virtual reality have earned honors including Best Directing in XR (Collision Awards), Grand Prize at the Philippine Animation Festival, and multiple nominations at the International VR Awards. She has also been named one of the “100 Original Voices of XR” and one of Blooloop’s “50 Immersive Influencers.”
Michaela’s work has been showcased by institutions such as the UN, Nobel Peace Center, Venice Film Festival, SXSW, and New York Public Library, and featured in press outlets like TIME, Forbes, Variety, and The Guardian. She has collaborated with Disney, National Geographic, Ford Foundation, and Amnesty International, bringing impact-driven stories to life on global stages.
Passionate about purpose-driven creativity, Michaela focuses on projects that highlight social justice, equity, and underrepresented voices—making her a leader and innovator in the immersive storytelling space.
When she isn’t jumping through dimensions, you can find her obsessing over Star Wars, Avatar the Last Airbender, and hippopotamuses.