Some stories just won’t stay buried—and What’s Buried Beneath the Pines keeps proving it.
I’m beyond proud (and still a little stunned) to share that my pilot has officially been named a Finalist in the 2025 Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. This is one of the oldest and most respected festivals in the country, known not just for celebrating bold independent voices, but for actually helping connect them to the people who can bring those stories to life.
And here’s the kicker: we’ll be there in person.
That’s right—my wife and I will be flying out to Nashville this fall to attend the fest, meet fellow filmmakers, and be present for all the screenings, panels, and networking events. This isn’t just a laurel to screenshot. It’s a real opportunity to show up and stand behind the work in a room full of people who love story as much as I do.
For anyone new to the project, What’s Buried Beneath the Pines (WBBTP) is a Southern Gothic thriller and the flagship pilot for my anthology series Revenance. Set in the pine-choked low country of Georgia, the pilot follows Gray Harris, a prodigal son who returns home to bury his estranged father—and ends up unearthing a legacy soaked in blood, betrayal, and secrets the town never wanted dug up.
The story explores generational trauma, inherited power, and the danger of preserving a myth long past its expiration date. It’s deeply personal, not just because of the themes, but because it pulls from the rhythms, contradictions, and culture of the place I was raised. It’s the kind of story that dares to sit with grief, guilt, and identity—and still leave you wanting more.
To be recognized as a Finalist in this particular festival means more than I can say. Nashville has always had one foot in the past and one eye on the future—a place where tradition meets reinvention. That’s the heartbeat of this script. The idea that legacy can either imprison you or set you free, depending on what you choose to do with it.
This placement also comes on the heels of several others. In the past few months, WBBTP has earned:
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Semifinalist – Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition
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Quarterfinalist – PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
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Quarterfinalist – Final Draft Big Break
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Quarterfinalist – Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition
Now, a Finalist slot at the Nashville Film Festival adds serious weight to that list—and opens the door for meaningful exposure to executives, agents, and producers attending the festival. It’s one thing to be recognized. It’s another to get the chance to show up.
And we’re doing just that. Bags will be packed. Scripts printed. Cards ready. We’ll be soaking in every moment, every screening, every conversation. Because when a door cracks open, you don’t hesitate. You walk through it.
I wrote WBBTP to say something—to unpack what it means to return to the place that made you and realize you’re not the same person anymore. To reconcile the pain of your past with the possibility of your future. And seeing this story resonate with respected competitions, festivals, and now a community like Nashville’s? It means the message is getting through.
This finalist spot feels like a threshold. A signal that the time, sweat, and vulnerability I poured into these pages wasn’t in vain. That there’s space for Southern stories. For slow-burn thrillers. For complex characters. For work that cuts deep.
So thank you to the Nashville Film Festival and the screenwriting jury for this incredible honor. Thank you to everyone who’s championed this story—friends, readers, reps, and fellow writers walking their own winding roads.
We’ll see you in Nashville.
Let’s dig a little deeper.