Darin Beckstead

Darin Beckstead is an American director and screenwriter. His fantasy film, Courage & Stupidity (2005), was inspired by Steven Spielberg's making of Jaws (1975). The 25-minute dramedy was shot on Super 35mm, thanks to a sponsorship from Kodak and Panavision, and screened internationally at top festivals such as Fantasia and Sitges. For his work and upfront communication, Darin received a letter of endorsement from Mr. Spielberg's long-time publicist and Senior Advisor, Marvin J. Levy (available on Beckstead's website). The film was later championed by Ted Sarandos, who made it the first short to receive a stand-alone distribution deal with Netflix. Beckstead's Indie movie, Somebody's Hero (2012), was lensed in New York City and employed 16mm film to support his retro vision for the story. It screened at The Heartland Film Festival, was voted an audience favorite at The Newport Beach Film Festival, and won Coney Island's festival, taking home the award for "Best Feature." For his cre