Born and raised in France with Algerian heritage, award-winning international screenwriter, filmmaker, actress and singer-songwriter Melissa Mars began writing and filming at age 13. She made her official directorial debut in 2007 with the music video “Love Machine” for Universal Music. Her debut as a producer came a year later with the 2008 release of her groundbreaking animated musical Army of Love, where she served as co-producer, writer, and co-director.  In the years that followed, Mars went on to direct and produce several music videos, including “Et Je Veux Danser” as well as a range of globally released musical compositions, EPKs, behind-the-scenes features, and narrative short films.

Mars gained fame through her pop music career, releasing three solo albums with Universal Music and collaborating with French pop stars such as Lara Fabian, Louis Bertignac, and Pascal Obispo on hits like the duet “1980.” She also starred as Aloysia, Mozart’s first love, in the smash-hit musical Mozart the Rock Opera, staged by Olivier Dahan, who helmed the Academy Award–winning film La Vie en Rose. Described by Le Monde as “Tinker Bell transformed by Tim Burton,” Mars’ U.S. career took off after she appeared alongside John Travolta in From Paris with Love and had her song “Beautiful” featured on Coca-Cola Music’s 52 Songs of Happiness.

Currently based in New York, Mars’ work has been widely praised for its powerful, heartfelt, and thought-provoking storytelling, including her multiple award-winning dystopian short The Last Touch (streaming on Vidiverse). As an active member of the Garden State Screenwriters group, she is working with the collective on the horror anthology feature Exit Zero, while also developing her award-winning short screenplay, My Ancestors’ Song, into a feature film. In her down time, Mars enjoys exploring the beauty of NY (city and state) with her partner and his working dog, Domino, who also stars in her latest short, The Sign, currently on the festival circuit! Connect with Mars (and Domino) on Instagram.