Nicholas Grimaldi is an MFA candidate at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. He recently graduated from Vanderbilt University, where he received a degree in Computer Science and Cinema and Media Arts. His most recent film, “On the Dying Grass,” won Best Student Film at the 24th Beverly Hills Film Festival and the Special Jury Award at the 57th WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. He is also the recipient of Vanderbilt University's first Artificial Intelligence Grand Challenge grant after creating "On the Dying Grass," a film about the impact of AI on the film industry. His films have tackled the topics of identity and isolation in modern culture from the impact of technology.