Rachel McDonald is an award-winning director and writer whose work spans commercials, music videos, documentaries and narrative films.
Born in a small coastal town in Mississippi, McDonald grew up surrounded by stories layered with rhythm, poetry and pain. The Deep South’s haunting beauty and contradictions left a lasting imprint, shaping her eye for cinema and her instinct for finding characters whose truths run deep beneath the surface.
Her debut short film Thirst, starring Melanie Griffith, premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival and was recognized at the Emerging Cinematographer Awards. Her short documentary Dancing Warrior, following a Lakota youth horse racing team, premiered at the 2024 Mountainfilm Festival and has screened at festivals worldwide.
Most recently, her narrative short Hermanos—starring Grant Harvey and Jorge A. Jimenez—has been making its mark on the festival circuit, earning numerous honors including Gold at the 2024 Ciclope Festival and Best Short Film and Best Texas Film at the Houston Latino Film Festival. The film has drawn critical praise for its powerful storytelling and timely subject matter.
McDonald has directed global campaigns for brands including BMW, Mercedes, Ikea, Toyota, Ford, Peloton, Facebook, Gatorade, Volkswagen, Cadillac, Chevy, Microsoft and HP. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, Ciclope, Shark Awards, 1.4 Awards, Webby Awards, LIA Awards, The One Show (Craft Direction), ADDYs, Cresta Awards, the Voice of a Woman Award, Source Creative’s Top 100 Spots and the Shorty Awards.
