Robert Celestino(I)
- Writer
- Director
- Editor
Robert Celestino is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and professor of screenwriting at Hofstra University. A Sundance alum (Mr. Vincent), Tribeca veteran (Yonkers Joe), and Berlin selection (Leave), Celestino crafts character-driven stories rooted in emotional truth and cinematic tension. His scripts span genres - from political thrillers to psychological dramas, neo-Westerns, and high-stakes crime stories - but all share a common thread: the search for grace in a broken world.
His work has been described as gritty but poetic, genre-smart but deeply human, balancing razor-sharp dialogue with aching vulnerability. Whether exploring loyalty within criminal empires (This is Cosa Nostra), the burden of legacy in rural America (Pride of Aggie Madden), or democracy under siege (Countdown to Everything), Celestino's voice remains distinct - cinematic, soulful, and unafraid of complexity.
As a professor, he brings the same intensity and empathy to his students, mentoring the next generation of writers with an emphasis on structure, truth, and voice. He believes screenwriting is a form of emotional engineering - and every scene is a test of whether the audience still cares.
Robert is developing a slate of unproduced feature and television projects, including Blueprints, Card Mechanic, Bird of Grace, and Bobby Comfort: American Outlaw.
His work has been described as gritty but poetic, genre-smart but deeply human, balancing razor-sharp dialogue with aching vulnerability. Whether exploring loyalty within criminal empires (This is Cosa Nostra), the burden of legacy in rural America (Pride of Aggie Madden), or democracy under siege (Countdown to Everything), Celestino's voice remains distinct - cinematic, soulful, and unafraid of complexity.
As a professor, he brings the same intensity and empathy to his students, mentoring the next generation of writers with an emphasis on structure, truth, and voice. He believes screenwriting is a form of emotional engineering - and every scene is a test of whether the audience still cares.
Robert is developing a slate of unproduced feature and television projects, including Blueprints, Card Mechanic, Bird of Grace, and Bobby Comfort: American Outlaw.