Nicole Kassell(I)

Nicole Kassell holds a BA in Art History from Columbia University and an MFA from NYU's Film Program, where she received full scholarships for two years. Her short film "Jaime" earned the DGA student female filmmaker prize, and her thesis film "The Green Hour" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002. Kassell's first feature, "The Woodsman," competed at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by Newmarket Films. The screenplay, based on Steven Fechter's play, was co-written by Kassell and Fechter and won first prize at the 2002 Slamdance Screenplay Competition. The film received several awards, including a CACAE at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes, the Jury Prize at the Deauville Film Festival, a Humanitas nomination, and the Satyajit Ray Award at the London Film Festival. Kassell was nominated for a Gotham Award (Breakthrough Director) and an Independent Spirit Award (Best First Feature), and was named one of ten "directors to watch" by Variety. She is developing an adaptation of Barbara Kingsolver's novel "Prodigal Summer," which she optioned and is co-writing with the author. The project was selected for the 2013 Sundance Writer's and Producers Lab and is produced by Big Beach Films. Kassell has directed episodes of television series including "The Killing," "The Americans," "The Following," and "Rectify." She has guest lectured at NYU, mentored for the Cinereach foundation, and serves on the Eastern Directors' Council of the DGA. She resides in New York City with her husband and two children.