Now based in London, Max is originally from the smalltown of Des Moines, Iowa. Obsessed with filmmaking since middle school, he’s developed a long portfolio of horror and comedy work. As a teenager, he wrote and directed two student features films, both over 80 minutes and with over a hundred classmates acting in the film. He would skip class to work on the edit, location scout, or make props.
He was one of five chosen for the BFI-backed Next Wave Genre Lab for his work in horror alongside Will Butters for their feature film script, They Came From Below.
His most recent horror short film, Skulk, premiered at some of the most prestigious horror festivals including Sitges and Screamfest this year.
His previous horror short, Return of the Beast from Outer Space, was an award-winning film, screening at prominent festivals such as FilmQuest and Grimmfest, and is available on Amazon Prime.
In addition to his narrative filmmaking, Max has directed numerous commercials for high-profile brands such as Star Trek, Playstation, and Hasbro, earning him multiple gold awards at the NYX Game Awards and a Gold Cannes Dolphin.
Max has also made his mark in the video game industry. He directed Call of Corona: Micro Warfare, a Steam game that raised funds for the World Health Organization and was featured in Vogue and several other major publications.
Known for his unique blend of horror and humor, and with a proven record of compelling storytelling across different mediums, Max has now written two horror features he plans to make in succession.
———Press———
Vanity: U.K. Next Wave Genre Lab Unveils Inaugural Selection of Projects
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Screendaily: BFI-backed UK Next Wave Genre Lab selects projects, contributors for second phase (exclusive)
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Met Film: MA Directing graduate Max Ward Takes to the Woods for Monster Short
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Iowa Public Radio: Des Moines Roosevelt Alum's Film Premieres At Film Festival Click to Read
Dead Northern: Dead Northern 2024 Festival Review
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Des Moines Register: Des Moines Roosevelt graduate launches new video game to fight COVID-19, support World Health Organization
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KCCI: Des Moines graduate develops video game to raise money to fight COVID-19
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Level 80: Call Of Corona: COVID-19 Relief Game
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Antena Tres: Las marcas de moda apuestan por las mascarillas como complemento tras la crisis del coronavirus
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WHO 13: Des Moines Native Creates Video Game to Fight Against COVID-19
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Qualia - Meet the Director: Max Ward
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———Film Awards———
Stiges International Film Festival - 2024
Screamfest Horror Film Festival - LA Premiere - 2024
British Horror Film Festival - Winner Audience Choice - 2024
British Horror Film Festival - Winner British Horror Award - 2024
Dead Northern Horror Film Festival - Winner Best Short - 2024
Landshut Short Film Festival - Official Selection - 2025
Leeds International Film Fesitval - Official Selection - 2024
CURTAS Festival do Imaxinario - Official Selection - 2024
London Film Awards - Official Selection - 2024
Atlanta Horror Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Fantaspoa - Official Selection - 2025
Romford Horror Film Festival- Official Selection - 2025
Ealing Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Pompeywood Genre Film Festival - 2024
London Super Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Interrobang Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
ETREUM Horror Film Fest - Official Selection - 2024
NYX Game Awards - Gold Winner - 2023
NYX Game Awards - Gold Winner - 2023
Crystal Palace Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Wales International Film Festival - Winner - 2021
Birmingham Film Festival - Winner - 2019
Night of Comedy Shorts - Winner - 2023
Filmquest - Official Selection - 2021
Grimmfest - Official Selection - 2021
Paracinema Film Festival - Official Selection - 2021
Interrobang Film Festival - Official Selection - 2021
Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2021
Trinity International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2021
The Great Northern Creative Expo - Official Selection - 2019
Catham-Kent International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2019
Videodrunk Film Festival - Official Selection - 2019
The BeBop Channel Content Festival - 2019
Video Games
Call of Corona: Micro Warfare
2020
When the world's most famous actor, Tim Hanks, contracts Covid-19, the U.S. government chooses to use its experimental new program to save him. A swallow-able pill with a cute, little, micro-soldier inside. Equipped with an anti-body launcher, the micro-soldier must travel to the source of the infection and shoot it to hell. The government only manufactured one packet of these pills, and after every soldier has failed to kill the virus, it's down to the last pill in the packet to save the actor and the future of the Hollywood film industry.
Call of Corona: Micro Warfare is a satirical action/comedy game like none other. Forget what you know about gaming and the human anatomy cause we're breaking the rules on both.
