The Sun Valley Film Festival is a premier festival with a particular focus on screenwriting. This year's High Scribe competition will be judged by Kevin Walsh. An Academy Award® nominated producer with over two decades in the entertainment industry, Kevin Walsh is the current President of Scott Free Films, Ridley Scott’s production banner. Kevin started at Scott Free in December 2016 and since that time he has produced Ridley Scott’s latest film ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD—starring Michelle Williams, Mark Walhberg and Christopher Plummer; Jake Scott’s THE BURNING WOMAN—starring Sienna Miller; and Drake Doremus’s ZOE—starring Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux. While at Scott Free, he has also helped oversee the release of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS for 20th Century Fox and BLADE RUNNER 2049 for Sony Pictures and Warner Bros.

Prior to his tenure at Scott Free, Kevin oversaw production for the THE GREATEST SHOWMAN for 20th Century Fox The film is directed by Michael Gracey and stars Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya. Kevin also produced MANCHESTER BY THE SEA— directed by Kenneth Lonergan and starring Casey Affleck—which was nominated for six Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and won for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor.

Kevin also produced the upcoming psychological thriller THROROUGHBREDS—directed by Cory Finley and starring Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy—which will be released by Focus Features on March 9th. Other film credits include the award-winning, comedy-drama THE WAY WAY BACK—directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash and starring Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney and Steve Carell.

The lab will be hosted by Lynn Shelton. Lynn Shelton, award winning writer and director, will receive the High Scribe Award and host the Screenwriters Lab, sponsored by Variety. Shelton’s work has screened at TIFF, Sundance, Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Slamdance, SXSW, and Deauville and been honored at several of those including 2009 Sundance Special Jury Prize and two Independent Spirit Awards—the Acura Someone To Watch Award and the John Cassavetes Award. Shelton has directed a number of television shows, including Mad Men, Master of None, Casual, Love, Santa Clarita Diet, The Mindy Project, New Girl, Shameless, Maron, Fresh Off The Boat, and GLOW.

Plus, join filmmaker and pitch master Will McCormack for an SVFF session dedicated to the art of pitching. McCormack will walk audience members through the do’s and don’ts of pitching, sharing success stories and tricks of the trade, and will try and sell his idea live to a panel of top producers. Q&A to follow and chance for High Scribe finalists to meet with producer panel, which includes Kevin Walsh of Scott Free Films, former president of Focus Features Jim Burke, and CEO of Broadway Video Jack Sullivan.