Blake Winston Rice is an award-winning film director and screenwriter. A New Jersey native and a graduate of Rowan University with a degree in Film & TV, Blake began his career in front of the camera as an actor and comedian before transitioning into narrative directing in 2018. Blake's career flourished with the critically acclaimed drama Steps, which was an Official Selection at the Sidewalk Film Festival and won the Special Grand Jury Award at the DeadCenter Film Festival in 2022. He also completed the single-shot dramatic thriller Sawdust in 2023, now available online. In 2024, Blake premiered his breakout film, the 1990s dramedy Tea, in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Tea has been selected into 10 Oscar-qualifying film festivals, winning awards at the Charlotte, Hollyshorts, Yellowstone International, Bushwick, and Micheaux Film Festivals. The film also has Patty Jenkins serving as an Executive Producer. ​Now represented by Kaplan Perrone Management, Blake is currently in post-production on his upcoming film DISC, starring Jim Cummings. His debut feature film, The Empty Lot, is currently in development.