Nathaniel Schmidt is an Australian-American film director based in Adelaide, South Australia. Before returning home, he spent six years in Minneapolis, Minnesota, documenting stories of life in the American Midwest during its long, harsh winters. His short documentary *Ice Ball* (2021), featuring legendary polar explorer Will Steger, received the Best Documentary Short Award at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival and was later featured on Short of the Week and selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick.
Since 2017, Nathaniel has been co-directing his first feature-length documentary The Last Daughter alongside Wiradjuri storyteller Brenda Matthews. His work reflects a deep interest in human resilience, place, and cross-cultural storytelling, combining visual authenticity with emotional depth.
