Sarah Adina Smith Explained
Sarah Adina Smith is an American film writer, director, and editor.[1] [2] Films she has directed include Buster's Mal Heart (2016),[3] and The Midnight Swim (2014). She also directed two episodes from the television series Room 104. Her films often center around mysticism, spirituality and psychology, and the surreal.[4] Smith also directed several acclaimed television pilots, including Hanna, Looking for Alaska, and Lessons in Chemistry.[5] She won the Directors Guild of America award for Movies for Television and Limited Series for her Lessons in Chemistry episode "Her & Him".[6]
Early life and education
Smith was born in Fort Collins, Colorado. She graduated from Poudre High School in 2001, and studied philosophy at Columbia University in New York.[7]
Career
Smith's first feature as director, The Midnight Swim, was released in 2014. The film was noted for its shifts in visual style,[8] and won six awards on the festival circuit, including the audience award from AFI Fest.[9] [10]
Her sophomore feature, Buster's Mal Heart,[11] premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, and stars Rami Malek, DJ Qualls, and Kate Lyn Sheil.[12]
Smith co-wrote the screenplay for the film Unlovable, which screened at the SXSW festival in 2018.[13]
In 2018 Smith was chosen to direct the first two episodes of television adaptation of the film Hanna.[14] [15] In 2019, she directed one episode of the television adaptation of the novel Looking for Alaska.
She wrote and directed the 2021 film Birds of Paradise[16] and the 2022 film The Drop.[17]
In 2023, Smith directed two episodes of Lessons in Chemistry for Apple TV+.[18] [19] In 2024, she won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for directing "Her and Him" from Lessons in Chemistry.[20] In June 2024, it was announced that Smith would direct three episodes of the upcoming series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.[21]
Filmography
Short films
| Year | Title | width=65 | Director | width=65 | Writer | width=65 | Producer | width=65 | Editor | Notes |
|---|
| 2006 | Madura | | | | | |
| 2009 | The Sirens | | | | | |
| One Cup of Coffee | | | | | |
| 2016 | Mother's Day | | | | | Segment of Holidays | |
Feature films
Television
Notes and References
- https://dailydead.com/interview-writerdirector-sarah-adina-smith-on-busters-mal-heart/ "Interview: Writer/Director Sarah Adina Smith on BUSTER'S MAL HEART"
- https://deadline.com/2016/08/wme-signs-director-sarah-adina-smith-1201801742/ "WME Signs Director Sarah Adina Smith Ahead Of Toronto Fest"
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-indie-focus-the-lovers-risk-busters-mal-heart-20170505-story.html "Indie Focus: Seeing with fresh eyes in 'The Lovers,' 'Risk' and 'Buster's Mal Heart'"
- https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-the-midnight-swim-1201363717/ "Film Review: 'The Midnight Swim'"
- Web site: Plenty of surprises bubble up in 'Lessons in Chemistry'. Lisa. Rosen. November 22, 2023. Los Angeles Times.
- Web site: 76th Annual DGA Awards.
- https://collegian.com/2015/07/poudre-high-school-alumna-featured-at-the-lyric/ "Poudre High School alumna featured at the Lyric"
- https://www.moviemaker.com/archives/moviemaking/cinematography/sarah-adina-smith-midnight-swim/ "Eye Piece: How Sarah Adina Smith Shot Three Visual Styles in Midnight Swim"
- https://womenandhollywood.com/tribeca-2017-women-directors-meet-sarah-adina-smith-busters-mal-heart-86be8c013118/ "Tribeca 2017 Women Directors: Meet Sarah Adina Smith — "Buster's Mal Heart""
- http://hollywoodtimessquare.com/afi-festival-awards-2014/ ""The Midnight Swim" Takes Home Breakthrough Audience Award at AFI Fest"
- http://moveablefest.com/sarah-adina-smith-busters-mal-heart/ "Interview: Sarah Adina Smith on Climbing Mountains and Taming the Sea for "Buster's Mal Heart""
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-busters-mal-heart-review-20170504-story.html "Offbeat indie 'Buster's Mal Heart' showcases Rami Malek's gifts"
- https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/unlovable-review-1202726268/ "Film Review: 'Unlovable'"
- https://deadline.com/2018/02/mireille-enos-joel-kinnaman-esme-creed-miles-star-amazon-hanna-tv-adaptation-1202281110/ "'The Killing' Duo Mireille Enos & Joel Kinnaman, Esme Creed-Miles To Star In 'Hanna' TV Series Adaptation For Amazon"
- Web site: Amazon Orders 'Hanna' Series From NBCUniversal International Studios. Daniel. Holloway. May 23, 2017. Sep 5, 2019. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203081520/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/amazon-orders-hanna-1202440890/. live.
- News: Coggan . Devan . How Sarah Adina Smith crafted her trippy ballet drama Birds of Paradise . 12 January 2023 . Entertainment Weekly . 30 September 2021 . 12 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112171327/https://ew.com/movies/birds-of-paradise-sarah-adina-smith-interview/ . live.
- News: Kennedy . Lisa . A Destination Wedding Mishap Upends a Young Couple's Parenting Plans . 12 January 2023 . Variety . 10 January 2023 . 12 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112171327/https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-drop-review-1235483852/ . live.
- Web site: Fort Collins native who directed 'Lessons in Chemistry' says new series is about tension between science and faith. CPR News. Eden. Lane. October 13, 2023. November 2, 2023.
- Web site: Sarah Adina Smith on getting all the elements right for series Lessons In Chemistry. The National. Gregory. Wakeman. October 12, 2023. November 2, 2023.
- Web site: DGA Awards: Winners List (Updating Live). Hilary Lewis,Tyler Coates,Kirsten. Chuba. Hilary. Lewis. Tyler. Coates. Kirsten. Chuba. . February 11, 2024.
- News: Vary. Adam B. . 'Game of Thrones' Spinoff 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Begins Filming as 'The Crown,' 'True Detective' Actors Join Cast. Variety. 18 June 2024.
