I am humbled to learn that Ominous Thrill snagged a 2026 Ambie Award nomination for "Best Scriptwriting/ Fiction" for the story LIES.
Psychological Thriller "OMINOUS THRILL: LIES" Receives Ambie Award Nomination for Best Fiction Scriptwriting
Jeff Schmidt's Dark Character Study Recognized by The Podcast Academy for Excellence in Audio Drama Writing
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Jeff Schmidt Productions, creator of multi-award winning audio fiction anthology Ominous Thrill, is honored to announce that mini-series LIES, an ominous psychological thriller exploring the nature of identity and self-deception, has been nominated for an Ambie Award in the category of Best Fiction Scriptwriting. This, the second nomination for the series was announced by The Podcast Academy, the professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in podcasting.
The Ambie Awards, widely regarded as the preeminent honor in podcast excellence, recognize outstanding achievement across all categories of audio storytelling. The Best Fiction Scriptwriting category specifically celebrates exceptional craft in dialogue, structure, character development, and narrative innovation within scripted audio drama.
LIES follows Sia, a woman who has spent her life carefully suppressing her darker impulses, as she encounters the devilishly charming Devin at a controversial wellness conference in Las Vegas. Over the course of one harrowing night, Sia is pulled into an escalating series of transgressions that force her to confront which parts of herself are authentic, and which are performance.
"This nomination is a wonderful recognition of the craft that goes into building complex, morally ambiguous characters who exist in the spaces our culture prefers not to acknowledge," said Jeff Schmidt, writer and creator of “OMINOUS THRILL: LIES. "Audio drama allows us to live inside a character's psychological reality in a way that's uniquely intimate. I'm grateful to The Podcast Academy for recognizing work that refuses easy answers to the questions it raises."
The script has been praised for its sharp, witty dialogue that balances psychological tension with dark humor, its nuanced exploration of antisocial personality disorders, and its refusal to moralize about its characters' choices. The narrative's structural innovation, including a cold-open loop that recontextualizes upon second listening and its compression of extreme psychological escalation into a single night demonstrates sophisticated understanding of audio storytelling's unique capabilities.
The nomination recognizes LIES alongside some of the most celebrated fiction writing in contemporary podcasting, affirming the project's contribution to the expanding landscape of mature, character-driven audio drama.
About The Ambie Awards
The Ambie Awards are presented annually by The Podcast Academy to honor excellence in podcasting across all genres and formats. Winners are selected by Academy members representing all facets of the podcasting industry, including creators, producers, technicians, hosts, and executives. The awards ceremony celebrates the artistry, innovation, and impact of podcast creators worldwide.
About Jeff Schmidt Productions
Jeff Schmidt Productions develops character-driven audio narratives that explore the uncomfortable intersections of authenticity, morality, and human nature. The company is committed to creating psychologically sophisticated stories that trust audiences to engage with moral complexity without requiring tidy resolution.
Media Contact:
Jeff Schmidt
Jeff Schmidt Productions, LLC
jeff@jeff-schmidt.com
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[EDITOR'S NOTE: High-resolution artwork, and interview availability upon request]