Tamar Halpern is a prolific writer and director with a diverse range of credits to her name. Her feature film output includes a slate of female-driven thrillers for A&E Networks, as well as a number of other projects that showcase her versatility and talent.
One of her most notable projects is the feature documentary "Llyn Foulkes One Man Band," which had an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run in 25 US cities and abroad before airing on Netflix for three years. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with The Hollywood Reporter praising its "joy to watch" quality and Variety calling it "undeniably fascinating."
Halpern has also written and directed several feature films for young adults, including "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life," which stars Mira Sorvino, Michael Urie, and Joe Pantoliano. Her earlier work includes the award-winning feature "Shelf Life," which introduced Betsy Brandt (of "Breaking Bad" fame) and was praised by Variety for its "whip smart" script and fresh take on American comedy.
In addition to her work in film, Halpern has also made a name for herself in the world of comedy. Her short film "Death Taxes and Apple Juice" has been invited to over 40 festivals and has won 16 awards, including the Boston Women in Comedy award.
Halpern has also ventured into the world of television, adapting the YA book "The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" for HBO Max in 2022. She has also signed a two-book deal with Diogenes Press in Zurich, Switzerland, and her novel "California Girl" is set to be published in 2024.
As a screenwriter, Halpern has had a number of notable successes. Her script "Ezzy Fish" was included on the prestigious Black List, and she has also been a semi-finalist for the Nicholl's Fellowship, a finalist for the IFP/NY Top Ten, and a finalist for Slamdance and Sundance. She has also completed her MFA in film from USC, where she was the recipient of the Paramount Pictures Fellowship and the winner of the Jack Oakie Comedy Screenwriting Award.
In addition to her work in film and television, Halpern has also written and directed for the stage, with credits including "One Axe Plays," "Public Assembly," "Hero Theatre," "InHouse Theatre," "The Roots and Wings Project," and the "Houston Coalition Against Hate."
As a writer, Halpern's work has been published in a number of publications, including "Joyland," "Huffington Post," "Retro," "SheRa," "ByLine," "Ms in the Biz," "Gulf Coast," and "Sundress," where she won the Best Short Fiction award. She has also written and directed commercials for a number of major brands, including DeBeers, Pepsi, YSL, EventBrite, Amazon, and Armani.
Halpern is a dedicated teacher and has taught screenwriting at USC and directing at Chapman University. She is also a proud alumna of Hedgebrook, a funded writing retreat where women authors can focus on their work.
