Scott Aharoni

Last updated
Scott Aharoni
Scott Aharoni in suit.png
Aharoni in 2022.
Born (1994-01-04) January 4, 1994 (age 31)
NationalityAmerican
Education William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
Alma mater Hofstra University
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, editor
Years active2012-present
Known for The Chronology of Water
Leylak
Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer
Website curiousgremlin.com

Scott Aharoni (born January 4, 1994) is an American film producer and director. He is a co-Founder of Curious Gremlin, [1] an American independent entertainment company specializing in film and television development, production and financing. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Aharoni was born in Great Neck, New York, on January 4, 1994. He grew up studying the art of sleight of hand magic and even performed on stage and at special events. He was introduced to moviemaking in middle school.

During his time in high school, he participated in the school district's public television news station, which featured a full production TV studio and mobile film truck. He directed and produced several forms of content under the GNPS TV banner, including the school's morning news show, sporting events, concerts, and graduation ceremonies. After graduating from the William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, he attended Hofstra University on a Presidential Scholarship. He pursued his bachelor of science in film and television production and graduated with summa cum laude Latin Honors from the Honors College at Hofstra University in 2016. [3]

While doing his bachelor's, Aharoni worked as a freelance director and editor, working on experimental short films, commercials, and music videos.

In 2015, in his final year at Hofstra University, Aharoni produced, directed, and edited his senior thesis short film, Bardo . [4]

Bardo won the 1st Annual Golden Lion Award, which was awarded to the filmmaker of the year, at the 20th Annual Hofstra Film Festival in 2016. It also won awards for best director, producer, and editor. [5] Bardo premiered at The Dolby Theatre in New York City in 2016.

After graduating from Hofstra University, Aharoni continued to work on music videos and commercials as a freelance director and producer. In 2017 he directed, produced, and edited his next short, The Untimely Gift. [5] The film premiered at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in New York City and received critical praise.

Career

In August 2020, Aharoni directed, produced, and edited his next short film, Leylak , [6] during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was executive produced by Colman Domingo and Oscar nominee Doug Roland. The film held its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, and won the Special Jury Prize. [7] In 2020, he served as the Executive Producer for the film The Criminals, [8] which was shortlisted for the 94th Academy Awards. [9]

After the success of Leylak, Aharoni co-founded Curious Gremlin, an American independent entertainment company specializing in film and television development, production and financing. Curious Gremlin produced their first feature film titled, Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer , which stars Steve Buscemi, John Magaro, and Britt Lower won an Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

Since then, Aharoni has served as an Executive Producer on various projects, including Kristen Stewart's directorial debut, The Chronology of Water , which stars Imogen Poots and held its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival; Lofty Nathan's The Carpenter's Son , which stars Nicolas Cage and Noah Jupe; Oscar Boyson's directorial debut, Our Hero, Balthazar which stars Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield and Noah Centineo, and held its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival; Dylan Meyer's directorial debut, The Wrong Girls , which stars Kristen Stewart, Seth Rogen, LaKeith Stanfield, Kumail Nanjiani and Alia Shawkat; and Mona Fastvold's The Testament of Ann Lee , which stars Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott and Matthew Beard, and will premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

Filmography

Film

YearTitle Director Producer Executive Producer Editor Notes
2013The ParadoxNoYesNoNoShort film
2014SeparationNoYesNoNoShort film
2015Love BugNoYesNoNoShort film
2016 Bardo YesYesNoYesShort film
2017The Untimely GiftYesYesNoYesShort film; also production designer
2018GreenNoNoYesNoShort film
2020The CriminalsNoNoYesNoShort film
2021 Leylak YesYesNoYesShort film
2023The Old Young CrowNoNoYesNoShort film
2023nothing, except everything.NoYesNoNoShort film
2023Death and RamenNoYesNoNoShort film
2023The WalkNoNoYesNoFeature film
2024Not Your Average FamilyNoNoYesNoFeature film
2024you are seen.NoYesNoNoShort film
2024 A Good Day Will Come NoNoYesNoShort film
2024 Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer NoYesNoNoFeature film
2025 The Carpenter's Son NoNoYesNoFeature film
2025 The Chronology of Water NoNoYesNoFeature film
2025We Are KingsNoNoYesNoShort film
2025Money TalksNoYesNoNoShort film
2025 Our Hero, Balthazar NoNoYesNoFeature film
2025Sunday SauceNoNoYesNoShort film
2025 The Testament of Ann Lee NoNoYesNoFeature film
TBANextNoNoYesNoShort film
TBAAlpha GangNoNoYesNoFeature film
TBAGlide: All the People I'll Never BeNoNoYesNoShort film
TBA The Wrong Girls NoNoYesNoFeature film

Accolades

YearOrganizationFilmAwardResultNotes
2016 Hofstra Film Festival Bardo Best In ShowWon [10]
Best DirectorWon
Best ProducerWon
Best EditorWon
2017 Sedona International Film Festival Independent Spirit AwardWon [11]
Madrid International Film FestivalBest Director of a Short FilmNominated [12]
Best EditorNominated
Downtown Urban Arts International Film FestivalBest FilmNominated
Audience Choice AwardWon
Snowtown Film FestivalBest Short FilmWon [13]
Golden Door International Film Festival Best ShortNominated [14]
2018Bermuda International Film FestivalThe Untimely GiftBest International ShortNominated [15]
Rhode Island International Film Festival Best Short FilmNominated
2019Utah Film FestivalShort EditingNominated
2021 Tribeca Festival Leylak Special Jury Mention - Narrative Short FilmWon [16]
Best Short Film - International CompetitionNominated
Short Shorts Film Festival & AsiaBest Short Film - International CompetitionNominated [17]
Indy Shorts International Film FestivalBest ShortNominated [18]
Galway Film Fleadh Best International Short FictionWon [19]
Rhode Island International Film FestivalFlickers' Youth Film Jury Award - Best Narrative ShortWon [20]
Grand Prize - Best ShortNominated
Sidewalk Film Festival Kathryn Tucker Windham Storyteller AwardWon
Port Townsend Film Festival Best Narrative ShortWon
HollyShorts Film Festival Best Short FilmNominated [21]
Breckenridge Festival of FilmBest of the Fest - Best Short FilmNominated
LA Shorts International Film FestivalBest Short FilmNominated
Woods Hole Film Festival Jury Prize - Best Short DramaNominated
Maine International Film Festival Best Short FilmNominated
Tirana International Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short FictionNominated
Nashville Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - Best Narrative ShortNominated [22]
New York Shorts International Film FestivalBest Dramatic ShortWon [23]
Boston Film Festival Festival Prize - Best Short FilmNominated
Indie Memphis Film Festival Best Narrative ShortNominated
Newport Beach Film Festival Grand Jury Award - Best Narrative Short FilmNominated
Savannah Film Festival Special Jury Award - Best Narrative ShortNominated
Leiden International Film Festival Pronck Shorts Competition Award - Best Short FilmWon
2022 Atlanta Film Festival Grand Jury Award - Narrative ShortNominated
Sedona International Film FestivalBest Short FilmNominated
NewFilmmakers Los AngelesBest Short FilmNominated [24]
San Francisco Indie Short FestivalBest Narrative US Short FilmNominated
Florida ShortsJury Prize - ShortNominated
2025HollyShorts Film FestivalMoney TalksBest ProducerWon [25]

References

  1. "Scott Aharoni | Producer, Director, Editor". IMDb .
  2. "'Golda' Director Guy Nattiv Boards 'The Criminals' as Executive Producer (EXCLUSIVE)". January 26, 2022.
  3. "Hofstra University" (PDF). hofstra.edu/. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  4. "DUO Entertaintment". DuoEnt 10/30/19.
  5. 1 2 "Senior Thesis Films – Hofstra University Film Program".
  6. "Colman Domingo Boards Oscar Entry Short 'Leylak' as EP". November 29, 2021.
  7. D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 29, 2021). "Colman Domingo Boards Oscar Entry Short 'Leylak' As EP".
  8. "94th OSCARS SHORTLISTS | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. December 20, 2021.
  9. "94th OSCARS SHORTLISTS". December 20, 2021.
  10. "Bardo Takes Film Festival Awards - www.qgazette.com - Queens Gazette". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  11. "Sedona Film Fest Audience Awards Good Fortune". The Sedona Eye. The Sedona Eye. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  12. "Madrid International Film Festival, ES (2017)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  13. Thornton, Craig. ""Bardo" wins Grand Prize at Snowtown Film Festival". WWNYTV. Wwnytv.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  14. "Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City". Facebook.com. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  15. "BIFF Announce Short Films Selected for Festival". February 4, 2018.
  16. "Short film 'Leylak' wins award at Tribeca Film Festival". NY1. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  17. "Leylak/Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2021(SSFF & ASIA 2021)".
  18. https://heartlandfilm.prowly.com/415214-2025-indy-shorts-international-film-festival-announces-academy-award-qualifying-winners
  19. "The Galway Film Fleadh announces its award winners". July 26, 2021.
  20. https://thehollywood360.com/leylak-award-winning-live-action-short-film-review-interview/
  21. https://bitpixtv.news/2021/10/02/hollyshorts-2021-noteworthy-films-award-winners/
  22. https://www.awardsdaily.com/2021/10/05/nashville-film-fest/
  23. https://arts.columbia.edu/news/‘leylak’-wins-best-drama-2021-new-york-shorts-international-film-festival
  24. https://www.newfilmmakersla.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LE.pdf
  25. "HollyShorts Winners: 'Trapped,' 'A Son And A Father,' 'Hurikán' And 'Voices from the Abyss' Earn Oscar-Qualifying Awards". August 17, 2025.