Spring 2017

Austin Film Festival’s 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2017, Presented by MovieMaker

Published by
Austin Film Festival and MM Editors

Justin Lader and Charlie McDowell

(L-R) Charlie McDowell and Justin Lader

Who: Writing team behind this year’s The Discovery, directed by McDowell; also wrote and produced 2014’s The One I Love, McDowell’s earlier feature.

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned?

Find ways to love the process, as opposed to just focusing on the end result. That’s very hard because the process is often grueling and soul-crushing. But if you can manage to find those little moments of joy in the actual writing, at the very least you’ll be healthier mentally.

What was a major turning point in your career?

Justin Lader: Making The One I Love and selling it at Sundance completely changed my life. If for no other reason, I now live in an apartment that doesn’t look like the building where they found bin Laden.

Directory

1. Jono Matt and Glen Powell 2. Ryan Piers Williams 3. Etta Devine and Gabriel Diani 4. Lena Khan 5. Trey Selman 6. Tracy Oliver 7. Justin Lader and Charlie McDowell 8. Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar 9. Damir Konjicija and Dario Konjicija 10. Juanjo Moscardó Rius 11. Ben Snyder and Ari Issler 12. Kyle Bugg 13. Jimmy Mosqueda 14. Michael Noonan 15. Geeta Malik 16. Josh Barkey 17. Nicholas Verso 18. Minhal Baig 19. Henry Jones 20. Kevin Arbouet 21. Megan Park 22. Wes Brown 23. Louisiana Kreutz 24. Kate Nowlin 25. Elizabeth Guest

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Austin Film Festival and MM Editors

View Comments

  • Conspicuous by their absence are such stellar screenplay writers as Buck Henry ("The Graduate"), Robert Downey, Sr. ("Putney Swope"), Penny Lane (Nuts")and Ben and Dan Barnz.

  • Congratulations to all these writers! Knowing Ben Synder, who has worked with me on a scripts, I want to particularly congratulate him and Ari Lssler for achieving this endeavor in the 'Storyworld' of Cinema!

    Spiderwood Productions / Tommy G Warren, Writer, Producer.

  • Very inspiring stuff. Loved to learn how these guys and gals got their big breaks, especially those who had little to no contact in LA. Sort of inspiring, and it kind of makes you forget, if only for a moment, that many screenwriters work less than minimum wage. There's hope!

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