John Macanas is a Vancouver-based writer, actor, and director whose work explores the emotional and philosophical dimensions of modern life. His journey as a storyteller began in childhood, sparked by the imaginative worlds of Roald Dahl—particularly Fantastic Mr. Fox and George’s Marvellous Medicine—which instilled in him a lasting belief in the transformative power of storytelling.

As a writer, Macanas has built a versatile career spanning copywriting, feature writing, journalism, and SEO content. His work has covered a wide range of subjects, including food, pop culture, history, film, television, design, travel, and technology. He has contributed to media companies such as Static Media and Valnet Inc., demonstrating both adaptability and a strong narrative voice across platforms.

In fiction and film, Macanas has contributed to the feature film Keep It In The Streets and written several short screenplays, including #ohnonotme, Strangers on the Bench, and The Man With Three. His most recent film, Prayers To The Gods Of The Lonely (2025), which he wrote, directed, and starred in, has been selected for multiple festivals, including the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival, the Modern Black & White Film Festival, and the Hollywood North International Film Festival. The film serves as a meditation on loneliness in contemporary life, examining both the quiet despair and fleeting beauty found in isolation. As an actor, Macanas has performed on stage in productions such as The Lion in Winter (United Players), Soldierland (Sky Theatre Group), and Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) (Arts Umbrella), in addition to sketch comedy work with Vancouver Film School. His screen credits include appearances in Netflix’s The Devil in Ohio and Facebook Watch’s Limetown, as well as roles in Keep It In The Streets and the award-winning short film Auganic, which received recognition at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, deadCenter Film Festival, and HollyShorts Film Festival.

Currently, Macanas is developing a new play, The Colour of Existence Burning, which examines shifting modes of storytelling through the lens of grief, technological evolution, and disconnection from nature. He holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Mass Communications (Journalism) and History, as well as two Master’s degrees in History and Pacific and Asian Studies from St. Cloud State University and the University of Victoria. He is also trained in acting for stage, film, and television at the Victoria Academy of Dramatic Arts. His cinematic influences include Andrei Tarkovsky, Claire Denis, Ingmar Bergman, Yasujiro Ozu, Gasper Noe, and others whose work interrogates time, memory, and human experience.

Outside of his creative work, Macanas loves playing guitar, writing songs, practicing yoga, spending time in nature, and occasionally taking cold dips. He also loves cooking and trying new dishes with friends, as well as weekend hangouts with friends at the beach or nature road trips that usually involve camping or jumping into a lake.

He also loves watching and keeping up with everything sports (football (soccer in North America), boxing, track and field, basketball, and American football). Some of his favorite athletes are Fabio Cannavaro, Sugar Ray Robinson, Femke Bol, Kevin Garnett, and Tom Brady. When it comes time to wind down at the end of the day, Macanas loves sipping on a hot cup of peppermint tea with honey while enjoying a cinematic movie or a slow-burning TV show. His most recent TV binge is HBO’s Succession and The Pitt, and he has likely watched countless reruns of the American The Office and Friends.

Favorite quotes

Some people feel the rain, others get wet.

(Bob Marley)

The soul becomes dyed with the colors of its thoughts.

(Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations”)

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

(Viktor Frankl)