India Donaldson (born 1984 or 1985) is an American filmmaker best known for the 2024 film Good One.[2]

India Donaldson
Donaldson in 2024
Born1984 or 1985 (age 39–40)
Occupations
Children1
ParentRoger Donaldson[1]
RelativesChris Donaldson (brother)

Early life

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India is the daughter of Mel Clark and director Roger Donaldson; she gained exposure to the film industry at an early age.[2][3] Her parents divorced when she was a child. She attended Santa Monica High School and Vassar College, where she majored in English.[4][5]

Career

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Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Donaldson worked in the textile industry.[2] Her directorial debut, the 2018 short film Medusa, was followed by the short films Hannahs and If Found in 2019 and 2021, respectively.[6][7][8]

Donaldson presented her feature-length debut Good One as a work-in-progress at the 2023 American Film Festival in Wrocław, where she was awarded a $50,000 prize to support the project's post-production in Poland.[9] The completed film screened at 2024 Sundance Film Festival and the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it was eligible for the Camera d'Or.[10][11] The film later won the Grand Jury Prize for Best American Independent Feature Film at that year's Champs-Élysées Film Festival.[12]

Personal life

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Donaldson resided in New York for ten years. Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband moved to Los Angeles, where they currently reside.[4][9] The couple lived with India's father, his third wife, and their two teenage children during the COVID-19 lockdowns. India's experiences living with her young half-siblings inspired the plot of Good One.[4] Around this time, her first son was born.[5]

Filmography

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2018 Medusa Short film [6]
2019 Hannahs Short film [7]
2021 If Found Short film [8]
2024 Good One Feature film [10]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 Eastern Oregon Film Festival Spirit of EOFF Ethos Award Hannahs Won [7]
2020 Monmouth Film Festival Best Narrative Short Film Won [7]
2024 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Good One Nominated [13]
Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight Nominated [10]
Camera d'Or Nominated [11]
Champs-Élysées Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Best American Independent Feature Film Won [12]

References

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  1. ^ Clement, Nick. "The Roger Donaldson Interview". We Are Cult. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Spicer, Lucy. "Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know India Donaldson, the Filmmaker Behind "Good One"". Sundance. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ Corry, Dominic. "The 2024 films we're looking forward to from Aotearoa New Zealand". Flicks. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Grieron, Tim. "India Donaldson grew up around Hollywood A-listers. Now she's cutting her own path". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b Feldberg, Isaac. "On the Trail: India Donaldson on Good One". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Medusa". India Donaldson. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "Hannahs Screenings". India Donaldson. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b "If Found Screenings". India Donaldson. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b Balaga, Marta. "India Donaldson Picks Up Polish Film Institute Award for 'Good One' at American Film Festival, Reflects on the 'Price of Obedience'". Variety. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Lattanzio, Ryan. "'Good One' Trailer: The Sundance Coming-of-Age Favorite Is Now Destined for Cannes". IndieWire. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b "The 2024 Caméra d'or: who are the contenders?". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "The winners of the Champs-Élysées Film Festival 2024". Sortir a Paris. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  13. ^ Welk, Brian. "Sundance 2024 Sales: India Donaldson's 'Good One' Sells to Metrograph Pictures". Indiewire. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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