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Born and raised in Scotland, David Mackenzie started his film career making short films. He first won an award for California Sunshine (1997), a 20-minute film about a pair of small-time drug dealers that starred his younger brother, actor Alastair Mackenzie. In 1999 he won an Audience Award at the Brest European Short Film Festival for Marcie’s Dowry (1999), then in 2000, he placed second for Best Short Film at the Dresden Film Festival for Somersault (1999).

Having completed nine shorts and a documentary, Mackenzie’s first feature length film was the small budget The Last Great Wilderness (2002), which he co-wrote with his brother and Michael Tait (Alastair also starred). But David didn’t gain international attention until he wrote and directed Young Adam (2004), based on the 1954 novel by Alexander Trocchi. Starring Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton, the film won the Best New British Feature award at the 2003 Edinburgh International Film Festival and David won British Newcomer of the Year from the 2004 London Critics Circle Film Awards. After showings at several international film festivals, Young Adam (2004) opened in theaters worldwide.

Mackenzie’s third feature—Asylum (2004), starring Natasha Richardson, won an award at the Berlin International Film Festival. He then won several awards from international film festivals, including the Silver Berlin Bear, for his fourth film, Hallam Foe (2007), starring Jamie Bell. –Tribute.ca