Alice Maio Mackay

Alice Maio Mackay (born 4 August 2004) is an Australian filmmaker. Born in Adelaide, Mackay began producing, writing, directing and occasionally acting in horror films as a teenager, also coming out as a transgender woman around the same time. Many of her films deal with issues faced by the trans community; a recurring motif in her work is transphobia expressed in the form of monsters, vampires or zombies. To date, she has released seven feature films. She has never attended film school apart from a brief attempt at a TAFE course, which she dropped out of to instead learn from observing filming on the sets of Adelaide's We Made a Thing Studios. That year Mackay also worked on a musical short film entitled "Rot n' Roll" starring Eddie Perfect, and another project titled "Sweet Nothings" which featured Greg Sestero. She also contributed to the ABC TV series First Day about a transgender teen beginning high school, for which she was not paid. Mackay later described the atmosphere on set as "transphobic (and) vile", saying the experience cemented her disgust with the Australian film industry and decision not to seek its approval. and later acquired by streaming service Shudder. . The film premiered at Monster Fest 2022, later screening at the Salem Horror Fest in Salem, Massachusetts. That year she also released a short film adaptation of the Ed Wood short story "Howl of the Werewolf."

In 2023, she released two more feature films, T Blockers and Satranic Panic. Satranic Panic was written collaboratively with Mackay's housemate Cassie Hamilton. She also appeared in an acting role in Louise Weard's Castration Movie. Her sixth feature, The Serpent's Skin, was released in 2025. Her seventh feature, Our Effed Up World, was produced by Jane Schoenbrun and premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival on 18 July 2026.

Methods, influences and style Mackay's works are crowdfunded and do not rely on government funding. She insists on working with a "predominantly queer and gender-diverse cast and crew" for all her films. She has also stated that she "doesn't consume a lot of Australian media"

Selected works

Year Title Director Writer Producer Actor Notes 2017 Book Club Web series, 2 episodes 2018 Bestia Short film 2019 Smothered Short film, also cinematographer and editor A Tale of the Laundry Game Short film. Based on a short story by Stephen King. Love and Blood Short film 2020 Tooth 4 Tooth Short film 2021 The Serpent's Nest Short film So Vam 2022 Bad Girl Boogey It Listens from the Radio Podcast, 1 episodeHowl of the Werewolf Short film. Based on a short story by Ed Wood. 2023 T Blockers Satranic Panic 2024 Carnage for Christmas Castration Movie 2025 The Serpent's Skin 2026 Our Effed Up World

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2020 Los Angeles Film Awards Best Young Filmmaker Tooth 4 Tooth 2023 Popcorn Frights Film Festival Best Feature Film T Blockers L.A. Outfest Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent