Variety to Celebrate 10 Screenwriters to Watch at Santa Fe Festival

Variety will publish its annual 10 Screenwriters to Watch list on Oct. 11 and recognize the honorees at this year’s Santa Fe International Film Festival. This year marks Variety’s inaugural partnership with SFIFF to present its annual Screenwriters to Watch list.

As Variety continues to celebrate up-and-coming scribes, the 10 selected will be spotlighted in a panel conversation at the festival Oct. 18, moderated by Variety senior focus editor Todd Gilchrist. Tickets are now available here.

“Variety is thrilled to partner with the Santa Fe International Film Festival in celebrating our 2024 screenwriters to watch,” Gilchrist said. “The individuals on this year’s list each come from different backgrounds with unique experiences and unique points of view, and they have already begun making waves with their undeniable creativity. We are proud to honor them in Santa Fe as the rest of the entertainment industry gets a look at who they are and what they can do.”

“The Santa Fe International Film Festival is a unique celebration of cinematic excellence, where audiences can experience everything from groundbreaking independent films to award-winning features,” said Jacques Paisner, Artistic Director of the festival. “With highlights like the opening film ‘The Piano Lesson,’ the closing film ‘Out of My Mind,’ Bryan Cranston receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and the world premiere of the documentary ‘Georgia O’Keeffe: The Brightness of Light,’ this year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable event. Showcasing 184 films, including must-see titles like ‘Better Man,’ ‘Nickel Boys,’ and ‘Nightbitch,’ SFIFF truly captures the spirit of creative storytelling in one of the country’s most vibrant cultural destinations.”

Previous honorees on Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch list include Martin McDonagh, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, Liz Meriwether, Lena Dunham, Taylor Sheridan, Julian Fellowes, Andrew Haigh, Danny Strong, Kelly Fremon Craig, Liz Hannah, Tracy Oliver and Krysty Wilson-Cairns.

The Santa Fe International Film Festival runs Oct. 16 -20 and is opening with Malcolm Washington’s “The Piano Lesson” and closing with Amber Sealey’s “Out of My Mind.” The festival will honor award-winning actor Bryan Cranston with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the course of five days, the festival will showcase 184 films, including 42 narrative features, 24 documentaries, and 118 short films. Notable films include “Better Man,” a documentary on Robbie Williams by Michael Gracey; Andrea Arnold’s “Bird,” starring Barry Keoghan; “Nickel Boys,” adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel; Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch,” starring Amy Adams; Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain,” featuring himself and Kieran Culkin; Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door,” starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton; Tim Fehlbaum’s “September 5,” featuring John Magaro and Peter Sarsgaard; and William Goldenberg’s “Unstoppable,” starring Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, and Michael Peña.

The Santa Fe International Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating artistic excellence in film, showcasing a diverse range of international and independent cinema. An Oscar-qualifying festival, the winners of the Best Animated Short, Best Narrative Short, and Best Documentary Short categories at the festival are eligible for Oscar submission. Since its founding in 2009, SFIFF has become New Mexico’s largest and most anticipated film event. With more than 300 hours of programming, the festival has hosted luminaries such as Oliver Stone, Shirley MacLaine, and Robert Redford, while presenting an array of critically acclaimed films, from Academy Award winners to indie gems. Beyond its annual October event, SFIFF enriches Santa Fe’s artistic landscape and extends the city’s tourism season, making it a dynamic hub for cinematic and cultural innovation. SFIFF provides professional opportunities for artists, and unmatched audience participation in the world’s greatest little film city.