Madi Distefano
Biography
Madi Distefano is an actor, director, and writer based in Philadelphia. She was the Founding Artistic Director of Brat Productions where she produced A 24 Hour The Bald Soprano, EYE-95 Re-Tarred, and 20 seasons of incendiary theatre. She is a 9 time Barrymore nominee in 5 categories, and won Best Leading Actress for EDEN in 2005. Her one-person play, POPSICLE'S DEPARTURE, 1989, has won numerous awards including Best Solo Show, and a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe. For 8 years she created and managed DOZEN STREET, a live music venue in Austin, TX. She is currently developing a new musical, and writing-producing the upcoming Wrestler Lady.
Known For & Full Filmography5 Titles
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Sindy Moral
Short film proof of concept released in 2025 for a female driven wrestling series set in Philadelphia
Movie - 1999, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
“HIATUS is a 20-minute experimental narrative film about a young woman who plays HIATUS, an on-line interactive ‘identity’ game. Propelled through action by her Go-Go cowgirl construct Wanda, and powered by a computer corset that stores her programs in a garden interface, Maid meets Wang, a powerful take-over artist. She must learn how to use the power of her ‘organic memory’ to block his expansion and preserve her freedom.” — E.B. 1999
Movie - 2001, 2h 15m • as Cissy Jones
A mock-documentary comedy that takes you beyond the 60-second sound bits and into the heart of a Presidential campaign.
Movie - 2017, 2h 15m • as Emmaline
A rockabilly fantasia. Frito pie, strippers, crystal meth and PBR. Produced in 1997 in the first year of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and in 2007 for the Festival's 10 year anniversary. Released as a concert Film in 2017.
Movie - 2007, 2h 15m • as Caroline
Eleven year-old Izzy and her mom Caroline live a modest existence as Caroline struggles to get by as a musician, playing gigs and waiting for a breakthrough. For weeks Izzy has been asking Caroline for the ten dollars she needs to go on a science class field trip to a wild animal exhibit, but when Caroline gets fired from her last regular gig and can't come up with the money, Izzy is left to figure out how to get into the museum on her own. This short won several international awards at film festivals and competitions, and features the remarkable debut of Frances Distefano.