“These are the misfits among misfits,
and they are also very human,
vulnerable and in many ways relatable.”
Mikael Lypinski was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden.
He graduated from the Directing Department of The Polish National Film School in Lodz, Poland.
Mikael has made several documentaries that explore offbeat, countercultural subjects, particularly focusing on unconventional communities and lifestyles.
A trilogy of American documentaries depict an unknown, unmanicured part of the USA:
Desert Coffee (2017) was made on a shoestring budget in the Californian desert. The film was awarded the Grand Prix at the Man in Danger Film Festival in Poland and a Jury Special Mention at DocsMx in Mexico. Desert Coffee was released in theatres in the USA and acquired by Netflix and Disney+ (Europe).
unpaved (2023), filmed in Oregon, is Mikael’s feature-length documentary debut. It was nominated for Best Documentary in both the international and national competitions at the Krakow Film Festival.
The End of Quiet, filmed in West Virginia, co-directed with Kasper Bisgaard and co-produced by Denmark (Sonntag Pictures) and Sweden (Picky Pictures). The film will have its world premiere in 2025.
Mikael is also an accomplished cinematographer, most recently on Child of Dust (2025).
Desert Coffee - trailer
unpaved - trailer
photo by Weronika Mliczewska