ABOUT
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Blake Winston Rice is an award-winning film director and screenwriter. A New Jersey native and a graduate of Rowan University, Blake began his career in front of the camera as an actor and comedian before transitioning to narrative directing in 2018.
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Blake's career flourished with the critically acclaimed drama Steps, an Official Selection at the Sidewalk Film Festival and winner of the Special Grand Jury Award at the DeadCenter Film Festival in 2022. He also completed the single-shot dramatic thriller Sawdust in 2023, now available on Omeleto.
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In 2024, Blake premiered his breakout film, the 1990's dramedy Tea (starring Michael Gandolfini), in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Tea has been selected into 13 Oscar-Qaulifying film festivals, winning awards at Charlotte, Hollyshorts, Yellowstone International, Bushwick and Micheaux Film Festivals. The film as has Patty Jenkins serving as an Executive Producer.
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Now represented by Kaplan Perrone Management, Blake has recently completed his upcoming film DISC, starring Jim Cummings and Victoria Ratermanis. His debut feature film, The Empty Lot is currently in development in addition to his follow up feature film, 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 - 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 Fim 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 Independant Film Festival (BC, CN)
​2024 - Official Selection, TEA - Norwalk Film Film Festival
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Romantic Comedy (Short), TEA - Austin Revoluation Film Film Festival
​2024 - NOMINEE, Best Editing (Short), TEA - Austin Revoluation Film Film Festival
​2025 - Official Selection, TEA - Mondial Film Festival
202​3 - Sem-Finalist, Sawdust - Flicker's Rhode Island FF, RI
202​3 - Semi-Finalist, Sawdust - Dumbo FF, NY
2023 - Official Selection, Sawdust - Lonestar FF, TX
2023 - Official Selection, Sawdust - Montant Int. FF, MT
2023 - Official Selection, Sawdust - New York Shorts FF, NY
2022 - WINNER (Special Grand Jury Award), Steps - DeadCenter FF, OK*
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Sidewalk FF, AL
2022 - Semi-Finalist, Steps - Flicker's FF, RI
2022 - Finalist, Steps - Sugar Loaf FF, NY
2022 - Finalist, Steps - Big Apple FF, NY
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Sarasota FF, FL
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Carrboro FF - NC
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Deep Focus FF - NY
2022 - Official Selection, Steps - Chelsea FF - NY
2021 - Finalist, T.G.W.V.W. - Hollywood Screnplay Competition, CA
2021 - Official Selection, The Recovery Call - Another Hole in the Head FF, CA
2020 - Official Selection, Movie Magic (Screenplay) - Orlando Int. FF - FL
2020 - Official Selection, Movie Magic (Screenplay) - Fort Meyers Int. FF - FL
2020 - Official Selection, Movie Magic (Screenplay) - Screenwriting Master Contest - USA
2020 - Semi Finalist, Special Days (Screenplay) - Dallas Int. FF - TX
2020 - Official Selection, Special Days (Screenplay) - Twister Alley FF - OK
2020 - Official Selection, Special Days (Screenplay) - Fort Lauderdale Int. FF - FL
2020 - Official Selection, Special Days (Screenplay) - Houston Comedy FF - TX
2019 - Best SFX, The Creeper's Curse - Queens World FF - NY
2019 - Best Director in a Short, People Like You - New York City Int. FF - NY
2019 - Best Short Film, People Like You - New York City Int. FF - NY
2012 - Broze Telly Award, Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Telly Awards - USA
2012 - Best Comedy, Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Pasaic County FF - NJ
2012 - Best in Festival, Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Pasaic County FF - NJ
2012 - The Rowan Award, Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Atlantic City FF - NJ
2012 - Finalist, Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - Wet Your Pants Comedy Festical - CA
2012 - Winner, Socially Awkward Sketch Comedy - College Broadcast Awards - USA
​*Oscar Qualifier
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