emilie blythe mcdonald - filmmaker, mama, human being

Emilie Blythe McDonald is an award-winning film director and writer who graduated from Vassar with a BA in film and drama. She has written and/or directed (many along with Bruce Smolanoff) several films, including the short film CHURROS (2019), which won the Hammer to Nail Winter 2019 short film contest, feature script PUNCH CITY, which participated in IFP's No Borders 2017, QUEEN ANNE'S LACE (2017), a hybrid doc-narrative feature produced by Caitlin Mae Burke and executive produced by Gill Holland, MUCK (2015), a short film 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), 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), OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES (2011) and MY ELENA (2010). Emilie is currently in development to write and direct several feature films including BUCKLE MY SOUL (semifinalist Tribeca All Access; semifinalist Creative Capital; Indie Film Clinic) and FLORESCENT MESA (semifinalist Cine Qua Non). 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.