ZACH BANDLER

S H O W R E E L

L I G H T K E E P E R

T O R N

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Production Wraps in Congo

"Koko Suzanne" has wrapped production in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The film, based on true events, is directed by Zach, co-written with Congolese physician Emmanuel Epenge and co-produced in DRC with Tosala Films.

"Land of the Young" Wins American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition

Zach’s feature screenplay “Land of the Young” has been named winner of the 2023 American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition. Francis Ford Coppola and the American Zoetrope team have selected this story, about caregiving, family and visibility for those with age-related disability, from 2,000 submitted screenplays.

https://www.zoetrope.com/contests/screenplays-2023

"Land of the Young" Wins American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition

Academy Nicholl Fellowships Semifinalist

Zach's feature film screenplay "Land of the Young" has been named a Semifinalist in the 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.

A great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

- John Steinbeck

As a director, Zach's films have won awards and played festivals across the globe. His short "The Lightkeeper" (2018) was named final recipient of the CINE Golden Eagle Award for Narrative Short Film, an award recognizing rising filmmakers since 1962 which has honored the early careers of Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Spike Lee, Taylor Hackford and others. It was also "Best of the Month" on Omeleto, YouTube's largest short film channel with 3.5 million subscribers worldwide. His taboo medical comedy film "Torn" (2019) premiered online with Directors Notes, and his mid-length short film "The Stairs" (2016, directorial debut) is a multi-award winner at festivals.

As a screenwriter, his feature screenplay "Land of the Young" was chosen by Francis Ford Coppola as winner of the 2023 American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition. It is also a Semifinalist in the 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. His first teleplay "Hollywood and Vine" (2012) was given an industry presentation at the American Film Institute, starring Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) and directed by Independent Spirit Award winner Mark Polish. His screenplays have also been Finalists in the prestigious ScreenCraft Feature Competition, the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, Cinequest Screenwriting Competition, and shortlisted for the ScreenCraft Film Fund.

Zach served as a 2022 Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with the Global Brain Health Institute in Dublin, Ireland, where his work explored the intersection of narrative film with advocacy for those with neurodegenerative and psychological conditions. His first film to emerge from this endeavor, “Koko Suzanne”, recently wrapped production in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Northwestern University, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Brain Health from Trinity College Dublin. He is an author in the scientific journal Frontiers, publishing on the neurobiological benefits of hope, and is currently researching food memory as a non-pharmacological intervention for dementia.