Semifinalist, Josephson Entertainment + Roadmap Writers Short Story Competition
BIO
Ever since MAX RISSMAN was four years old, when he forced his parents to watch and act out "The Wizard of Oz" with him every night, he has been captivated by the power of stories to transform the mundane into the magical. After completing his MFA in filmmaking at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he now writes elevated genre features about insecure characters learning to forgive themselves and heal. His digital series ROOT FOR THE VILLAIN was an official selection of the Austin Film Festival, his screenplay RIVETERS was a finalist in the Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship, and his screenplay HIT ME HARDER was featured on the GLAAD List, an award presented at Sundance by The Black List and GLAAD. He directed his first feature film, UPON WAKING, which won the Alternative Spirit award at the Rhode Island Film Festival and is being distributed by Buffalo 8.