Laurence Markarian
French-American Screenwriter
An American world through a French lens.
Stories of human nature, moral choices, and unexpected turns of life,
inspired by the people and landscapes of America.
Projects
SCREENPLAYS
I Saw What I Saw
Drama · Mystery · Feature Screenplay
A wealthy businessman stands trial for a hit-and-run that leaves a young man permanently paralyzed. But despite compelling evidence and a crucial eyewitness, reasonable doubt may prove more powerful than the truth.
2026 Semifinalist
Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
Also available in French as J'ai Tout Vu
Blue Note
Family Drama · Music · Feature Screenplay
A gifted young saxophonist leaves his beloved Montana home to pursue a career in music. As he navigates the pressures of the music world, complicated relationships, and his father's disapproval, his ambitions begin to take shape. But even as success draws closer, his longing for home remains. When an unexpected reconciliation opens the door to a new beginning, he must confront what he truly wants from life.
2026 Semifinalist
Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
2026 Quarterfinalist
ISA Emerging Screenwriters
Broken
Romantic Drama · Feature Screenplay
A woman living with muscular dystrophy reconnects with her first love, hoping to rekindle a romance from the past. But as their relationship deepens, she struggles to conceal her physical disability, fearing that he will see her limitations rather than the woman she truly is. Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, Broken explores love, vulnerability, and the unexpected beauty of our imperfections.
2025 Semifinalist
Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
2025 Second Round
Austin Film Festival
Co-written with Heather Wallace
Consumed by Faith
Faith-Based Drama · Feature Screenplay
A compassionate pastor battling leukemia faces a profound spiritual dilemma when he learns that a stem cell transplant could alter his DNA, challenging his understanding of Scripture. Meanwhile, a young homeless woman whose life he once transformed secretly takes extraordinary steps to become his donor, hoping to surprise him with the gift of life. When her identity is finally revealed, what should be a moment of joy becomes an agonizing choice between his deeply held beliefs and the selfless generosity of someone determined to save him.
2023 Silver Award – Best Feature
Christian Family Film Festival, New York
2023 Quarterfinalist
Faith in Film International Screenplay Festival
French Yee-Haw
Romantic Comedy · Feature Screenplay
After returning to Montana from a trip to France, a talented French chef is eager to resume his life with his spirited cowgirl. But when he is unexpectedly accused of a fatal hit-and-run in Paris, his American dream takes a troubling turn. Between a crime he did not commit, a jealous ex-boyfriend determined to disrupt his romance, and the unpredictable challenges of cowboy country, he discovers that life in the American West is anything but simple.
2022 Best Feature Screenplay
Prix Royal, Paris Screenplay Awards
2022 Nominee
Paris Art and Movie Awards (PAMA)
2024 Nominee
Red Movie Awards, Reims
Christmas at Kay 9
Christmas Romantic Comedy · Feature Screenplay
Determined to follow her childhood dream of becoming a dog groomer, Kay defies her mother's expectations and opens her own salon. When a Hollywood location scout chooses her business as the setting for a Christmas movie, everything she has worked for finally seems within reach. However, a fire threatens to destroy her dream, and her attempts to conceal the damage only make matters worse. With her future hanging in the balance, Kay must find the courage to rebuild, mend a broken family relationship, and perhaps discover love along the way.
2021 Quarterfinalist
Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition
2022 Quarterfinalist
ScreenCraft Family Screenplay Competition
STAGE MUSICAL
An interview with Laurence Markarian, featuring excerpts
from the original music and songs of Philippe's Escape.
Philippe's Escape
Historical Musical Drama · Stage Musical & Feature Screenplay
Royan, France, 1939. As war approaches, Philippe and Michael, two young men who share the same dreams, are forced to part ways. Penniless and desperate for a better future, Philippe impulsively flees France, unaware of the hardships and regrets awaiting him. Far from home, he finds himself caught between the disappointment of his protector, Mrs. Ashberry, and the hostility of her husband. With only his harmonica and a photograph of Michael to comfort him, Philippe struggles to find his place in a world torn apart by war, holding on to the hope of one day returning to a liberated Royan.
Originally produced on stage in 2008. Book, music, and lyrics by Laurence Markarian.
Philippe's Escape has also been adapted into a feature-length musical screenplay, available upon request.
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Original songs written and composed by Laurence Markarian.
written for "Consumed by Faith", the screenplay
"Shades of Grey"
written for "Broken", the screenplay
Finalist in Great American Song Contest
2025