I craft the stories my characters command me to tell.
Colin Francis Costello is a biracial, Emmy-nominated writer/director and WGA East member whose work spans comedy, horror, family, and superhero genres. He is known for creating character-driven stories with heart, humor, and an eye toward underrepresented voices, often centered on YA, teens, and women.
He wrote and directed the multi-award-winning short The After Party, as well as the acclaimed genre shorts Dreamwisher, Storage, and Swipe, which recently won Best Horror Short at the IFS Film Festival.
Colin also penned the family feature films The Stream, inspired by Star Wars and featuring Rainn Wilson, and Alternate Universe, starring Steve Guttenberg. He wrote for the PBS Kids series Moochie Kalala Detective's Club, earning an Emmy nomination for his work.
A former advertising creative director, Colin’s writing has attracted attention from Spike Lee, Michael Bay, Tim Burton, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Disney, among others.
The former Disney General Writing Finalist teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension, serves on multiple WGA West committees, and is the West Coast Editor for Reel 360 News.
Colin is out to set up 2026 as is best year yet with two features in development as well as other TV projects.
  • Writer (20 Credits)
    Bar Crawl
    Screenplay
    Don't Let Them Bite
    Screenplay
    False Start
    Short Script, Television Script
    Frankie & Mary
    Short Script
    Hell to Pay
    Short Script
    Line Please
    Screenplay
    Na0mi
    Screenplay
    Polleros
    Short Script
    Rebirth
    Television Script
    Shock Therapy
    Short Script
    Slaughter, Texas
    Screenplay
    Star Student
    Screenplay
    Supermodels!
    Screenplay
    The Loch
    Short Script
    The Long Dark Climb
    Screenplay
    Doritos "Bag Football"2024
    Other
    Doritos "Couch"2024
    Other
    Doritos "Go Bold" Campaign2024
    Other
    McDonald's "Inner Peace" Campaign2024
    Other
    Storage2022
    Short
  • Director (8 Credits)
    Street Riders
    Screenplay
    Doritos "Bag Football"2024
    Other
    Doritos "Couch"2024
    Other
    Doritos "Go Bold" Campaign2024
    Other
    McDonald's "Inner Peace" Campaign2024
    Other
    Storage2022
    Short
    The After Party - The Director's Cut2019
    Short
    Fade In2018
    Short
  • Producer (2 Credits)
    McDonald's "Inner Peace" Campaign2024
    Other
    Swipe (Proof of Concept)2024
    Short
Indie Spirit Award Winner
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
Idyllwild
2026
Best Horror Short
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
IFS LA Film Festival
LOS ANGELES
2025
Best Horror Short
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
Austin Micro Film Festival
Austin, Texas
2025
Best Sci-Fi Horror
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
French Riviera Film Festival
Cannes
2025
Nominee - Best Micro Short
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
Studio City Film Festival
Studio City, CA
2025
Best Short Screenplay
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
The Seattle Film Festival
Seattle
2025
Official Selection
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
South African Independent Film Festival
Capetown
2025
Silver Award Online Commercial Campaign/Branding
Doritos "Bag Football"
Telly Awards
New York
2025
Platinum
Doritos "Bag Football"
Vega Awards
New York
2025
Platinum
Doritos "Bag Football"
Viddy Awards
Dallas
2025
Silver Award Online Commercial Campaign/Branding
Doritos "Couch"
Telly Awards
New York
2025
Platinum
Doritos "Couch"
Vega Awards
New York
2025
Platinum
Doritos "Couch"
Viddy Awards
Dallas
2025
Bronze Campaign Creative Idea
McDonald's "Inner Peace" Campaign
2025 AdForum PHNX AWARDS
Paris
2025
Silver Award Online Commercial Campaign/Branding
Doritos "Go Bold" Campaign
Telly Awards
New York
2025
Platinum
Doritos "Go Bold" Campaign
Vega Awards
New York
2025
Platinum
Doritos "Go Bold" Campaign
Viddy Awards
Dallas
2025
Winner: Audience Award, Best Actor, Best Ensemble Cast
Storage
Idyllwild International Film Festival
Idyllwild, CA
2023
Official Selection
Storage
Tuesday of Horror
Berlin
2023
Official Selection
Storage
New York Sci-Fi and Horror Film Festival
New York, NY
2023
Nominee - Best Overall, Best Sci-Fi/Horror, Best Editing
Storage
Sante Fe Springs Film Festival
Sante Fe Springs, CA
2023
Winner Audience Award
Storage
Riverside International Film Festival
Riverside, CA
2023
Official Selection
Storage
Pasadena International Film Festival
Pasadena, CA
2023
Official Selection
Storage
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
Philadelphia, PA
2023
Winner Best Sci-Fi/Horror
Storage
French Riviera Film Festival
Cannes
2023
Best Short, Best Production Design
Storage
Los Angeles Cinematography Awards
Los Angeles, CA
2023
Best Supporting Actress
Storage
Demonic Brilliance Film Festival
Fredericton
2023
Grand Prize
Street Riders
Set in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
2023
BEST ACTION-DRAMA FEATURE SCREENPLAY
The Long Dark Climb
Golden State Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
2022
Finalist
The Long Dark Climb
Filmmatic
Los Angeles, CA
2022
Quarterfinalist
The Long Dark Climb
Screencraft
Los Angeles, CA
2022
Official Selection
The Long Dark Climb
Chicago Script Awards
Chicago, IL
2022
Best U.S. Narrative Short
Storage
Silicon Beach Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
2022
Winner: Best Director/Best Cinematography , Best Ensemble Acting
Storage
Seattle Film Festival
Seattle
2022
Official Selection
Storage
San Francisco Shorts by SF Indie
San Francisco
2022
Winner Best Horror
Storage
Oregon Screams Horror Festival Fall 2022
The Dalles
2022
Winner: Best Thriller Short, Best Director
Storage
Silver State Film Festival
Las Vegas, Nevada
2022
Official Selection
Storage
Studio City International Film Festival
Studio City, CA
2022
Winner Best Editing US Narrative Short
Storage
Culver City Film Festival
Culver City, CA
2022
Official Selection
The After Party - The Director's Cut
2018 Great Lakes International Film Festival
Eric
2018
Official Selection
The After Party - The Director's Cut
American Horrors
Erie
2018
Nominee Best Writing
The After Party - The Director's Cut
Nightmares Film Festival
Columbus
2018
Official Selection
The After Party - The Director's Cut
Chattanooga Film Festival
Chattanooga, Tenn
2018
Official Selection
The After Party - The Director's Cut
LA Shorts
Los Angeles
2018
Official Selection
The After Party - The Director's Cut
West Coast Horror Film Festival
Los Angeles
2018
Official Selection
The After Party - The Director's Cut
Culver City Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
2018
Winner Best Horror
The After Party - The Director's Cut
Oregon Scream Week
Portland
2018
Winner Best Thriller
The After Party - The Director's Cut
Women In Horror Film Festival
Atlanta
2018
Audience Award Winner
The After Party - The Director's Cut
Holly Shorts Monthly Screening Series
Los Angeles
2018
Finalist
Star Student
Finish Line Script Competition
Los Angeles, CA
2015
Top 10 Finalist
Star Student
Screencraft Family Screenplay Contest
Los Angeles, CA
2015
Official Selection
Storage
LA Shorts International Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
Best U.S. Narrative Shorts
Storage
Palm Springs Shorts Festival
Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
Silicon Beach Film Festival
Los Angeles
Semi-finalist
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
Flicker Film Festival
Rhode Island
Gold
Swipe (Proof of Concept)
Telly Awards
New York
Birth Date
September 10
Nickname
"C"
Birth City
Philadelphia
Current City
Los Angeles
Hometown
Chicago
Zodiac Sign
Virgo
Children
Chloe and Maxine
"We're going to need a bigger boat."
I craft the stories my characters command me to tell.
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