Adam MacDonald is a multifaceted creative professional, born in the vibrant city of Montreal, and now residing in the bustling metropolis of Toronto. With a passion for storytelling, he has ventured into the realms of writing and directing, leaving an indelible mark on the world of cinema.
As a writer-director, Adam has helmed three short films, including Sombre Zombie (2005) and In the Dominican (2010),showcasing his versatility and creative prowess. His feature-length debut, Backcountry (2015),had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, where it was represented by Cinetic Media and bought by IFC. The film's success was further solidified when TheGlobe and Mail named Adam one of the "Top Ten Canadians to Watch."
Adam's second feature, Pyewacket (2017),also premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was represented by Seville International and bought by IFC. The film received widespread acclaim, with NOW magazine proclaiming Adam one of the 10 Canadians to watch at TIFF 2017.
Beyond his work in feature films, Adam has also ventured into television, successfully helming the entire third season (8 EPS) of Aaron Martin's SLASHER (SOLSTICE) for Netflix. He has also written both his feature films and has been commissioned to write the epic thriller, The Black Donnellys, a Canadian-Irish co-production. Furthermore, Adam has been attached to direct and has been hired to rewrite Hollywood horror scripts, including The Forgotten and the upcoming UK/India horror, Samsara.
Adam's creative journey began with his first short film, Sombre Zombie, which was produced with a grant from the Bravo! Network. The film received guidance from renowned filmmaker Bruce McDonald, who mentored Adam during the creative process. Upon completion, the film aired on Bravo! and screened in several festivals, including the popular Fantasia and Nashville Film Festivals.
Building upon his shorts, Adam wrote and directed Backcountry, which received rave reviews upon its TIFF premiere. The film has been "Certified Fresh" by Rotten Tomatoes, with an 88% Fresh Rating. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, RogerEbert.com, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Vulture, and Salon were among the outlets praising the film. Backcountry reached #1 on iTunes Horror in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and #3 in the UK. The film held most of these positions for weeks, becoming one of IFC's top-grossing films of 2015.
Backcountry has been featured in over 25 BEST OF HORROR lists, including AIN'T IT COOL NEWS, THE DALLAS OBSERVER, DREAD CENTRAL, BLOODY DISGUSTING, and FANGORIA.
Beyond his work in filmmaking, Adam is also an accomplished actor, with over 40 credits to his name. This experience has become a vital tool in his directing efforts, allowing him to bring a unique perspective to his projects.
Currently, Adam's favorite film is Hong-jin Na's The Chaser, and he continues to be passionate about boxing, pop culture, and music from the eighties.
