Titus Heckel
Writer and director of CHAINED
Titus is an established film director and screenwriter.
The Hollywood Reporter described Titus’s first feature film, WITH CHILD, which he both wrote and directed, this way: “[It] displays a refreshing quirkiness bolstered by its clever screenplay, which features a multitude of funny one-liners.” It was shortlisted for Critics’ Week at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for both the Flash Forward award at the Busan International Film Festival and Best World Showcase at the SOHO Film Festival.
CHAINED, his second feature, was awarded BEST BC FILM by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. Titus also won the VFCC’s national “One to Watch” award and was nominated for BEST SCREENPLAY. CHAINED was nominated by the New York International Film Awards for Best Feature. Before production, the script was a Semifinalist in the Nicholl Fellowship as well as winning the JETS international screenplay and pitch competition held during the Berlin International Film Festival in 2018.
In addition to placing as a Semifinalist with CHAINED, Titus has been a Quarterfinalist in the Nicholl Fellowship with two separate feature scripts: CHAOS THEORY (2016) and HOLY SPIRITS (2014). Other feature and TV pilots have placed at the highest levels of the best competitions in the world including twice placing in the Austin Film Festival screenplay competition and outright winning the LaunchPad Pilots competition for his pilot ADRIFT. Teaming up with Rachelle Chartrand (CHAINED lead producer) as cocreators, Titus is currently developing a series drama called THEORY OF EVELYN with Sepia Films.
Titus’ expansive knowledge of story and film along with his wide-ranging education––including a Bachelor’s degree in physics and a Master’s degree in theology––gives him a commanding range on the stories he tells.
Titus has a knack for bringing out the humanity in any character in any situation, while also creating a strong cinematic experience with every shot. He is a strong leader but full of empathy. And his notable writing ability makes him a double threat on set.
To learn more about Titus’ experiences making CHAINED, check out the Behind The Scenes area. Interviews with Titus can be found here.