McKenzi Vanderberg
Born in Grand Rapids, MI // Florida Transplant
Lives & Works in Los Angeles, CA
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McKenzi Vanderberg is a writer/director committed to films with a social message, particularly in the horror genre, that explore the diverse, complicated female experience.
A recent MFA graduate from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, McKenzi has written, directed, and produced multiple short films, screening at more than thirty film festivals. Most notably, McKenzi’s graduate thesis film, Morse Code, won the Student DGA Award in the Women’s Category (Grand Prize), the Industry Award for Best Genre Film at USC’s First Look, and secured distribution with Gunpowder & Sky’s horror streaming service, ALTER. Written during her time at USC, McKenzi’s first feature screenplay placed in the Top 50 of the Academy Nicholl Fellowship (2022).
In addition to writing and directing, McKenzi has a passion for development and creative producing as seen in her experience with Blumhouse Productions, Fangoria Studios, Paper Street Pictures, and K Period Media’s inaugural Horror Screenwriting Lab.
Prior to USC, McKenzi worked for the nonprofit arthouse Enzian Theater as Development Manager and Film Programmer for the Oscar-accredited Florida Film Festival.
Education
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2019-2022 University of Southern California, M.F.A.
Summa Cum Laude
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2012-2016 Rollins College, B.A. with Honors
Magna Cum Laude
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Awards & Grants
2022 - Student DGA Award, Best Female Filmmaker
(Morse Code)
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2022 - Academy Nicholl Fellowship, Top 50 Semi Finalist
(Din)
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2022 - Industry Award for Best Genre Film, First Look Showcase
(Morse Code)
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2021 - Finalist, Chattanooga Film Festival Pitch Competition
(Din)
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2021 - Best Student Short, Hot Springs Int. Horror Film Festival
(Thrall)
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2020 - Finalist, The Stephanie Rothman Fellowship for Women Student Filmmakers
(My Body, Its Choice)
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2013 - Best of Brouhaha Award, Brouhaha Film Showcase
(The Fear of Being Uninteresting)
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Festivals & Exhibitions
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2023 - ALTER + Gunpowder & Sky Distribution, "Morse Code"
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2023 - Spring HorrorHound Film Festival, "Morse Code"
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2022 - Portland Film Festival, "Morse Code"
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2022 - Catalina Film Festival, "Morse Code"
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2022 - Micheaux Film Festival, "Morse Code"
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2022 - Micheaux Film Festival, "Moose Tracks"
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2022 - DC Black Film Festival, "Moose Tracks"
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2021 - HorrorHound Film Festival, "Thrall"
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2021 - Motor City Nightmares Int. Film Festival, "Thrall"
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2021 - L'Étrange Festival, "My Body, Its Choice"
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2021 - ShockFest, "My Body, Its Choice"
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2020 - Florida Film Festival, "My Body, Its Choice"
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2014 - Florida Film Festival, "The Fear of Being Uninteresting"