2010 Tillman Scholar

Chris Roessner

Army
University of Southern California
M.F.A., Cinema & Television Production

Chris Roessner is an American Screenwriter and Film Producer. His debut screenplay, SAND CASTLE, made the 2012 Blacklist of best unproduced scripts in Hollywood, an honor shared with Academy-Award nominated screenplays like ARRIVAL, HELL OR HIGH WATER, and WHIPLASH. Three years later, in 2015, SAND CASTLE began filming in Amman, Jordan with Nicholas Hoult (MAD MAX) and Henry Cavil (SUPERMAN) in the starring roles. While still in post-production, the unfinished film, for which Chris also served as Executive Producer, screened at the Cannes lm festival in France. Netflix purchased the worldwide rights to SAND CASTLE in one of the most lucrative deals of the market for a reported $13 million dollars. In 2017 SAND CASTLE was nominated for Britain’s National Film Award for Best Drama, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

Current projects for Chris include a Universal Studios action lm for director Baltasar Kormakur (EVEREST), a TV adaptation of the award-winning Don Winslow book CALIFORNIA FIRE & LIFE, as well as another book adaptation for director Ben Afleck.

Long before any of the above Hollywood nonsense, Chris was proud to serve in the U.S. Army from 2001-2007. He deployed to Iraq during OIF 1 as a Civil Affairs Soldier and ran over 200 missions in the Sunni Triangle. For his efforts he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, The Presidential Unit Citation, and the Combat Action Badge.

Chris resides in Los Angeles with his TV writer wife, Sneha Koorse (DAREDEVIL, THE AMERICANS), and their dog Gob (movie credits pending). He is a member of the second class of Tillman Scholars and has been blessed to serve on the scholarship selection committee on two separate occasions.