Independent Writers' Caucus
Nerris Nassiri
Nerris is a first-generation writer/director committed to crafting bold, original musical films that celebrate his Latino and Asian heritage.
Beyond writing, Nerris was the director and host of the Aputure YouTube channel, which, after surpassing 200,000 subscribers, earned the YouTube Creator Award for education in filmmaking. His short films have screened at numerous festivals, and his commercial collaborations with Disney, Cirque du Soleil, The Hype House, and The Mighty have amassed over 750 million views.
A UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television graduate, Nerris was the founding president of the university's chapter of Delta Kappa Alpha, the nation’s premiere cinematic arts fraternity. He has been awarded fellowships with The Disruptors, the Minorities in Film Branded Lab, a bespoke fellowship with The Black List, and is a Theatre Now Musical Writing Lab Fellow.
Beyond filmmaking, Nerris has lived many lives—piloting airplanes, serving as the photographer for the Mayor of L.A., and performing stand-up at The Comedy Store (where he once opened for John Mayer).
Driven by a vision to push the boundaries of musical storytelling, Nerris is redefining the coming-of-age genre with films that spotlight women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ protagonists overcoming adversity. See more of his work at www.nerrisnassiri.com.
Honors & Awards
Winner, Black List Musical Film Fellowship - NO TE OLVIDES
Finalist, Austin Film Festival - THE TEACHER
Semifinalist, 1497 Lab - KEY CHANGE
non-WGA
BIPOC, Latinx, Indigenous/Native American, Middle Eastern, Asian, Multi-Ethnic, Disabled
NO TE OLVIDES
(Latinx Family Musical — MAMMA MIA! meets THE FAREWELL)
When a timid closeted Chicana takes her rambunctious dying grandmother back to their ancestral Mexican village, they both get more than they bargained for when they each start unusual romances that will reveal long-held secrets.
KEY CHANGE
(Family Dramedy — TICK TICK BOOM meets INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED)
While preparing for the biggest moment of his career, an overly ambitious and immature music manager is forced to choose between his dreams and his family, when the sudden death of his estranged father leads to the adoption of a sister he never knew he had.
THE TEACHER
(Coming-of-age Family Drama — THE BREADWINNER meets THE FAREWELL)
To escape her impending arranged marriage, a brilliant Muslim teenager assumes a false identity as a teacher to obtain an American visa and escape the morning of her wedding.
Character-driven, Female-centric, BIPOC-centric, Queer, Romantic, Coming-of-Age, YA
BIPOC, Latinx, Indigenous/Native American, Middle Eastern, Asian, Multi-Ethnic, Disabled
unrepped