2018 HOSTS
SUBMISSIONS OPENING SOON
SCREENWRITERS LAB
A festival favorite, highlights of the lab include an opening session with the host followed by a live table read of their latest work.
JAY DUPLASS
Jay Duplass is a trailblazing independent filmmaker and actor, best known for playing Josh Pfefferman in Jill Soloway’s critically acclaimed series Transparent (Amazon).
As an actor, Jay has appeared in a wide range of film projects, including Lynn Shelton’s OUTSIDE IN (which he also co-wrote and executive produced), Miguel Arteta’s BEATRIZ AT DINNER, and Gillian Robespierre’s LANDLINE. In addition to his work on Transparent, Jay has had recurring roles in Search Party (TBS) and The Mindy Project (Hulu).
Jay’s career took off back in 2005, when he and his brother Mark debuted their first micro-budget feature, THE PUFFY CHAIR, at the Sundance Film Festival. THE PUFFY CHAIR went on to win the Audience Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival and also garnered two Independent Spirit Award nominations.
Over the past decade, Jay and Mark have co-written, directed, and produced multiple independent film and television projects together, including CYRUS, BAGHEAD, JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME, “Togetherness” (HBO) and “Room 104” (HBO). Additional producer credits include: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED, THE SKELETON TWINS, THE ONE I LOVE, TANGERINE, THE OVERNIGHT, and “Animals” (HBO).
KEVIN WALSH
An Academy Award® nominated producer with over two decades in the entertainment industry, Kevin Walsh is the current President of Scott Free Films, Ridley Scott’s production banner. Kevin started at Scott Free in December 2016 and since that time he has produced Ridley Scott’s latest film ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD—starring Michelle Williams, Mark Walhberg and Christopher Plummer; Jake Scott’s THE BURNING WOMAN—starring Sienna Miller; and Drake Doremus’s ZOE—starring Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux. While at Scott Free, he has also helped oversee the release of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS for 20th Century Fox and BLADE RUNNER 2049 for Sony Pictures and Warner Bros.
Prior to his tenure at Scott Free, Kevin oversaw production for the THE GREATEST SHOWMAN for 20th Century Fox The film is directed by Michael Gracey and stars Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya. Kevin also produced MANCHESTER BY THE SEA— directed by Kenneth Lonergan and starring Casey Affleck—which was nominated for six Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and won for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor.
Kevin also produced the upcoming psychological thriller THROROUGHBREDS—directed by Cory Finley and starring Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy—which will be released by Focus Features on March 9th. Other film credits include the award-winning, comedy-drama THE WAY WAY BACK—directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash and starring Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney and Steve Carell.
2018 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The High Scribe screenplay competition finalists are Dark Horizons by Carlo and Erin Carere, The Lean by Pearse Lehane, and A Just Cause by Andrea Fiest Stein.
Past hosts and mentors have included Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan [Traffic], Academy Award winner David Seidler [The King’s Speech], Academy Award winners Nat Faxon and Jim Rash [The Descendants], Academy Award nominees Melisa Wallack and Craig Borten [Dallas Buyers Club], Will McCormack [Toy Story 4], Chris Moore [Project Greenlight] and filmmaking legend Mark Duplass [Togetherness]. During the Screenwriters Lab, these dynamos discuss their careers, present their latest work during a live table read, and take questions from the audience.