Photo of John Zachary Thurman

John Zachary Thurman

J. Zachary Thurman is best known for the horror-comedy FINLEY (2019) and FURRY NIGHTS (2016; Distributed by Terror Films). Thurman was born in Atlanta, Georgia where he later attended Georgia State University’s production program. With 60+ awards including Best Horror Short as the Crimson Screen Horror Festival, he graduated with a degree in Film and Television. Thurman then went on to found and head Unplugged Films LLC, an Atlanta-based production company, in an attempt to help new filmmakers create low budget indie films. Recent clients include: How Stuff Works, Delta, The Home Depot, 22squared, Atlanta Hawks, and Turner Broadcasting. He is currently enrolled in the Graduate Film Program at the University of Southern California -- where he has created award-winning shorts like DREAM JAR (2020) and RUN (2021) which won him the Best Director award from Hollywood Horror Fest.

SLOAN-AWARDED FILMS

2023