Occam’s Beard wins five more festival honors as feature plans expand

David Ezell’s psychological thriller Occam’s Beard picked up five new awards and recognitions in the U.S. and U.K. during a single week, while Camelback Films explored a feature adaptation with possible production ties to Oslo and London. Norwegian actor Will Lerberg, who stars in the short, is set to reprise his role in the feature.

Why it matters: - The latest awards strengthen Occam’s Beard as it moves from a decorated short film toward a feature-length adaptation. - The recognition also raises the project’s profile across both U.S. and international festival circuits. - The feature’s possible shift to Oslo and London could broaden its creative and production footprint beyond New York.

What happened: - David Ezell’s Occam’s Beard received five new honors in one week from festivals and screenplay competitions in the United States and the United Kingdom. - The screenplay was named a Second Rounder in the 2026 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition. - The project won Best Short Screenplay at the London Night Film Festival. - The project won Best Short Screenplay at the Bowery Film Festival. - The project received a Gold Screenplay Award, or second place, from the Soho International CINEVERSE Screenplay Awards. - The project won Best Short Script at the Muzzle Awards. - Ezell attended the London Night Film Festival awards ceremony on October 22 at Everyman King's Cross with Norwegian actor and associate producer Will Lerberg. - Occam’s Beard was announced as the Best Short Screenplay winner while Ezell and Lerberg were in attendance. - Ezell later attended the Bowery Film Festival in New York.

The details: - The Austin Film Festival competition is widely regarded as one of the film industry’s premier screenplay contests. - Soho International CINEVERSE places short and feature-length scripts in the same competition, and Occam’s Beard finished second in that mixed field. - Lerberg stars as JP in the film. - Lerberg is also set to reprise the role in the feature adaptation. - Lerberg serves as associate producer on both the short and feature versions. - Lerberg graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has screen and stage credits in New York. - Ezell said London was the first awards ceremony he and Lerberg could attend together because of schedules and international travel costs. - Ezell said meeting festival organizers and fellow nominees was the highlight of the London trip. - The screenplay previously won Best New Screenwriter at the Big Apple Film Festival. - The project has also earned recognition from screenplay competitions and festivals in Europe, Asia, and the United States. - Chicago Script Awards called Ezell a “compelling new voice in psychological storytelling.” - Camelback Films is developing the feature version of Occam’s Beard. - Camelback Films also listed the feature documentary Paper Moon Rise among its current projects. - Camelback Films is a New York-based independent production company focused on narrative and documentary projects. - The company’s media contact is David Ezell at david@camelbackfilms.nyc. - Camelback Films listed its project page at the Occam’s Beard page.

Between the lines: - The awards run gives Ezell and Camelback Films momentum as they seek collaborators for the feature. - The London trip suggests the production is testing international partnerships, not just festival visibility. - Moving the feature setting and production away from New York would mark a notable creative change for a story originally set there.

What’s next: - Ezell and Lerberg plan to attend the European Short Film Festival in Oslo in December. - Camelback Films is discussing casting, creative collaborators, and potential production locations for the feature. - Ezell is considering relocating the feature’s setting and production to Oslo and London. - The feature’s development will continue with Lerberg attached in the lead role.