Director: Katharine O'Brien

Biography: Katharine O'Brien is a writer/director raised between Santa Barbara, CA and South Boston. She studied English literature at Wellesley College and received her MFA from Columbia University in film directing. Katharine worked as a writing assistant for The Kids in the Hall, and ABC Sitcom "Carpoolers" directed by the Russo Brothers and in development at MUSE Film and she wound up a featured character in upcoming film " The Golden Suicides" written by Bret Easton Ellis, about the deaths of art world stars Jeremy Blake and Theresa Duncan. A large background in music, Katharine directed concert films in her early years of bands such as Iggy Pop, The Dead Weather, Guns N Roses, Crystal Castles, and Courtney Love. Katharine's short films have won accolades at numerous festivals, her Columbia thesis film,"Illusive Fields" appeared in Miami Basel in 2015. Katharine most recently penned "The Automatic Hate",which had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival at 2015 and went on to receive much critical acclaim, playing top international festivals such as Busan, Mar del Plata, Tallin Black Nights, and winning the Audience Award at Mill Valley Film Festival. Katharine is actively involved in promoting the arts and independent film culture in Los Angeles, as a member of LACMA's Contemporary Friends committee and serving on the Board of Directors at the Cinefamily Foundation.