spence@spence.world

Insta / Vimeo

Spencer MacDonald (he/him) is a filmmaker born in NYC, raised in San Francisco, and currently based in Berlin. His work resides at the intersection of documentary and fiction, exploring the space where humanity meets environmental mysteries. His debut short film, Scarlet Medusa, follows an aging Japanese scientist’s quest to unlock a tiny jellyfish’s secret to immortality. After premiering online through Nowness, the film went on to screen at numerous international festivals, including Palm Springs International ShortFest and the Atlanta Film Festival, where it received an honorable mention in the documentary shorts competition. His second short film, A Body Called Life, remains active on the festival circuit, having screened at over thirty festivals and picking up fourteen awards, including ‘Best Documentary Short’ at Raindance Film Festival and qualifying for the 2025 Academy Awards. Other works of his have been featured by publications including The Atlantic, National Geographic, and Vimeo's "Best of the Year." For commercial work, his clients have included Airbnb, Lyft, VW, Rapha, Canon, LACMA, Allbirds, Switzerland Tourism, and many NGOs. He is currently developing his first feature, a fiction titled Passengers (fund him).

 


Select Press:

NOWNESS: A Body Called Life
97th Academy Award Longlist: A Body Called Life
Winner, Best Documentary Short, 32nd Raindance Film Festival 2024 (Academy Award qualified): A Body Called Life
’Special Jury Award Documentary Short’, Santa Fe International Film Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
Honorable Mention, 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 2024: A Body Called Life
Grand Jury Prize, Dallas International Film Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
’From the Booth’ Award, 51st Athens International Film and Video Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
’Special Jury Prize: Best Short’ Deadcenter Film Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
Best Original Score, Brooklyn Film Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
Best International Documentary Short, Evollution Mallorca International Film Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
’In Vivo Award’ Science New Wave Festival 2024: A Body Called Life
Best Documentary Short, Cannes Indie Shorts Awards 2024: A Body Called Life
Best Documentary Short, NYC Indie Shorts Awards 2024: A Body Called Life
Best Cinematography, Centre Film Festival 2024
Best Poetic Documentary Film, Doc.Berlin 2024
Official Selection @ over twenty Academy Award Qualifying Festivals: A Body Called Life
Vimeo’s Best of the Year: Switzerland Tourism ‘Even if It Takes Awhile’ (with Director’s Commentary), 2023
1.4 Awards Shortlist: Dear Travelers
Directors’ Library: Dear Travelers, 2022
Vimeo Staff Pick: Dear Travelers, 2022
Shots: On My Radar, 2021
Directors’ Library: VW - Down Tools, 2021
Vimeo Staff Pick: Lyft - The Sound of Y, 2021
Honorable Mention, Documentary Shorts, Atlanta Film Festival 2021, Scarlet Medusa
Official Selection, Palm Springs International Shortfest 2021, Scarlet Medusa
1.4 Awards “On the Cusp” Shortlist: Scarlet Medusa
Vimeo Staff Pick: Scarlet Medusa, 2020
NOWNESS: Scarlet Medusa
Directors’ Library: Scarlet Medusa
Filmsupply: Editing with a Director’s Perspective
Webby Nomination, Best Editing, Rapha Rides LA, 2019
National Geographic Short Film Showcase: 'Thousand Hills of Hope'
Vimeo Staff Picks: 'Rapha Rides LA'
HYPEBEAST, 'Rapha Rides LA'
The Radavist, 'Rapha Rides LA'
Vimeo Staff Picks: 'Age of the Farmer'
The Atlantic's Editors' Picks: 'Age of the Farmer'
National Geographic's Short Film Showcase: 'Age of the Farmer'
Official selection Environmental Film Festival: 'Age of the Farmer'
Official selection Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival: 'Age of the Farmer'
Official selection Best Coast Film Festival: 'Age of the Farmer'
Alaska Airlines' SIFF Channel (In-Flight Entertainment): 'Age of the Farmer'
Vimeo Staff Picks: 'Rapha Rides Boulder'
The Atlantic's Editors' Picks: 'Kukimbia'
Outside Magazine: 'Kukimbia'
Huck Magazine: 'Kukimbia'
Outside Online: 'Hells Canyon'
Vimeo Staff Picks: 'Rapha Rides Seattle'
Official Selection Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival 2017: 'Conservation Generation'
Official selection Telluride Mountainfilm 2017: 'Conservation Generation'
Official selection Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2018: 'Conservation Generation'