Freddy Macdonald (born October 12, 2000) is a Swiss-American film director, screenwriter, and editor. He is the youngest directing fellow ever accepted to the American Film Institute. His feature film debut Sew Torn premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival and headlined the Locarno Film Festival in 2024.Sew Torn at SXSW 2024 In: sxsw.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.Sew Torn in the Locarno Lineup In: thehollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
Life and career Macdonald was born in Santa Monica, California.Freddy Macdonald. In: swissfilms.ch. Retrieved April 4, 2024. His 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.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. 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.Brian Davids: Meet Freddy Macdonald, the 23-Year-Old ‘Sew Torn’ Filmmaker Who Dazzled SXSW In: The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 14, 2024. That same year, Macdonald signed with United Talent Agency, and was accepted to the American Film Institute, becoming the youngest directing fellow ever accepted to the Conservatory.Dino-Ray Ramos: UTA Signs Writer And Director Freddy Macdonald In: deadline.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025.Freddy Macdonald. Directing 2021. In: afi.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024. His AFI graduating thesis film Shedding Angels won a Student Academy Award and was shortlisted for a student BAFTA.Student Academy Awards Provide 'Momentum' for Young Filmmakers. In: voanews.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.Leo Barraclough: Playmaker Closes Deals on Thriller 'Sew Torn' Ahead of Sitges Screening (EXCLUSIVE) In: variety.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
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. The feature is an expansion of the short film of the same name, and was directed by Macdonald when he was 21 years old.Gregory Wakeman: The Advice From Joel Coen That Landed This Young Filmmaker at SXSW In: filmfreeway.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025. It went on to headline the Locarno Film Festival on the Piazza Grande, and was an official selection at festivals including Sitges and Camerimage.Sew Torn In: camerimage.pl. Retrieved July 15, 2025. The film was acquired for North American distribution by Vertigo Releasing and Sunrise Films, had a theatrical release in May 2025, and became available to stream on Netflix in December 2025. Zac Ntim: SXSW & Locarno Title ‘Sew Torn’ Lands North American Distribution Deal In: deadline.com. Retrieved June 14, 2025.Sew Torn on Netflix In: netflix.com. Retrieved December 1, 2025. Kulwant Singh: 7 Best Movies Coming to Netflix in December 2025 (With Above 90% Rotten Tomatoes Score) In: cinemablind.com. Retrieved November 30, 2025 It received widespread critical acclaim.Tim Molloy: How Sew Torn Director Freddy MacDonald Made His Feature Debut at 24 — With Advice From Joel Coen In: moviemaker.com. Retrieved June 2, 2025.Damon Wise: ‘Sew Torn’ Review: Freddy Macdonald’s Strange, Striking Neo-Noir Is A Great Discovery – SXSW In: deadline.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.Kristy Puchko: 'Sew Torn' review: 'Pushing Daisies' meets 'Run Lola Run' In: mashable.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.Sheila O'Malley: Sew Torn Review In: rogerebert.com. Retrieved July 11, 2025.Chase Hutchinson: 'Sew Torn' Review: This Tangled, Twisty Thriller Is a Dark Delight | SXSW 2024 In: collider.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024. The Hollywood Reporter described Macdonald as a "wunderkind" and "the filmmaker who dazzled SXSW", Collider called him "one of the most exciting new directors out there",Perri Nemiroff: This 23-Year-Old Is One of the Most Exciting New Directors Out There In: collider.com. Retrieved April 12, 2025. and Variety stated he "may well be the next big thing."Guy Lodge: Sew Torn Review: A Stitch in Time Saves None in This Loopy Crime Comedy In: variety.com. Retrieved September 10, 2024. Sew Torn earned 95% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and was awarded Certified Fresh status as of July 2025.Sew Torn In: rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
Filmography Year Title Director Writer Editor Notes 2016 Gifted: Thanksgiving Post MortemShort film 2017 The Father of ArtShort film 2018 The CoachmenShort film 2019 I'm GoodShort film 2019 Sew TornShort film 2022 Shedding AngelsShort film 2024 Sew Torn
Accolades Year Award Category Title Result Ref. 2022 Student Academy Awards Narrative Short Shedding Angels Medalists revealed at 2022 Student Academy Awards®. Retrieved October 23, 2022. 2024 South By Southwest Film Festival Visions Sew Torn 2024 Locarno Film Festival Piazza Grande Sew Torn Sew Torn at Locarno Film Festival In: locarnofestival.ch. Retrieved July 11, 2024. 2024 Sitges Film Festival Noves Visions Sew Torn Sew Torn at Sitges Film Festival In: sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
References
External links
Freddy Macdonald on SWISSFILMS