Kevin McMahon
Kevin McMahon has directed more than 20 documentaries, including nine features, and produced dozens of hours of non-fiction television. His work focuses on environmental themes, viewed explicitly – in subjects like Niagara Falls, the cod fishery and nuclear weapons – and obliquely – in stories about the guru Marshall McLuhan; Haida and Inuit communities; or the nature of human intelligence.
Known for bringing unusual perspectives and personalities to documentary, Kevin has collaborated with many, including journalist Peter Mansbridge, cellist Yo Yo Ma, rock musician Gord Downie, performance artist Laurie Anderson, comedian Mary Walsh and actress Sarah Polley. He has filmed in some of the world’s wildest places, including the Sahara, the deserts of Jordan and Iran, the north Atlantic, Canada’s maritime coasts, the boreal forest and the high Arctic. Kevin’s recent projects include co-producing and writing In Search Of A Perfect World, about global human rights, and co-producing and co-directing the 12 hour documentary series Equator: A New World View, a Canada-German co-production that looks at climate change in the tropics.
Kevin’s latest feature documentary is Borealis, an exploration of the boreal forest made in collaboration with TVO, the National Film Board of Canada, Japan’s NHK and ARTE/ZDF in Germany. He also recently wrote and co-directed The Polar Sea, a 10-hour multimedia adventure for ARTE/ZDF and TVO. Among many awards, Kevin is the recipient of the Earth Prize from the Tokyo Film Festival and the designation of Canadian Eco Hero by the Planet in Focus film festival.
