Leah Grossmann

Leah Lin
Grossmann

林俐雅  · Screenwriter · Los Angeles
Leah Grossmann on set Leah Grossmann
What I do

Leah Grossmann

I am a screenwriter, 1st AD, script supervisor, and occasional director. Those who know me often speak of me as determined (sometimes stubborn), passionate, and strange ("but, like, in a cool way."). I write about viscera, power, and philosophies colliding. My voice is often darkly funny; it sits somewhere between sharp and strange—rooted in realism but willing to go off the rails if the story earns it.

I began my writing career in high school, when I won two awards for original one-act plays, and was awarded the Herb Alpert Emerging Young Artist scholarship from CSSSA's 2021 film cohort. After obtaining my undergraduate degree in film and media studies at UCSB in just three years, I am continuing my education at USC, where I am pursuing an MFA in screenwriting. During my time at UCSB, I was the 2024–2025 recipient of the Lazarus Fellowship for Screenwriting, mentored by Dr. James McNamara.

In 2024 I wrote and directed short film Hollow, a tale of painful romance, where a girl discovers her lover is really, truly empty inside. The short received nine laurels on its festival run.

Awards & Recognition

  • Distinction in the Major — Thesis completed under Dr. James McNamara UCSB · 2025
  • Lazarus Fellowship for Screenwriting Recipient UCSB · 2024
  • Silver Award — Original One-Act Script Lenaea Theatre Festival · 2022
  • Gold Award — Original One-Act Script Lenaea Theatre Festival · 2021
  • Herb Alpert Emerging Young Artist Scholarship CSSSA · 2021

Interview Spotlight

Interview posted by UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts · June 2025

Leah Grossmann interview
Play Interview
Works

Featured Directing

Hollow — play trailer
Play Trailer
Hollow — still from film

Hollow

Short Film · Written & Directed by Leah Lin Grossmann · 2024

Starring Travers Tobis & Kirsten Høj.

  • LA Independent Film Channel FestivalBest Narrative Short
  • Independent Shorts AwardsBest First Time Director (Female) & Runner-Up, Best Short of the Season
  • Tokyo Indie Shorts FestBest First Time Filmmaker
  • New York Shorts AwardsBest First Time Filmmaker — Nominee
  • Santa Monica Film FestivalFinalist
  • Horrorific Women Film FestivalHonorable Mention
  • California Women's Film FestivalOfficial Selection
  • Montecito Student Film FestivalOfficial Selection
  • LA Lift-Off Film FestivalOfficial Selection

Screenplay Portfolio

Taste of the Fight

Taste of the Fight

Pilot · Pitch Deck Available

When a corrupt promotion screws over the underdog fighters at a ragtag MMA gym, the fighters must decide how much they are personally willing to sacrifice for the sport they love. Their well-being, sanity, and relationships are at stake as they struggle to prove their worth and claw their way to the top.

Happy Ending

Happy Ending

Feature Film

Two rival happy ending massage parlors enter a bitter, all-out turf war, where twists of fate and loyalties break everyone apart completely. But ultimately, our protagonist's family learns the true power of their togetherness — as they solve their problems, one rub and tug at a time.

Where the Chips May Fall

Where the Chips May Fall

Pilot

A perfectionist attorney drawn to the chaos of gambling falls for a reckless fellow addict who awakens her darkest desires — together, they chase euphoria and love, but as the stakes rise, they must confront whether they'll save each other or spiral into mutual destruction.

Play Nice

Play Nice

Pilot

Mercy is paid to rend flesh from her victims, on film; Aurora is an anxious and cynical grad student. They don't know each other, but they're perfect doppelgängers; when one of Mercy's snuff films is leaked, their realities fracture as they struggle to find personal identity.

Leah Grossmann
Contact

Let's Talk

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