Steven Zaillian

Steven Zaillian is an acclaimed Armenian-American screenwriter, film director, and producer, known for his impactful work across film and television. After earning his first Best Screenplay Oscar nomination for Awakenings (1990), Steven Zaillian solidified his status as a premier cinematic storyteller, winning an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a WGA Award, and a Golden Globe Award in 1993 for his adapted screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. The same year, Zaillian made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Searching for Bobby Fischer. He continued his prolific writing, penning scripts for major studio productions including Clear and Present Danger (1994) and providing the story for Mission: Impossible (1996).

Demonstrating his profound impact across platforms, Zaillian created, wrote, directed, and executive produced the Emmy-winning HBO miniseries The Night Of in 2016, a critical success that earned widespread acclaim. He received his fourth Academy Award nomination in 2019 for his adapted screenplay of Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Most recently, Steven Zaillian continued to impress audiences and critics alike as the creator, director, writer, and executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning limited series Ripley (2024). Through his independent production company, Film Rites, Zaillian consistently develops and produces compelling stories, maintaining his status as one of Hollywood’s most respected and sought-after talents across both film and television.