“When I was 17, I grew from being something like 5'2'' to 6 foot - I grew a lot - and I don't remember growing... I feel like the same thing is true of writing. You're waiting for Santa Claus to come down the chimney, but you just fall asleep at some point, and then the magic happens.”

American film director and screenwriter

Zal Batmanglij is an American film director and screenwriter known for work in film and television. His career includes the 2011 film Sound of My Voice and the 2013 film The East, both of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, along with the Netflix series The OA, which debuted in 2016. He is closely associated with thoughtful, character-driven storytelling. His work has drawn attention for its interest in identity, belief, and the tensions between private conviction and larger systems, especially in projects that blend suspense with unusual ideas.