Michael James Rowland

Michael James Rowland (born 1964) is an Australian graphic designer, writer and film director. As a designer, he was art director with the Adelaide Festival of Arts from 1987 to 1994. He wrote a series of graphic novellas in the 1990s while studying filmmaking and making short films. He became known for his debut feature film, Lucky Miles, which he directed and co-wrote.

Early years Michael James Rowland was born in 1964. He studied graphic design at the North Adelaide School of Arts in Adelaide, South Australia.

Career Graphic design Rowland started his early working life as a designer and illustrator specialising in the arts. He was art director with the Adelaide Festival of Arts

Filmmaking In 1994, Rowland relocated to Sydney to study at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), graduating in 1997. and had its international premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, In 2008 it was programmed by ABC1 at 8:30 pm on a Sunday during the Australia Day long-weekend holiday.

In 2008, Rowland co-wrote and directed the one-hour ABC, RTÉ and BBC drama The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce. Set in 1824 Van Diemen's Land, The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce tells the true story of an escape from the notorious British prison Sarah Island by eight convicts. It was co-written and produced by Nial Fulton. For his work, Rowland was nominated in the Best Telemovie Director category at the 2009 Australian Directors Guild Awards.

In 2011 he directed several episodes of Series 2 of the ballet teen-drama Dance Academy, produced by Werner Film Productions for ABC, and in the second half of the year directed episodes 3, 4 and 5 of the award-winning Foxtel drama Tangle.

Recognition and awards Rowland won the Master's Chair award from the Adelaide Advertising & Design Club in 1992 for his work in advertising "Something On Saturday" for the CTR Trust at the Adelaide Festival.

The Existentialist Cowboy's Last Stand won a Silver Hugo at the Chicago Film Festival.

In 2007, Lucky Miles won the Special Jury Prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Rowland and Helen Barnes were nominated for Best Screenplay at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for the film. and Best Documentary at the Inside Film Awards. Rowland was a finalist at the ADG Awards for the film.