Scott Aharoni

Scott Aharoni studied at Hofstra University and William A. Shine Great Neck South High School. The recorded working language is English. Works named in the authority record are Bardo, The Untimely Gift, Leylak, The Criminals, A Good Day Will Come and Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer.

• Name — Scott Aharoni • Born — 4 January 1994 • Birthplace — Long Island, New York • Education — William A. Shine Great Neck South High School Hofstra University • Occupation — Film director, producer, editor • Years Active — 2012-present • Known for — The Chronology of Water The Testament of Ann Lee Our Hero, Balthazar • Website — curiousgremlin.com

Aharoni was born in Great Neck, New York, on January 4, 1994. He grew up studying the art of sleight of hand magic and even performed on stage and at special events. He was introduced to moviemaking in middle school. During his time in high school, he participated in the school district's public television news station, which featured a full production TV studio and mobile film truck. He directed and produced several forms of content under the GNPS TV banner, including the school's morning news show, sporting events, concerts, and graduation ceremonies. After graduating from the William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, he attended Hofstra University on a Presidential Scholarship. He pursued his bachelor of science in film and television production and graduated with summa cum laude Latin Honors from the Honors College at Hofstra University in 2016. While doing his bachelor's, Aharoni worked as a freelance director and editor, working on experimental short films, commercials, and music videos. In 2015, in his final year at Hofstra University, Aharoni produced, directed, and edited his senior thesis short film, Bardo. Bardo won the 1st Annual Golden Lion Award, which was awarded to the filmmaker of the year, at the 20th Annual Hofstra Film Festival in 2016. It also won awards for best director, producer, and editor. Bardo premiered at The Dolby Theatre in New York City in 2016. After graduating from Hofstra University, Aharoni continued to work on music videos and commercials as a freelance director and producer. In 2017 he directed, produced, and edited his next short, The Untimely Gift. The film premiered at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in New York City and received critical praise.

In August 2020, Aharoni directed, produced, and edited his next short film, Leylak, during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was executive produced by Colman Domingo and Oscar nominee Doug Roland. The film held its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, and won the Special Jury Prize. In 2020, he served as executive pProducer for the film The Criminals, which was shortlisted for the 94th Academy Awards. After the success of Leylak, Aharoni co-founded Curious Gremlin, an American independent entertainment company specializing in film and television development, production and financing. Curious Gremlin produced their first feature film titled, Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer, which stars Steve Buscemi, John Magaro, and Britt Lower won an Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. Since then, Aharoni has served as an Executive Producer on various projects, including Kristen Stewart's directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, which stars Imogen Poots and held its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival; Lofty Nathan's The Carpenter's Son, which stars Nicolas Cage and Noah Jupe; Oscar Boyson's directorial debut, Our Hero, Balthazar which stars Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield and Noah Centineo, and held its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival; Dylan Meyer's directorial debut, The Wrong Girls, which stars Kristen Stewart, Seth Rogen, LaKeith Stanfield, Kumail Nanjiani and Alia Shawkat; and Mona Fastvold's The Testament of Ann Lee, which stars Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott and Matthew Beard, and will premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. In 2026, Aharoni was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of its Class of 2026 in the Short Films Branch. That same month, it was announced he was producing David Robert Mitchell's They Follow, the sequel to It Follows, starring Maika Monroe, Michael Gandolfini, Jackie Earle Haley, Justine Lupe, Ariela Barer, Greg Kinnear, Ashley Romans, Ryan Destiny, and Don McManus. Under the Curious Gremlin banner, Aharoni optioned the film rights to Lady Macbeth, the novel by The New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid, for adaptation as a feature film, with Academy Award nominee Emma Donoghue attached to write the screenplay and BAFTA Award winner and Primetime Emmy Award nominee Kari Skogland set to direct. The acquisition marked another high-profile literary adaptation for the company as it continued to expand its development slate across prestige independent film. Through a growing slate of internationally recognized filmmakers, literary adaptations, and independent features, Aharoni's Curious Gremlin has continued to establish itself as an increasingly prominent force in the independent film landscape, with projects spanning festival cinema, prestige literary adaptations, and commercially driven auteur filmmaking.

• Year — Organization — Film — Award — Result — Notes • 2016 — Hofstra Film Festival — Bardo — Best In Show • Best Director • Best Producer • Best Editor • 2017 — Sedona International Film Festival — Independent Spirit Award • Madrid International Film Festival — Best Director of a Short Film • Best Editor • Downtown Urban Arts International Film Festival — Best Film • Audience Choice Award • Snowtown Film Festival — Best Short Film • Golden Door International Film Festival — Best Short • 2018 — Bermuda International Film Festival — The Untimely Gift — Best International Short • Rhode Island International Film Festival — Best Short Film • 2019 — Utah Film Festival — Short Editing • 2021 — Tribeca Festival — Leylak — Special Jury Mention - Narrative Short Film • Best Short Film - International Competition • Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia — Best Short Film - International Competition • Indy Shorts International Film Festival — Best Short • Galway Film Fleadh — Best International Short Fiction • Rhode Island International Film Festival — Flickers' Youth Film Jury Award - Best Narrative Short • Grand Prize - Best Short • Sidewalk Film Festival — Kathryn Tucker Windham Storyteller Award • Port Townsend Film Festival — Best Narrative Short • HollyShorts Film Festival — Best Short Film • Breckenridge Festival of Film — Best of the Fest - Best Short Film • LA Shorts International Film Festival — Best Short Film • Woods Hole Film Festival — Jury Prize - Best Short Drama • Maine International Film Festival — Best Short Film • Tirana International Film Festival — Jury Award - Best Short Fiction • Nashville Film Festival — Grand Jury Prize - Best Narrative Short • New York Shorts International Film Festival — Best Dramatic Short • Boston Film Festival — Festival Prize - Best Short Film • Indie Memphis Film Festival — Best Narrative Short • Newport Beach Film Festival — Grand Jury Award - Best Narrative Short Film • Savannah Film Festival — Special Jury Award - Best Narrative Short • Leiden International Film Festival — Pronck Shorts Competition Award - Best Short Film • 2022 — Atlanta Film Festival — Grand Jury Award - Narrative Short • Sedona International Film Festival — Best Short Film • NewFilmmakers Los Angeles — Best Short Film • San Francisco Indie Short Festival — Best Narrative US Short Film • Florida Shorts — Jury Prize - Short • 2025 — HollyShorts Film Festival — Money Talks — Best Producer