Discover the Story Behind ‘Amberica’
Explore the unique elements and compelling narrative that set the ‘Amberica’ TV pilot apart, offering insights into its creative vision and impact.
Logline
Amber’s life is in free-fall. Her Muslim mother is dying, she’s broke, her relationships are a mess and the one thing that might save her is an inheritance… But with knotted strings attached.
Synopsis
Amber is 40, broke, and spectacularly bad at picking men. Just as her “toxic-habit” ex, Brody, charms his way back into her bed, life delivers a reality check: her Muslim mother is in hospice. Returning to Maryland means suffocating under her mother’s roof, dodging a surgically judgmental aunt, and navigating the shadow of her brother, the family’s moral compass. When her mother passes, Amber expects freedom, instead, she gets her deceased mother’s final ultimatum. To claim her inheritance, Amber must follow a strict manual of conduct, starting with a total no-contact order against the only man she can’t quit.
Accolades
Scroll down to see the accolades!
Discover the Creative Visionaries Behind ‘Amberica’
Explore the backgrounds of the creators of “Amberica.”
Amber Nelson
Co-Writer
Amber Nelson, also known as Avo Shirazee with SAG-AFTRA, has been acting, painting and writing since an early age. Amber began writing a feature length screenply, “Mentone,” in 2010, which incorporates her “Linenscape,” paintings. Amber has since written, “The Adventures of Amberica,” and then partnered up with award-winning filmmaker, Mokotsi Rukundo, to write, “Amberica,” a 1- hour TV-Pilot, which won the Grand Prize for best TV-Pilot for The World Film Festival in Cannes in 2025 and the Grand Prize in the Table Read My Screenplay Cannes 2026 competition. As an actor, she’s appeared in several television reenactments for, “America’s Most Wanted,” “Forensic Files,” “A Haunting,” and other films and TV shows like, “2 Minute Heist,” and HBO’s, “The Wire.” Amber was once a gymnast and also a special ability body double for Lucy Liu in “Charlie’s Angels, Full Throttle.”
Mokotsi Rukundo
Co-Writer
Mokotsi Rukundo, born in Swaziland (Eswatini), is an award-winning filmmaker who wrote and produced his first feature, “East of Middle West,” in 2021. He’s currently in post-production for his directorial debut for “Death of a Brewer (2026).” His approach to storytelling is in identifying the conflicts and constraints within the characters and their worlds. Mokotsi believes that is where the beats of resilience, love and comedy are discovered.
Award-Winning Achievements
Explore the notable accolades that underscore the impact and quality of the Amberica TV-pilot.
2026 Grand Prize Winner of Table Read My Screenplay – Cannes by ISA
2026 Best Screenplay French Riviera Film Festival
2025 Best Series Pilot Script by World Film Festival in Cannes
- Grand Prize Winner, Table Read My Screenplay – Cannes, 2026
- Best Screenplay, French Riviera Film Festival, Cannes, 2026
- Finalist, London International Screenwriting & Film Festival, 2026
- Grand Prize Winner, Best Series Pilot Script, World Film Festival In Cannes, 2025
- Best Television Script, World Film Festival In Cannes, March 2025
- Best TV-Pilot, Paris International Short Festival, August 2025
- Finalist, Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards Diverse Writers Outreach 2025
- Selected, The Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase 2025
- Semifinalist, 29th Fade In Awards TV Pilot/Web Series 2025
- Honorable Mention, Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards 2025
- Semifinalist, Filmmatic – Inroads Fellowship, Season 8
- Semifinalist, ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition 2025
- Semifinalist, Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition 2024
- Semifinalist, Wiki Screenplay Contest – April 2025
- Semifinalist, Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Screenplay Competition 2025
- Quarterfinalist, Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards – Diversity Initiative VIII 2025
- Quarterfinalist, Table Read My Screenplay Competition Cannes 2025
- Quarterfinalist, StoryPros International Screenplay Contest 18th Annual – 2024
- Silver Nib Winner, Let’s Make It! – LET’S MAKE IT! Screenwriting Contest 2023-2024
ambericatv@gmail.com
