Focusing on story rather than identity, Rhys Ernst creates stylistic character-driven personal dramas and places queer and transgendered characters into larger narratives. 
Growing up in Chapel Hill, NC, Rhys dropped out of 9th grade to pursue an alternative self-directed education.
He attended Hampshire College and received his BA in 2004. During this time, his film The Drive North earned international recognition, screening in over 30 film festivals and winning numerous awards (including Gold Plaque at the Chicago International Film Festival and a Princess Grace Award Honorarium). After graduating, Rhys moved to New York City to begin a career in film and television. He held numerous positions including producer/editor for MTV Networks, associate producer for Masterclass (HBO), associate producer for Coming Out Stories (LOGO), adjunct professor of video at Queens College, and was President of the Jury at Izmir Short film festival (Turkey). He received his MFA in Film/ Video in 2011 at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, during which time he wrote and directed the short film The Thing (international premiere Sundance 2012). He was recently named the 2010 HBO Point Scholar and a 2012 Project: Involve Fellow.
He lives in Los Angeles.

BIOGRAPHY