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Steven Zaillian Biography

Birth Name:Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian

Birth Place:Fresno, California, United States

Profession Writer, Producer, Script department, Director, Editor

Fast Facts

Received the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 2009 Austin Film Festival
Was the first person to win the Scripter Literacy Achievement Award from the University of Southern California's library
In 1975, he earned a degree from San Francisco State University
Before becoming a writer, he aspired to make documentaries
Quote: "I'm not one of those people who writes long soliloquies․․․And I just think that visual storytelling, for me, is more interesting․ So if I can show something rather than say it, I will․"
Often creates scripts adapted from real-life stories
Having worked as a script doctor for various films, he has re-wrote the screenplays for "Patriot Games," "Twister" and "Saving Private Ryan․"

Awards

1991Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1991USC Scripter Award-: winner
1991WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1993ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
1993NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1993Special Jury Prize-: winner
1993Tokyo Grand Prix-: nominated
1993Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
1993Best New Director-Best New Director: winner
1994Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: winner
1994BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Adapted: winner
1994CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1994CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1994DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1994Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
1994Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: winner
1994Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: nominated
1994MTV Movie Award-Best New Filmmaker: winner
1994Literary Award-Screenplay: winner
1994USC Scripter Award-: nominated
1994USC Scripter Award-: winner
1994WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: winner
1996Stinker Award-Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More than $100 Million Using Hollywood Math: nominated
1997Razzie Award-Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million: nominated
1999Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: nominated
1999USC Scripter Award-: winner
1999WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: nominated
2002ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
2002Chainsaw Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2003Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
2003BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
2003Edgar-Best Motion Picture: nominated
2003Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: nominated
2003IOMA-Best Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura): nominated
2003WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
2008Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2008BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
2008Image Award-Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television): nominated
2011Felix-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2011ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2011BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011CFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2011DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
2011Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
2011IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2011ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2011KCFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2011Sierra Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011OFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2011SDFCS Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2011Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2011SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2011SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2011TFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2011VVFP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2011WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012AACTA International Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2012Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: winner
2012Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
2012ICS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2012OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012USC Scripter Award-: nominated
2012VFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2012WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2014Felix-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2016Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2017DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series: winner
2017Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
2017PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
2017WGA Award (TV)-Long Form - Adaptation: nominated
2019BFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019CFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2019DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2019DFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019DFCC-Best Screenplay: nominated
2019FFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: nominated
2019GWNYFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019KCFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019NBR Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019NMFC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019Odyssey Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019OFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019OAFFC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures: nominated
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
2019SDFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019SFBAFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2019Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2019SFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2019SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2019TFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2019WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020AACTA International Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2020Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2020Oscar-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020AFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay (Adapted): nominated
2020CIC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
2020HFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2020HCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020ICS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020LEJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
2020NCFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2020OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2020OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2020USC Scripter Award-Film: nominated
2020WGA Award (Screen)-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2024Golden Frog-TV Series Competition: winner
2024Gotham TV Award-Breakthrough Limited Series: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: winner
2025DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series: winner
2025USC Scripter Award-Television: nominated
2025WGA Award (TV)-Limited Series: nominated