Deborah Stenard, LISFF 2026, Feature Screenplay Official Selection

- Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

My daily life in Los Angles is something I never thought I would be able to achieve growing up in New England. I loved movies as a kid. Went to University to be an actress. Tried my hand at it in NYC during the ‘80’s which was a VERY interesting time to be in that city. Moved to LA in the early 90’s just in time for riots and earthquakes. I have been acting, writing and producing my own works ever since. Now I feel I am close to have someone else produce my work, fingers crossed.

- When and how did you get into writing/filmmaking?

I have been writing ever since university, which I started way back in 1978. I wrote my own audition piece, because how many times can the auditioners see yet another 17-year-old American kid doing Juliet and something from The Skin of Our Teeth? I think it was that gamble that got me my place at school. Once I moved to NYC, I tried the same thing, writing my own audition pieces and making the auditioners sit up and listen to something new. When I wrote, produced and starred in my own short film, I went into massive debt, and so now I am more than happy to only write and let someone else produced my work.

I have a few Best Screenplay awards; I was a second Rounder at Austin Film Festival last year and THE SILVER CUP was Best Screenplay at the Burbank International Film Festival in 2024. I am currently working with a FANTASTIC London-based screenwriting coach- Dominic Morgan. Otherwise known as SCRIPTFELLA. I feel his expertise has improved my screenplays at least 75% and I am striving for 100%. 

- How often do you write/create/ develop ideas? Do you have a writing/creative routine? And what inspires you to write?

I write every single day. Luckily, I am retired from my day job, so I have that time. I have a notebook that I keep with me all the time, and I write down ideas for new stories, scripts, improvement on current scripts. I am lucky to live in Los Angeles, so there are a lot of events and seminars that I can go to almost every week, to meet other writers and schmooze with movie professionals. And lots of film festivals, so I see lots of work by other striving writers, which is great.

- How does it feel to have your work recognised?

Any writer will tell you, I think, that the recognition of wining or of getting chosen as an official selection in any film festival not only makes the writer feel validated, but it is also a GREAT calling card for that latest query email. And since my script is set in Ireland, this is an extra special honor.

- What's the best and most challenging thing about writing/filmmaking in your genre/form? 

I write comedies, all different types of comedies. I guess the most challenging thing is one hopes that the reader finds your work as funny as you do yourself.

-  How did you develop the idea for your LISFF/LISP-selected work? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

I started this script over 5 years ago. I have been writing and rewriting and polishing it. Now, as I said, with the help of Dominic Morgan, I honestly am the happiest I have even been and I would feel confident enough to show it to any producer in the land.  This idea came to me after I read a story written in the 1930’s about the famed Chalice of Antioch and how it was displayed at one of the World’s Fairs America seemed to do a lot of back then. There are a lot of historical artifacts that purport to be The Holy Grail. Since my family originally came over from Ireland and I have always wanted to visit, I wrote this story about an Irish woman and her daughter-in-law who just might have found The Holy Grail in a peat bog. And what happens after that.

- Can you please give us a few tips about filmmaking/ scriptriting/writing?

My only tips about scriptwriting/writing is to always keep learning. Always keep reading scripts. Always keep watching movies, old and new. You never know where and from whom you can learn something.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions/festivals? 

The most challenging thing about entering competitions is they can be expensive to enter. They add up. So, I say: research the festivals and learn which ones are the best and most helpful and not just money grabs.

- Lastly, do you recommend the writers/filmmakers submit to LISP/LISFF?

And I most definitely recommend that writers and filmmakers, especially from the British Isles, enter the LISA/LISFF. Your communication is great; you OBVIOUSLY value the writers and filmmakers who enter. And you're one of the top cities for filmmaking.  And thank you again for choosing THE SILVER CUP as an official Selection!