ABOUT
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Blake Winston Rice is a writer-director from New Jersey and a graduate of Rowan University.
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His breakout short Tea (2024), a 1990s dramedy starring Michael Gandolfini and executive produced by Patty Jenkins, premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
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His most recent short, DISC, premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival and continues its festival run in competition at the 2026 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival. The film was also highlighted by IndieWire as one of the “Best New Films That Premiered at the Fall Festivals.”
Blake was recently named a 2025 Vimeo Breakout Creator for his emerging body of work and also produced PRIME, which is selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
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He is represented by Kaplan Perrone and is currently developing his debut feature The Empty Lot (Wild Atlantic Pictures).
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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
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2026 - Official Competition, PRIME - Sundance Film Festival*
2026 - Official Competition, DISC - Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival*
2025 - Official Competition (ShortCuts Programme), DISC - Toronto International Film Festival*
2025 - Official Competition, DISC - Calgary International Film Festival (CAN)*
2025 - Official Competition, DISC - New Hampshire Film Festival*
2025 - Official Competition, DISC - Woodstock Film Festival*
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - Charlotte Film Festival
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - SXSW Sydney Film Festival (AUS)
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - New/Next Film Festival
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - Buffalo Film Festival
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - San Diego International Film Festival
2025 - NOMINEE (Best Director, Performance, Editing), DISC - Chilliwack Ind. Film Festival (CAN)
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - Micheaux Film Festival
2025 - Official Selection, DISC - Aesthetica Film Festival (ENG)
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)
20245 - WINNER (Best Short Film), TEA - Donosskino Short Film Festival (Spain)
2025 - WINNER (Best Picture), TEA - Santa Barbara Inner Light Film Festival
2025 - WINNER (Best of Show, Best Comedy), TEA - 15 Minute Film Festival
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 - Official Selection, TEA - Festival International du court Mértage au Saquenay (Quebec)
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - The Smalls Film Festival (London, England)
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
2025 - Official Selection, TEA - Short of the Week
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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