Bernard MacMahon

Bernard MacMahon is a multi-award-winning, BAFTA and EMMY nominated film director and screenwriter. His latest film, the record-breaking BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN, became IMAX’s most successful music film of all time after one week, then opening in over 1,000 theaters across the USA it quickly became Sony Pictures Classic’s most successful music film garnering critical acclaim with BBC Radio calling it “A documentary masterpiece”, Variety stating “it’s an absolute must-see” and The Daily Mail calling it “A fascinating story full of insights and revelations”. It is currently the most successful documentary of 2025.

MacMahon wrote, directed and produced AMERICAN EPIC which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, won the Sydney Film Festival and was narrated and executive produced by Robert Redford. He was nominated for a BAFTA Breakthrough Talent Award in 2018, and the Jane Mercer Researcher of the Year Award. Redford said “This is America’s greatest untold story”, Elton John stated, “American Epic is more than a music documentary, this is history” and The Hollywood Reporter praised “The film is feast of musical and educational riches.”. AMERICAN EPIC received critical acclaim around the world and has frequently been cited by critics as one of the best music documentaries ever made.

AMERICAN EPIC is taught across 13 grades from a syllabus developed at the Chicago Laboratory Schools.