UGFTV Alum Ward Kamel Wins Prestigious Nicholl Fellowship for Screenwriting

Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024

UGFTV Alum, Ward Kamel

UGFTV Alum, Ward Kamel

We are thrilled to share that Ward Kamel, alumni of Tisch’s Undergraduate Film & Television (UGFTV) class of 2020, has been named one of the recipients of the 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Kamel’s screenplay, If I Die in America, was selected from over 5,500 submissions representing 80 countries. The fellowship, awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recognizes talented new screenwriters, and we are incredibly proud of Ward for this outstanding achievement.

If I Die in America tells the moving story of an American man grappling with the sudden death of his immigrant husband and navigating cultural tensions with his Muslim in-laws as they arrange a funeral in the Middle East. The screenplay is adapted from Kamel's SXSW Grand Jury-nominated short film.

As one of five fellows, Kamel will receive a $35,000 prize and a year of mentorship from an Academy member to complete a feature-length screenplay. This honor marks a significant milestone in Kamel’s career, and we look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.

Please join us in celebrating Ward Kamel’s success!

If I Die In America — Poster

Poster: If I Die In America