Mary Lou Belli was recently nominated for her 3rd Primetime Emmy for Comedy Directing for The Ms Pat Show where she also serves as Executive Producer. Belli set up her first pilot at NBC last year based on an Edgar Award winning book series. She has been directing television for over 30 years in many genres from sitcoms to procedurals to documentaries. The latter garnered her two LA Local Emmys. She currently is one of the Governors at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Through her teaching and dedication to advocacy, she supports many of the vibrant diversity programs including the DGA Director’s Initiative and First-Time Directors Seminar, ABC/Disney, CBS, Sony, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, NBC Launch, and Warner Bros Directing Workshop mentoring the next generation of directors. She is the co-author of four books: “The NEW Sitcom Career Book,” “Acting for Young Actors,” “PERFORM: Acting for the Screen” and “Directors Tell the Story.” She is an Icon member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Advisory Board member of Women in Media, Advisory Board of Film Fatales and a long time member of Women In Film.

Amongst the hundreds of shows she has directed or produced are Elsbeth, Monk, NCIS New Orleans, Bull, Sweet Magnolias, Sister Sister, and Girlfriends. She has served as judge and/or guest speaker for film festivals in the US, Canada, and Japan. She is married with two children.