Past written and directed works, screenwriting awards, optioned projects...
The Palimpsest - Official Selection - 2025 - Santa Barbara International Screenwriting
Awards
L.A. International Screenplay Awards - SemiFinalist - 2025
Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden - 2025-2026 - Optioned by Exit 44 Productions
David M O'Neill set to direct.
The Violence of Wine - screenwriter - Spec - Optioned by Native Nations - Choctaw Nation
Finalist - Palm Springs - Santa Barbara International Screenwriting Festivals
Shawn Kasinger - Grant Bradley
The Stand at Paxton County - screenwriter - ESX - Netflix
Passenger 58 - screenwriter - ESx - Warner Brothers
Mary Life After Jesus - The Road to Ephesus - Screenwriter - Ephesus Foundation,
Exploration Films
Saving MLK - screenwriter - Spec
Semi-Finalist - Santa Barbara International Screenwriting Festival
The Black Tulip - screenwriter - Snag Films - Academy Award Entry - Afghanistan
Official Entry - Academy Awards - Best Foreign Film
Player 5150 - screenwriter - director - First Look Studios - Blue Harbor Entertainment
Five Aces - screenwriter - director - 20th Century Fox - Franchise Pictures-
Winner - Spirit of Independence Award
Gentleman Only Ladies Forbidden - screenwriter-director - short
The Longest Season - screenwriter-director - short
Threat - 115 Degrees - screenwriter - Charlie Sheen - Nick Cassavetes - Howard Kazanjian
War Junkies - screenwriter - Mark Harris (Crash - Gods and Monsters)
Lady Godiva - screenwriter - research and script delivery - Santa Monica Studios
Babette's Feast - Best Foreign Film Academy Awards(English version) - screenwriter - Panorama Films
Last Lovers - novel adaptation - screenwriter - Panorama Films
Marilyn - screenwriter - novel adaptation - Panorama Films
Martin Eden - screenwriter - optioned spec - Panorama Films
Semifinalist - Stage 32 Period Piece
What Lies in the Valley Below - screenwriter - novel adaptation spec
American Yankee - screenwriter - spec script
Empress of Heaven - screenwriter novel adaptation - spec
Mary - Life After Jesus - Ephesus Foundation Production - Documentary - Exploration
Films
Devil Dogs of Kernville - screenwriter - spec script
Additional awards:
2025 - The Palimpsest - Finalist - L.A. International Screenwriting Awards
2025 - Martin Eden - Stage 32 - Semifinalist - Period Piece
2024
Santa Barbara International Screenplay Festival
Violence of Wine - Semi-Finalist
2024
Palm Springs International Screenwriting Festival
The Violence of Wine - Finalist
2023
Scriptapalooza
Quarter Finalist
Saving MLK
2023
Los Angeles International Screenwriting Awards *
Semi-Finalist
Saving MLK
2023
Santa Barbara International Screenwriting Awards *
Semi-Finalist - The Happy Man - What Lies in the Valley Below
2023
Santa Barbara International Screenwriting Awards *
Quarter Finalist - Saving MLK
2022
Shockfesst *
Golden Reel Award - The Happy Man "What Lies in the Valley Below".
2019
Screencraft *
Advanced quarterfinalist - Empress of Heaven
Screenwriting Finalist
2013
Penn Center Awards *
Freedom To Write Award - The Black Tulip
The film was awarded its centerpiece grand prize for its subject matter and its daring production
mounted in the heart of Kabul Afghanistan.
2013
Beverly Hills Film Festival *
Golden Palm Prize - The Black Tulip
Black Tulip, Winner of Golden Palm Prize
2013
Beverly Hills Film Festival *
Golden Palm Prize - The Black Tulip
Black Tulip, Winner of Golden Palm Prize
2012
Cinequest *
Official consideration - The Black Tulip
2011
NY International Film Festival *
Official Selection - The Black Tulip
2011
Salento International Film Festival *
Best Feature Film - The Black Tulip
Black Tulip wins best feature film
2011
Boston Film Festival *
Best Feature Film
Black Tulip, Winner of Best Feature Film
2010
Academy Awards *
Official Top Select for Best Foreign Film - The Black Tulip
The Black Tulip was among the top ten selected films from around the world to be
considered by the Motion Picture Academy to be considered for Best Foreign Film.
2000
Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival *
Spirit of Independent Filmmaking Award - Five Aces
Writer-Director - Five Aces – Winner
1998
William Morris Agency *
Writer of the Week - Martin Eden
With his first script, novel adaptation, Martin Eden, David was named,
William Morris's "Writer of the Week".
