Geoffrey Fletcher

Initially working with a video camera and cast of toys and action figures, Geoffrey Fletcher began making films as a child. Those films in part led to his acceptance to NYU's Tisch Graduate Film Program, which he attended after his graduation from Harvard University. He has also apprenticed under Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. Magic Markers, a short film Geoffrey wrote, directed, shot and edited, received accolades from numerous organizations including the Directors Guild of America and the Sundance Film Festival. Geoffrey is the screenwriter of Precious (2009): Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and received an Oscar for Writing (Adapted Screenplay) from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on March 7, 2010. He is the first African American to win an Oscar for writing, directing, or producing. Precious (2009) was presented by executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry and released by Lionsgate in November of 2009. Precious (2009) won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. It is only the third film to do so in the Festival's twenty-five-year history. Precious (2009) also won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it the only film to win the top prizes at both Sundance and Toronto. In addition to being honored by the Academy, Geoffrey was heralded by Variety as one of its "10 Screenwriters to Watch." He also received the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay; the Black Reel Award for Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted and the Best Adapted Screenplay award from the Chlotrudis, AAFCA and the Satellite Awards. Geoffrey has an extensive background in photography and editing, and served as an adjunct professor of film at Columbia University and New York University where he taught courses ranging from "Directing the Camera" to "Developing the Screenplay". His feature directorial debut is Violet & Daisy (2011). It stars Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, and the late James Gandolfini. Violet & Daisy (2011) received the Cinevation Award, given for imagination, inspiration and innovation in cinema from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Violet & Daisy (2011) was an official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival as well. Genres of Geoffrey's forthcoming films include social justice, science fiction, and horror. Trial By Fire, which Geoffrey wrote for Flashlight Films and director Ed Zwick, is about a landmark death penalty case and was released theatrically in 2019 with Laura Dern and Jack O'Connell starring.