Michelle D’Alessandro Hatt is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and actor based in Toronto and South River, Ontario. Brave Little Army, Michelle’s directorial debut, was made with an all-female crew under her shingle, Black Lab Film Company. The story of how four girls become lifelong friends in the aftermath of domestic violence, Brave Little Army premiered at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival in 2018 and has since been a selection of 50 festivals, including the Canadian Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival, and the Oscar-qualifying Bogotá Short Film Festival.

The next film in her female-driven fantasy trilogy, Brave Rebel Army, made with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council, began its festival journey at Wench Film Festival in Mumbai in March 2025, and recently won Best Fantasy Short and Best Director – Fantasy Short at Etreum Horror Film Festival.

Michelle’s work is a metaphorical examination of how trauma is processed and healed. Rather than retraumatize audiences with graphic violence, she prefers to use elements of magical realism, providing audiences with an inventive, surreal lens on trauma, and the healing fantasy of processing and acting on the terror and rage it provokes. She was a selected director in the Fall 2023 cohort of Women in the Director’s Chair Career Advancement Module, with support from Telefilm Canada.

Michelle is currently developing a TV series and her first feature, Brave Army Redux, a dark comedy thriller that examines gender-based violence, described by a fellow screenwriter as, “if Quentin Tarantino directed Bridesmaids”. 

Michelle is a member of WIFT-Toronto, a voting member of the Canadian Screen Academy, and proudly serves on the board of directors for Breakthroughs Film Festival.

Brave Rebel Army – Cast & Crew

IMDb Page for Brave Rebel Army

Robitaille – WAGGER / FETCHER / ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

The inspiration and model for the Black Lab Film Co. logo, and the best boy ever.

Jackie and Nella – PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Jackie and Nella joined us in the summer of 2022 and were instrumental in boosting morale, curating staff snacks and coordinating zoomies meetings.