Edreace Purmul

Born and raised in the United States and ethnically from Afghanistan, Edreace Purmul's parents immigrated to the United States as refugees in the late 70s escaping the Soviet invasion of their homeland. Purmul graduated with a degree in business and film from San Diego State University in 2006. Heavily favored by his film professors, he spearhead his first feature, "Mozlym", on a shoestring post-graduation. The film received immediate international acclaim and interest for its controversial and socially conscious appeal, launching Purmul's credibility at the early age of 25. "Mozlym" was a finalist for Best Feature in 2008 at the Cairo International Film Festival and won the Audience Favorite award at Riverside International Film Festival. During its festival run, Purmul also received multiple nominations for Best First Time Director. In 2017, Purmul released his critically acclaimed second feature and multi-linear thriller "The Playground" winning San Diego's Best Narrative Feature Award at the San Diego Film Awards.