Hannah Z. Rice
SCREENWRITER // ACTOR
A Kiwi (not the fruit) screenwriter and performer with a penchant for witty humor, female-driven stories and tales about communities coming together.
A consummate team player, I offer a mix of ingenuity, passion and a can-do attitude that is endemic to my small, sheep-ridden homeland.
About
Originally hailing from Aotearoa, New Zealand (the great land down under down under), Hannah has long held an affinity for story-telling. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Cognitive Science at Northwestern University, Hannah worked as a theater and film actor in New Zealand. Catching the “writing bug” with playwriting, Hannah’s one act play Blood Business was shortlisted for Playmarket, NZ’s Playwrights B424 competition in 2021.
Beyond this, Hannah graduated from the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles, with her Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting.
Hannah has written a number of produced narrative short films including the off-beat comedy The Chop (see delightful tree-hugging photo), in which she also starred. An advocate for creative collaboration, Hannah has co-written a number of shorts, including the AFI produced thesis film, Shangri-La.
Shangri-La
A despondent, widowed man living in a nursing home asks his best friend to help him win over his high school crush one last time, but finds that true love may be where he least expects it.
Official selection of:
LA Shorts International Film Festival, 2024
Catalina Film Festival, 2024
Boston Film Festival, 2024
AFI Fest, 2024
Ridgeway Film Festival, 2024
Miami Short Film Festival, 2024
Nitehawk Shorts Festival, 2025
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, 2025
THE CHOP
For Taka, a socially anxious New Zealand, park ranger working in a California park, trees are people. When a big Redwood tree is being cut down to make space for a parking lot, Taka must pluck up the courage to stand up to her co-workers in order to preserve what matters most to her.
Official selection of:
EcoZine Film Festival, 2025
Eastern’s Green Frog Film Festival, 2025 - AWARD WINNER
First Frame: Student Film Festival, 2025
International Screenwriting Competition, 2024 - QUARTERFINALIST
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