Blake Winston Rice is a writer-director from New Jersey and a graduate of Rowan University.  His breakout short, Tea (2024), a 1990s dramedy starring Michael Gandolfini and executive produced by Patty Jenkins, premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The film went on to screen at 13 Oscar-qualifying festivals, earning awards at RiverRun, Charlotte, HollyShorts, Bushwick, Yellowstone, and Micheaux. Tea is now a Vimeo Staff Pick and streaming on Kanopy.  Blake is represented by Kaplan Perrone.  His most recent short DISC, premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. He is currently in advanced development on his debut feature, The Empty Lot (Wild Atlantic Pictures) alongside his follow-up feature film, Valves.