Filmmaker Biography

Payton MacDonald is a filmmaker whose films and music videos focus on the extreme and the avant-garde. His first documentary film, Sonic Divide, was placed in six international film festivals and won “Best Documentary” at the Helper Utah Film Festival and “Honorable Mention” at the Backpackinglight.com film festival. Sonic Divide has been screened dozens of times at festivals, universities, art galleries, and cycling events. His second film, “Ringing Changes, 50 Years of New Jersey Percussion Ensemble,” chronicles the rise of the legendary New Jersey Percussion Ensemble. Currently, Payton is working on a series of music videos featuring his marimba playing.