- WINNER -
Playback by Khaled Ridgeway
Born in the Middle East and raised in the Midwest, writer/director Khaled Ridgeway tells stories illuminating men from all walks of life. A former bioengineer, Khaled pivoted into film by studying at USC. He’s since become a Ryan Murphy Half Mentee and received the Student DGA for his rap-infused horror short, Night Diner.
Sony acquired his award-winning feature debut, Death of a Telemarketer, starring Emmy-winner Lamorne Morris and Oscar nominees Jackie Earle Haley and Haley Joel Osment. He was recently named one of Austin Film Festival’s Screenwriters to Watch.