Biografia
Michael Cordell is a highly respected Australian producer and director known for his work across diverse genres and numerous award-winning projects.
His latest role as Executive Producer and creator was for The People vs Robodebt on SBS, which secured the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Documentary Series.
Michael served as Executive Producer and writer on the acclaimed SBS series Go Back to Where You Came From. This series earned a Logie, two UN Media Awards, the Rose d’Or for Best International TV Production in 2011—an Australian first—and an International Emmy in 2013. A live edition in 2018 further elevated the series.
In 2018, Michael was Executive Producer for the feature documentary Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Boy, which achieved the largest Australian documentary cinema opening and high ratings on the Seven Network. He produced The Great Mint Swindle (2013) and House of Hancock, the highest-rated drama on the Nine Network in 2015.
He was also Executive Producer for the Alan Bond drama House of Bond on Nine. Michael co-developed and is Executive Producer of Bondi Rescue, now in its 19th season and recipient of six Logie Awards. His factual production credits include Cruising - The Biggest Storm, The Obesity Myth (SBS), Revolution School (ABC), and Kebab Kings (SBS). He executive produced the constructed documentary series Muslims Like Us and Christians Like Us.
Other SBS Executive Producer credits include Shitsville Express! and Dumb, Drunk and Racist. Michael produced pioneering court series such as On Trial, featuring the first filmed murder trial on Australian TV, and Court Justice, which explored Sydney’s Downing Centre magistrates' court. Additional EP roles include the true crime series Wanted (Ten), the documentary JFK: The Smoking Gun, and the long-running Two Men... series with Tim Flannery and John Doyle for ABC. He directed the documentary Three Boys Dreaming, about young Indigenous football prospects, and Music and Murder, profiling three convicted murderers for SBS.
Michael’s 1996 documentary Year of the Dogs is regarded as a classic, with The Sydney Morning Herald naming it among the top ten sports films ever. Early in his career, he produced and directed Franklin Wild River, featuring a young Bob Brown, and Dykes on Bikes for SBS. He has also worked as a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald and as a current affairs reporter for Network Ten and ABC.
Currently, Michael is deeply involved in developing and producing various scripted projects.
Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ), a partnership with producer Nick Murray, was honored as SPAA Independent Producer of the Year in 2016. CJZ also owns New Zealand’s Greenstone production company. Their credits include Con Girl, The Good Cop, Murder in the Outback, The EX PM, Home Delivery with Julia Zamiro, Gruen, The Checkout, You're Skitting Me, and Pauline Hanson - Please Explain!
