David Lawson

David’s love of film started at an early age while living in Baltimore, MD. Once he graduated high school, he enlisted in the US Air Force. He served four years as an Airborne Radio Operator aboard the AWACS E-3 Sentry deploying for both Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). There he not only met many people with the same affinity for cinema, but also took to heart their core values: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all you do. After the Air Force, he attended Michigan State University before moving to Los Angeles in 2005 and began work in the industry as a PA, slowly climbing the ranks. After years of working as an independent producer, David joined Snowfort Pictures, as their Head of Production, from 2015 until 2017. Then, along with long time collaborators Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, he formed RUSTIC FILMS. His features include SOMETHING IN THE DIRT, BREATHING HAPPY, SHE DIES TOMORROW, SYNCHRONIC, THE ENDLESS, AFTER MIDNIGHT, TRASH FIRE, 68 KILL, 24X36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS, SPRING, and RESOLUTION.

In 2023, he was nominated for the coveted John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards for his work on SOMETHING IN THE DIRT. Every semester, he guest lectures at USC Film School, Florida State University, and AFI’s Master programs. He is currently an advisor for Sundance’s Collab Producing Class and on the Program Advisory Committee at Full Sail University, in addition to being a mentor for the Startwith8 program.