our jury

Austin Film Festival Semifinalist

Location: Based in Los Angeles, California, Melanie Abrams Fierstein is a first-generation American screenwriter known for her compelling character-driven dramas, adaptations, and true stories.
Professional Background: Prior to her screenwriting career, Melanie was a successful speechwriter, organizer, and strategist, contributing to the campaigns of high-profile political figures such as Secretary Hillary Clinton and Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with many Congressional and local candidates across the United States.

Accolades: Melanie’s talent has earned her a spot on the 2024 Austin Film Festival’s “25 Screenwriters To Watch” list. Her scripts have also appeared on Coverfly’s Red List and ranked in the Top 1%. Over a dozen accolades have come her way from notable institutions like the NBC TV Writers Program, Screencraft, Golden Script Competition, Diverse Voices, and, of course, the Oxford Script Awards.
Adaptation Projects: She holds options to adapt THE DOMESTIC DIVA, a New York Times-bestselling mystery novel series, as well as THE GIRL YOU LOST by bestselling author Kathryn Croft, which has sold over a million copies. Both projects are currently in development with production companies.
Interests and Hobbies: When she’s not writing, Melanie enjoys reading murder mysteries, spending time at the beach, and visiting Harry Potter World.

An independent film maker with over 20 years of experience in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, producing and directing.