Melissa Vitello is an award winning screenwriter and director. Melissa has directed 4 feature films, all with distribution and, most recently, directed a thriller starring Ava Cantrell from Warner Bros. Light’s Out, and Karimah Westbrook from CW’s All American. The film is currently slated to be released by Dark Star Pictures in December of 2023. Melissa was recently a second rounder for the Austin Film Festival, won best original screenplay by the Pasadena International Film Festival, was a top 50 finalist for the ISA Fellowship, and recently won Best Director from the San Diego Consortium. Melissa has also been recognized for her writing and directing by festivals such as FilmQuest, Houston WorldFest, Dances With Films, and Austin Revolution. Melissa was mentored in screenwriting by Valerie Mayhew (writer and co-producer of Charmed, The X-Files).