These are the misfits among misfits,
and they are also very human,
vulnerable and in many ways relatable.
— Nita Bianca-Olivia, Modern Times Review on "Desert Coffee"
 
 

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 US-documentaries depict an unknown, unmanicured America:


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 at Tribeca Festival, New York, in June 2025.

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.

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. Released in theatres in the USA and acquired by Netflix and Disney+ (Europe).

Mikael is also an accomplished cinematographer, most recently on Child of Dust (2025).

 

The End of Quiet - trailer

unpaved - trailer

Desert Coffee - trailer

 
 

photo by Weronika Mliczewska