ABOUT
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Blake Winston Rice is an award-winning writer-director from New Jersey and a graduate of Rowan University. He began his career as an actor and comedian before shifting to narrative filmmaking in 2018.
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Blake’s breakout came with Tea (2024), a 1990s dramedy starring Michael Gandolfini, which premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. With Patty Jenkins as Executive Producer, Tea has screened at 13 Oscar-qualifying festivals - earning awards at Riverrun, Charlotte, Hollyshorts, Bushwick, Yellowstone, and Micheaux - and is now a Vimeo Staff Pick and streaming on Kanopy.
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He is repped by Kaplan Perrone and recently completed DISC, starring Jim Cummings and Victoria Ratermanis. His debut feature The Empty Lot (Wild Atlantic Pictures) is in development, alongside his follow-up, Valves.
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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
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2024 - Official Competition (Short Film Palm D'Or), TEA - Cannes Film Festival*
2025 - Official Competition, TEA - Florida Film Festival*
2025 - WINNER, Best HMU / SFX Makeup, TEA - RiverRun Film Festival*
2025 - Official Competition, TEA - Athens Film Festival*
2024 - WINNER, Best Producer (Gabriella Piazza), TEA - Hollyshorts Film Festival*
2024 - Official Competition, TEA - Palm Springs Shorfest*
2024 - Official Competition, TEA - Nashville International Film Festival*
2024 - Official Competition, TEA - Tirana International Film Festival (Albania)*
2024 - Official Competition, TEA - Woodstock Film Festival*
2024 - Official Competition, TEA - Sante Fe International Film Festival*
2024 - Official Competition, TEA - Tehran International Film Festival (Iran)*
2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Izmir Kisa International Short Film Festival (Turkey)*
2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Leuven International Short Film Festival (Belgium)*
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Live Action Short, TEA - SCAD, Savannah Film Festival
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Live Action Short, TEA - Newport Beach Film Festival
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Live Action Short, TEA - Denver International Film Festival
​2024 - WINNER (Best Narrative Short Film), TEA - Charlotte Film Festival
​2024 - WINNER (Best Narrative Short Film), TEA - Bushwick Film Festival
​2024 - WINNER (Outstanding Writing in a Drama), TEA - Micheaux Film Festival
​2024 - WINNER (Outstanding Actor, Michael Gandolfini), TEA - Micheaux Film Festival
​2024 - WINNER (Best Director, Short), TEA - Yellowstone International Film Festival (India)
2024 - WINNER (Best Director), TEA - i-Fest International Film Festival (Italy)
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - Ennesimo Film Festival (Italy)
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - Goga International Film Festival (Italy)
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - The Naked Film Festival (Brazil)
2025 - WINNER (Best Picture), TEA - Santa Barbara Inner Light Film Festival
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - Festival International du court Mértage au Saquenay (Quebec)
2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Montana International Film Festival
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Calabasas International Film Festival
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Buffalo International Film Festival
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Philadelphia Film Festival
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Cannes Indie Shorts Film Festival (France)
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Coronado Film Festival
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Chilliwack Independent Film Festival (BC, CN)
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Norwalk Film Festival
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Romantic Comedy (Short), TEA - Austin Revolution Film Film Festival
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Editing (Short), TEA - Austin Revolution Film Film Festival
​2025 - Official Selection, TEA - Mondial Film Festival
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - VIMEO STAFF PICK
202​3 - SEMI-FINALIST, Sawdust - Flicker's Rhode Island Film Festival
202​3 - Semi-Finalist, Sawdust - Dumbo Film Festival
2023 - Official Selection, Sawdust - Lonestar Film Festival
2023 - Official Selection, Sawdust - Montant Int. Film Festival
2023 - Official Selection, Sawdust - New York Shorts Film Festival
2022 - WINNER (Special Grand Jury Award), Steps - DeadCenter Film Festival*
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Sidewalk Film Festival
2022 - SEMI-FINALIST, Steps - Flicker's Film Festival*
2022 - FINALIST, Steps - Sugar Loaf Film Festival
2022 - FINALIST, Steps - Big Apple Film Festival
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Sarasota Film Festival
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Carrboro Film Festival
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Deep Focus Film Festival
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Chelsea Film Festival
2021 - FINALIST, T.G.W.V.W. - Hollywood Screnplay Competition
2021 - Official Selection, The Recovery Call - Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
2020 - Official Selection, Movie Magic (Screenplay) - Orlando International. Film Festival
2020 - Official Selection, Movie Magic (Screenplay) - Fort Meyers International. Film Festival
2020 - Official Selection, Movie Magic (Screenplay) - Screenwriting Master Contest
2020 - SEMIFINALIST Special Days (Screenplay) - Dallas International. Film Festival*
2020 - Official Selection, Special Days (Screenplay) - Twister Alley Film Festival
2020 - Official Selection, Special Days (Screenplay) - Fort Lauderdale International. Film Festival
2020 - Official Selection, Special Days (Screenplay) - Houston Comedy Film Festival
2019 - WINNER (Best SFX) The Creeper's Curse - Queens World Film Festival
2019 - WINNER (Best Director in a Short) People Like You - New York City International Film Festival
2019 - WINNER (Best Short Film) People Like You - New York City Internatoinal. Film Festival
2012 - WINNER (Broze Telly Award) Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Telly Awards (USA)
2012 - WINNER (Best Comedy) Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Pasaic County Film Festival
2012 - WINNER (Best in Festival) Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Pasaic County Film Festival
2012 - WINNER (The Rowan Award) Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Atlantic City Film Festival
2012 - FINALIST (Best Comedy) Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Wet Your Pants Comedy Festical
2012 - WINNER(Best Comedy Series) Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - College Broadcast Awards (USA)
​*Oscar Qualifier
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