Doug Atchison is an American motion picture director and screenwriter. He received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship for Akeelah and the Bee in 2000. After winning the Nicholl Fellowship, former ICM superagent Lou Pitt guided Doug's screenplay into production in partnership with Lions Gate Entertainment, 2929 Entertainment, and Starbucks Productions. Akeelah and the Bee went on to become a critical and modest commercial success, which launched Atchison's career. In 2006, Atchison entered into a three-picture deal with The Weinstein Company. It was reported in 2012 that Atchison is attached to direct a movie about the hockey player Derek Sanderson. Atchison graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television.