David O'Donnell is an Australian director, writer, and film producer known for his debut feature film Under My Skin, starring Liv Hewson, Alex Russell, and Bobbi Salvör Menuez.
David O'Donnell grew up in a working class family, the son of a cleaner (father) and nurse (mother). He grew up in Maroubra Beach, an eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia, then known for crime and violence. It also had a surfing community, which he joined, and describes his teenage years as "wild".[1]
He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth[2] [3] in 2007.
O'Donnell worked for several years in Australian theatre, film, and television.
He wrote, produced, and directed the short film Picture Wheel which screened at numerous festivals including Palm Springs, Rhode Island, Cinequest, and Santa Monica Film Festivals. It won Best Short Film at Santa Monica.[4] It was sold to Gunpowder & Sky.[5]
O'Donnell's dark comedy short Love & Dating: in LA! (writer, producer) screened at festivals around the world, including Cleveland International, Hollyshorts, and Santa Monica Film Festival, where it won the Audience Choice award, and sold to El Rey Network.[6]
His debut feature Under My Skin (writer, director, producer)[7] was nominated for Best Indie Film in the 11th edition of the AACTA Awards in 2021,[8] [9] and received an Australian Director's Guild nomination. Under My Skin screened at various festivals including NewFest, Santa Barbara Film Festival, and Raindance[10] and was acquired by Australian streaming platform Stan[8] and 1091 Pictures in the US. Under My Skin premiered in the US and Canada on June 6, 2023.[</sup><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2023-03-22 |title=1091 Pictures Acquires Romantic Drama 'Under My Skin', Sets Release Date |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/1091-pictures-under-my-skin-1235306415/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Neil |date=2020-10-30 |title=Under My Skin - a fresh exploration of non-binary gender identity |url=https://cineramafilm.com/2020/10/30/under-my-skin-a-fresh-and-heartfelt-exploration-of-non-binary-gender-identity/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Cinerama Film |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=With 'Under My Skin,' Writer/Director David O'Donnell Examines the Gender Binary with a Casting Twist {{!}} EDGE United States |url=https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/story/326990 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=EDGE Media Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=DAVID O'DONNELL Interview for "UNDER MY SKIN" A Non-Binary Love Story (Australia) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgc6d5KdK0A |access-date=2023-09-22 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Senses of Cinema Podcast: Feminists on Film on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/feminists-on-film/id1289492281?i=1000518836682 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-AU}}</ref> ==Five Lip Films== In 2014 O'Donnell co-founded production company Rockpool Films,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-10 |title=Vibrant new production company on the block |url=https://if.com.au/vibrant-new-production-company-on-the-block/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=IF Magazine |language=en-AU}}</ref> later renamed Five Lip Films, with [[Alex Russell (actor)|Alex Russell]], James Saivanidis, and Sarah-Jane McAllan. The company operates out of both Sydney and Los Angeles.[11] [12] [13]
O'Donnell has lectured on writing and performance at various institutions, including M.I.T. and Edith Cowan University.[2] [3]
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Awards | Distribution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Team Australia | Writer, Director, Producer | Short | |||
| 2013 | Love & Dating: In LA! | Writer, Producer | Short | Audience Choice Award, Santa Monica Film Festival | El Rey Network | |
| 2017 | Picture Wheel | Writer, Director, Producer | Short | Best Short Film, Santa Monica Film Festival | Gunpowder & Sky | |
| 2021 | Under My Skin[14] | Writer, Director, Producer | Feature | Best Direction Australian Director's Guild Award nomination[15] Best Indie Film, Australian Academy Award (AACTA) nomination[16] | Stan, 1091 Pictures, High Flier Films[17] | |
| -- | Sons of Salt | Feature | In development[13] | |||
| -- | Tick | Feature | In development |