emilie mcdonald - filmmaker, mama, human being

Emilie McDonald is an award-winning NYC-based film director and writer who graduated from Vassar with a BA in film and drama. She wrote and directed (along with Bruce Smolanoff) the short film CHURROS (2019), which just won the Hammer to Nail Winter 2019 short film contest and is currently making the festival rounds. She is co-writer of PUNCH CITY, which participated in IFP's No Borders 2017. She co-wrote and directed QUEEN ANNE'S LACE (2017), a hybrid doc-narrative feature produced by Caitlin Mae Burke and executive produced by Gill Holland. She co-wrote and produced MUCK (2015), starring Tallie Medel, produced by Caitlin Mae Burke, and shot by Sean Price Williams (Best Narrative Short IndieMemphis; Hammer to Nail short film award; Sarasota Film Festival, BAMcinemaFest, Nantucket Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Montclair Film Festival, Berkshire International Film Festival, and more). She wrote, directed and produced CROSSING THE RIVER, a narrative short film inspired by a true story of a modern-day cross burning which screened internationally (2013 - Best Ensemble Cast Award at NYC Downtown Short Film Festival, Best Short Award at NUHO Online Film Festival). She wrote and directed OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES (2011) and was co-writer and producer of MY ELENA (2010). Emilie is currently in development to write and direct several feature films including BUCKLE MY SOUL, based on the true story of a Bronx-born Jewish doctor who relocated to rural South Carolina in the 1950’s (semifinalist Tribeca All Access; semifinalist Creative Capital; Indie Film Clinic); FLORESCENT MESA (a coming-of-age drama set in New Mexico in the 1980's; semifinalist Cine Qua Non), and EUREKA. Emilie was Director of Development of Feature Films at Milk & Honey Films (L.A.), where she worked on developing Leonard Cohen’s BEAUTIFUL LOSERS into a feature, and Creative Director at Filmmakers Alliance (L.A.), an independent filmmakers collective. She has served on festival juries and spoken on panels about crowdfunding, social issue films and more. Emilie is a proud member of Film Fatales.