Freddy Macdonald
Freddy Macdonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 12, 2000 (age 23) |
| Nationality | American, Swiss |
| Alma mater | American Film Institute |
| Occupation(s) | film director, screenwriter, editor |
| Years active | 2016–present |
Freddy Macdonald (born October 12, 2000) is a US-Swiss film director, screenwriter, and editor.[1] He is the youngest directing fellow ever accepted to the American Film Institute. His critically acclaimed feature film debut Sew Torn premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival, and headlined Locarno Film Festival on the Piazza Grande in 2024.[2][3]
Life and career
[edit]Freddy Macdonald was born in Santa Monica, California.[4] Macdonald's six-minute short film Sew Torn, which he made as part of his application for film school in 2019, was acquired by Searchlight Pictures and qualified for an Academy Award after a theatrical release nationwide alongside Ready or Not.[5][6][7] Executive produced by Academy Award winner Peter Spears, it was watched by Joel Coen who met with Macdonald and advised turning the short into an independent feature.[8] That same year, he was accepted to the American Film Institute, becoming the youngest directing fellow ever accepted to the Conservatory.[4][9] His AFI graduating thesis film Shedding Angels won a Student Academy Award.[10]
The world premiere of his first feature-length film Sew Torn, which he also edited and co-wrote with his father Fred Macdonald, took place at South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2024.[2][6] The feature is an expansion of the short film of the same name.[8]
It went on to headline Locarno Film Festival on the Piazza Grande. The film has been positively reviewed and featured in Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Mashable, and Collider, among others.[3][11][12][13][14]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Gifted: Thanksgiving Post Mortem (short film) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2017 | The Father of Art (short film) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2018 | The Coachmen (short film) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2019 | I'm Good (short film) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2019 | Sew Torn (short film) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 | Shedding Angels (short film) | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2024 | Sew Torn (feature film) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Student Academy Awards | Narrative Short | Shedding Angels | Won | [15] |
| 2024 | South By Southwest Film Festival | Visions | Sew Torn | Nominated | [2] |
| 2024 | Locarno Film Festival | Piazza Grande | Sew Torn | Nominated | [16] |
| 2024 | Sitges Film Festival | Noves Visions | Sew Torn | Nominated | [17] |
References
[edit]- ^ Freddy Macdonald In: vimeo.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sew Torn at SXSW 2024 In: sxsw.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Sew Torn in the Locarno Lineup In: thehollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Freddy Macdonald. In: swissfilms.ch. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ "Sew Torn - Sebastian Klinger". sebklinger.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Tracy Palmer: SXSW 2024 Sew Torn Interview – Director Freddy MacDonald Explains His Incredible Vision, His Amazing Stars, And That Mettler Thread. In: signalhorizon.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ Freddy Macdonald. In: sxsw.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Brian Davids: Meet Freddy Macdonald, the 23-Year-Old ‘Sew Torn’ Filmmaker Who Dazzled SXSW In: The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ Freddy Macdonald. Directing 2021. In: afi.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ Student Academy Awards Provide 'Momentum' for Young Filmmakers. In: voanews.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Damon Wise: ‘Sew Torn’ Review: Freddy Macdonald’s Strange, Striking Neo-Noir Is A Great Discovery – SXSW In: deadline.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Guy Lodge: Sew Torn Review: A Stitch in Time Saves None in This Loopy Crime Comedy In: variety.com. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Kristy Puchko: 'Sew Torn' review: 'Pushing Daisies' meets 'Run Lola Run' In: mashable.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
- ^ Chase Hutchinson: 'Sew Torn' Review: This Tangled, Twisty Thriller Is a Dark Delight | SXSW 2024 In: collider.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Medalists revealed at 2022 Student Academy Awards®. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Sew Torn at Locarno Film Festival In: locarnofestival.ch. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Sew Torn at Sitges Film Festival In: sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.