Meet Marcell Leon Viragh | Director & Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcell Leon Viragh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcell Leon, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m Marcell Leon Virágh, I’m a director and cinematographer from Budapest, Hungary, and I graduated in 2025 from the Los Angeles Film School with a Bachelor of Science degree in Film Production, Directing Concentration.

My journey into film was anything but straightforward. I learned Hungarian, English, German, and French at the Austrian School Budapest and later at Lauder Javne School. At home, I was immersed in business conversations at the family table, played competitive water polo for 15 years, and first pursued architecture and business before finding my passion behind the camera.

Before moving into film, I studied Business and Management with European Studies at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, where I was also the starting centre on the Men’s 1st water polo team. During my time at Exeter, I reignited my passion for photography, becoming the official student photographer and videographer for Red Bull and several university societies. Red Bull then flew me to Cardiff, Wales, to cover their international Can You Make It? event.

After returning to Budapest, I freelanced before joining the production company Umbrella Collective, where my versatility in photography, editing, cinematography, and directing earned me the nickname “one-man army.” I later founded my own media house, producing projects ranging from corporate internal communication videos to events and podcasts, with clients including AMCHAM, United Way, and Forbes.

At the Los Angeles Film School, I wrote and directed multiple short films, including FAILURE, BETRAYAL, and my thesis TO SHINE AGAIN. My $0 Production 1 class project, PROPOSAL, was selected for four festivals and won ten awards, including Best Director and Honourable Mentions for my Cinematography. My work in Documentary I and II classes was also highlighted by professors, with my micro-documentary DREAMS being taught as a benchmark for student films. In recognition of my dedication and contributions, the faculty named me Student of the Month in May 2025.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Already in high school, I struggled with the fact that everyone around me seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do. At the same time, I was interested in so many different things, like photography, math, physics, architecture, engineering, psychology, and philosophy, that choosing a path felt overwhelming. After much deliberation, I decided on Business and Management at the University of Exeter. However, once I arrived, I realised that my true interests lay much more in marketing, photography, and videography.

That led to one of the hardest decisions of my life: leaving after two years. I had worked incredibly hard to earn a spot at one of the UK’s top universities, so to recognise that it didn’t excite me, and then to admit that both to myself and to my family, was extremely difficult. It felt like I was letting them down after all the time, effort, and support they had invested in me.

The next challenge was figuring out what I did want. I thought that if I worked in marketing, corporate photography, and video, I would find fulfilment. But over time, I realised that those projects, while valuable, didn’t satisfy me creatively. I wanted something more profound, something with greater meaning. Since I had taught myself everything through YouTube and an autodidactic approach up to that point, I finally decided to commit fully and attend film school. If I were going to do it, it had to be in Los Angeles, the heart of filmmaking.

Of course, that came with its own struggle: moving over 6200 miles away from my family to a city and a country where I didn’t know anyone. It meant starting entirely from scratch, rebuilding my life, and creating a new community for myself. Those experiences, though incredibly challenging, shaped me into the storyteller and person I am today.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit for a week, I’d want to give them a mix of LA classics and some of my personal favorites. We’d start with drinks at rooftop bars, and another night, I’d take them to my favorite little sushi spot in Marina del Rey. During the day, we’d explore The Getty, spend time in Malibu, or go hiking around the Griffith Observatory.

I’d also take them on a drive through different neighborhoods to show how diverse the city is, and we’d definitely watch a movie inside the iconic Chinese Theatre. We’d include something more restorative too, like a sound healing or breathwork session, and of course, we couldn’t forget to watch the sunset on the beach. By the end of the week, they’d have a real sense of the energy, food, and creativity that make this city so special.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents. They’ve been business partners since they were 23, and growing up around their conversations taught me the value of hard work, collaboration, and resilience. Their support gave me the courage to leave Hungary and pursue filmmaking in Los Angeles, even when it wasn’t the most conventional path. Everything I do today is built on the foundation they provided.

Website: https://www.marcellviragh.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcellleonviragh/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelleonviragh/

Other: https://vimeo.com/marcellleonviragh
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14865552/