Sheridan O'Donnell

Sheridan O'Donnell is a Korean American writer-director based in Los Angeles, recognized for his work in independent film and disability advocacy. Diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease during his filmmaking career, O'Donnell has become legally blind, a reality that informs his creative approach and advocacy for accessibility in the film industry. His projects often explore themes of family, identity, and human connection, utilizing character-driven narratives that balance catharsis and humor.

O'Donnell's short films have received international attention, with premieres at Brussels Short Film Festival, HollyShorts, and Vancouver International Film Festival. His feature directorial debut, "Little Brother," starring JK Simmons, Daniel Diemer, and Philip Ettinger, received the Audience Award at Atlanta Film Festival and was distributed by Gravitas Ventures. The film addresses mental health, suicide, empathy, and vulnerability, contributing to ongoing conversations about nuanced representation of these issues in movies and television. The screenplay for "Little Brother" was recognized as a semi-finalist in the Screencraft Drama Screenplay Competition.

O'Donnell has expanded his work into documentary filmmaking, directing "Rising Phoenix: A New Revolution," a follow-up to the Emmy Award-winning "Rising Phoenix." The documentary features Lauren Ridloff, Jim LeBrecht, and Ezra Frech, and highlights the experiences of disabled individuals across various sectors, focusing on societal barriers and perceptions faced by the disability community.

O'Donnell has participated in several industry fellowships, including the Inevitable Foundation's Accelerate Fellowship, where he was mentored by filmmakers Alex Garland, Destin Daniel Cretton, and Andrew Ahn. He is also a member of the Elevate Collective Cohort for disabled writers and a fellow of the DisabilityBelongs Entertainment Lab. O'Donnell completed Film Independent's Episodic Directing Intensive, further developing his skills in episodic storytelling.

His commercial work has aired nationally on CBS, BET, and OWN Network, and Advertising Age recognized one of his eHarmony commercials as one of the Best Mother's Day Spots of the Year. As a disability advocate and public speaker, O'Donnell challenges perceptions about blindness and filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and representation of blind and low vision filmmakers in visual media.