Semifinalist, 2026/2027 Top Tier Competition
BIO
Darren Moran writes high concept, delayed coming-of-age comedies about redemption and reinvention, because he wants people to be able to laugh at the worst thing they've ever done, not be defined by it. Which is totally what someone with a closet full of skeletons would say.
Darren has won or placed in numerous screenwriting competitions such as The Austin Film Festival, ScreenCraft, and Cinestory. He won the Final Draft Big Break contest with his family comedy, QUBIT, about an alien monkey who promises a teenage girl the AI technology to bring back her dead father in exchange for her help taking over the world.
He was also the creator and showrunner of the YouTube series, CAMP HALOHEAD, starring Ryan Kaji and which garnered over 22 million views. As a Madison Avenue Creative Director, Darren has written, produced, or directed over a thousand commercials and films, many with some of Hollywood's biggest actors and directors, and one with Gilbert Gottfried.
Originally from New York City, Darren now lives in Los Angeles where he's been saving up to buy a smoothie from Erewhon.