Nicole Kassell
Director Nicole Kassell most recently directed episodes of "Cold Case" and "3LBS" (both CBS). She also adapted the Arther Miller play, A Ride Down Mount Morgan and is attached to direct with an attached cast that includes Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton and Emily Blunt. The film is described as "a comic satire on the state of contemporary marriage". She is currently writing an adaptation of the book, Bad Medicine for New Line/Picturehouse/HBO.
Kassell, with her debut film The Woodsman, has proven herself an accomplished storyteller with the esthetic of an independent filmmaker as well as the craft of a commercial film director.
The Woodsman is Kassell's first feature screenplay. Based on the play by Steven Fechter, Kassell's adaptation won her first prize at the 2001 Slamdance Screenplay Competition. In 2003, Kassell began production on The Woodsman, with stars Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Benjamin Bratt, David Alan Grier, Mos Def and Eve. The story revolves around a pedophile (Bacon) who returns to his hometown after twelve years in prison and attempts to start a new life. The film premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and was subsequently picked up by Newmarket Films (Monster, The Passion of the Christ). Produced by Lee Daniels Entertainment and Dash Films, The Woodsman was released in December 2004.
The film was honored at this year's Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival with a CACAE prize (art house award) as well as for music composition. It has also received a Humanitas nomination. The Humanitas Prize was created 30 years ago to encourage, stimulate and sustain writers in their humanizing task and to give them the recognition they deserve. The Woodsman also won the Jury Prize at the 2004 Deauville Film Festival. She has also been nominated for a Gotham Award (Breakthrough Director) as well as for an Independent Spirit Award (Best First Feature).
Kassell is a graduate of NYU's Graduate Film Program. At NYU, Kassell's work was recognized with a two-year Teaching Assistant scholarship, as well as Outstanding Achievement Awards in directing, writing, editing, and producing.
While at NYU, Kassell produced, and directed three short films; Jaime, which won the 1999 DGA Best Female Student Filmmaker Award, and The Green Hour, which was honored with the Warner Brothers Pictures Film Production Award as well as selected for the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Her short films have screened at numerous film festivals worldwide and sold internationally.
Nicole currently resides in New York with her husband.