For independent filmmakers, a week like this one doesn’t come often. Screenwriter and director David Ezell and Norwegian actor Will Lerberg are riding a wave of international festival recognition that would be remarkable even for a studio-backed production.
The Occam's Beard poster with the added laurels from the Austin Film Festival
David Ezell poses in front of the Bowery Film Festival's step-and-repeat after winning Best Short Screenplay for Occam’s Beard.
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Screenplay by David Ezell receives five honors as Camelback Films explores Oslo and London production locations for feature film starring Will Lerberg.
Winning an award is always wonderful, but meeting the people who make these festivals possible, as well as our fellow nominees, was really the highlight.”— David EzellNEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 30, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — **NEW YORK, NY — October 30, 2026** — The psychological thriller *Occam’s Beard*, written and directed by David Ezell, has added five new accolades to its already impressive international haul during a single extraordinary week of competition results from both US and UK festivals. The screenplay secured three separate Best Short Screenplay wins, a Gold Medal for Best Screenplay, and a slot in the prestigious 2026 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition.
For those keeping score, here is the full list of the latest honors:
- Austin Film Festival — 2026 Screenplay Competition Second Rounder
- London Night Film Festival — Winner, Best Short Screenplay
- Bowery Film Festival — Winner, Best Short Screenplay
- Soho International CINEVERSE Screenplay Awards — Gold Screenplay Award (Second Place)
- Muzzle Awards — Winner, Best Short Script
The Austin Film Festival recognition carries particular weight, since its screenplay competition is widely regarded as one of the premier contests in the film industry. Meanwhile, the Gold Screenplay Award at Soho International CINEVERSE is notable because short and feature-length screenplays compete together for the same prize, placing *Occam’s Beard* second in a field that spanned both formats.
A Special Evening in London
The week’s festivities included a trip to London, where Ezell attended the London Night Film Festival awards ceremony on October 22 at Everyman King's Cross alongside Lerberg, who stars as JP in the film. The two were together when *Occam’s Beard* was announced as the winner of Best Short Screenplay.
“Because of our schedules and the expense of international travel, neither Will nor I had been able to attend any of the previous awards ceremonies,” Ezell explained. “London was our first opportunity to attend one together, and the experience was extraordinary. Winning an award is always wonderful, but meeting the people who make these festivals possible, as well as our fellow nominees, was really the highlight. There's something special about being part of that community in person.”
Ezell subsequently attended the Bowery Film Festival in New York, and he and Lerberg are planning to attend the European Short Film Festival in Oslo this December. The new honors follow an earlier run of achievements that include Best New Screenwriter at the Big Apple Film Festival, plus recognition from screenplay competitions and festivals across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
A Psychological Thriller About Identity and the People We Love
*Occam’s Beard* centers on JP Ellison, a former child television star who becomes convinced that his longtime psychiatrist has been replaced by an impostor. Their encounter escalates into a psychological confrontation involving identity, memory, grief, and the sometimes fragile foundations of human relationships. Drawing on Ezell's professional experience as a psychotherapist, the story examines the profound uncertainty of discovering that someone familiar may no longer be the person we thought we knew. The Chicago Script Awards, when giving Ezell its Best Short Script Award, described him as a "compelling new voice in psychological storytelling."
From Award-Winning Short to International Feature
The recent London visit also provided a chance to push forward the feature-length adaptation of *Occam’s Beard*. While attending the London Night Film Festival, Ezell met with actors and directors to explore potential collaborations with UK talent on the forthcoming production. Although both the short and feature versions are set in New York City, Ezell is considering relocating the feature's setting and production to Oslo and London, opening up fresh creative and production possibilities.
Norwegian actor Will Lerberg, a graduate of the acclaimed American Academy of Dramatic Arts, stars in the short film and will reprise the leading role in the feature-length adaptation. Lerberg, who has multiple screen and stage credits in New York, also serves as associate producer on both the short and feature films. The feature is being developed by Camelback Films, with discussions underway regarding casting, creative collaborators, and potential production locations.
About Camelback Films
Camelback Films is a New York-based independent film production company dedicated to developing distinctive narrative and documentary projects. Its current slate includes *Occam’s Beard* and the feature documentary *Paper Moon Rise*.
Media Contact
David Ezell
Camelback Films
david@camelbackfilms.nyc
www.camelbackfilms.nyc/occams-beard
David Ezell
Camelback Films
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Why it matters: For an independent psychological thriller to rack up five international honors in a single week — including a top-tier competition like Austin Film Festival — signals that Ezell’s storytelling is resonating well beyond small festival circuits. With a feature adaptation in development and serious interest in relocating production to Oslo and London, Occam’s Beard is quickly becoming a project to watch on the indie film landscape.
