Laura Colella

Laura Colella is Founding Faculty of the MFA in Film Program at Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) and teaches screenwriting/filmmaking at Brown University in Providence, RI. As an award-winning filmmaker, her work has screened at over 100 festivals and received 25+ awards, including the Independent Spirit Award for her feature film BREAKFAST WITH CURTIS. She is also a playwright and video collaborator with the Everett Company.

• Education: MFA in Writing for Performance from Brown University, Harvard undergraduate studies with filmmakers Raúl Ruiz, Robb Moss, and Miklos Jancso

Laura's research and practice focus on independent filmmaking, narrative structure, and multimedia theater collaborations. Her films explore human nature through subtle storytelling and sly humor, often blending documentary and narrative techniques. She has worked as a screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor, represented by United Talent Agency.

Scientific awards and recognitions:

• Independent Spirit Award for BREAKFAST WITH CURTIS
• Sundance Directing and Screenwriting Lab Fellow
• Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces in Independent Film
• Bogliasco Fellowship for THE FLYING ELECTRIC

Laura's career spans academia, film production, and theater. She founded the MFA in Film Program at VCFA and has mentored students at Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University. Her Sundance-funded feature TAX DAY was hailed for its road-movie wit, while her documentary work (e.g., CHRYSKYLODON BLUES) has been praised for redefining behind-the-scenes filmmaking.