American New Wave 25: Sean Durkin

Not sure that you could have written a better scenario for writer/director Sean Durkin in 2010. He began the year at Sundance, workshopping Martha Marcy May Marlene, his feature film debut at the Institutes’ Screenwriter’s Lab and premiered his short film, Mary Last Seen during the fest portion. Durkin then brought the film to Cannes, where it won the Director’s Fortnight’s PRIX SFR (for Best Short) and then he revisited the Institute once again for the Director’s Lab (see pic below). If all goes well, we should be breaking out some casting news and a production start date shortly.

A Tisch Grad with 2006’s Doris (see trailer) which starred Rosemarie DeWitt (from Rachel Getting Married fame) under his belt and a one-third member of the NYC based Borderline Films co., Durkin has learned the ropes from having worn several “hats” — first collaborating as a DP on a pair of Antonio Campos’ shorts, and then as a producer on Campos’ Afterschool. It’s this kind of prior experience that will undoubtably help him finish off the year in style and if we take a cue from the atmospherics of his short film, then what he is setting out to do with his feature (as explained in this profile with IndieWIRE) is already giving me the creeps. Look for it to be a passport stamped filled year for Durkin in 2011.