Stephanie is an American born, UK based award winning and BAFTA long-listed filmmaker who recently directed a block of 4 episodes on series 10 of BBC’s beloved BAFTA and RTS winning children’s TV drama THE DUMPING GROUND.
She is the Creator, Director and EP of comedy horror HOUSE HACK, a live-action interactive feature film with 16 possible endings that was commissioned by Whatifi, the social story-hacking platform for original interactive films. HOUSE HACK was produced under her banner FORGE FILMS which she founded in 2017. Written by Abigail Blackmore, it filmed on location in Estonia in 2020. It stars Amar Chadha-Patel, Jenny Funnell and introduces newcomer Amanda Shodeko. HOUSE HACK launched on the Whatifi platform in March 2021 to great success and was voted a 2021 Top Game App by Google Play.
ZEBRA GIRL is her feature directorial debut which she also co-produced and developed the screen story for from the critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival one woman show ‘Catherine & Anita’ performed by Sarah Roy. Starring Tom Cullen, Jade Anouka and Roy, it was released in UK Cinemas in May 2021 and is now streaming globally on all major VOD platforms. The film was nominated for Best Thriller at the 2022 National Film Awards. Sales are with AMP International and distributed by Bohemia Media and Front Row Filmed Entertainment.
Stephanie recently optioned ‘HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WIFE’ under Forge Films by acclaimed historical biographer Wendy Moore and is being developed as a limited TV Series.
Stephanie is currently in development on her feature film IN OUR BLOOD, a modern gothic psychological horror for which she was awarded Creative England/BFI Emerging Talent Development Funds. The film was chosen for the 2017 Birds Eye View/BFI FILMONOMICS programme headed by Mia Bays and was selected for the EIFF Talent Lab and Galway Film Market. Stephanie also received the prestigious John Brabourne Award for IN OUR BLOOD to support script completion.
Stephanie was a participant in the 2018 BAFTA x CREW Talent Development Programme for writers, directors and producers and also mentored for the BAFTA/BFI Film Academy Alumni Programme and is now a full BAFTA voting member.
Stephanie’s shorts have achieved festival, critical, online and broadcast success screening at OSCAR, BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals worldwide. She received the PIA PRESSURE NEW VOICES Award for her film BEING KEEGAN starring Stephen Graham. The film was championed and supported by BAFTA and OSCAR winning post-production teams at Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post, Company 3 and Goldcrest and went on to win multiple awards. The film is now streaming in the US and UK on Amazon Prime and broadcast via Channel 5's My5 and aired in Poland on Kino Polska TV S.A in 2021.
Her short film MARIGOLDS was acquired and broadcast on BBC HD Shorts and won Best Director at Underwire Film Festival. Her second short film DAWN starring Edward Hogg and Keeley Forsyth was BAFTA long-listed. Both films are now streaming on Wilde TV and Discover Films.
Stephanie has over 15 years industry experience. Having started as an actress, she subsequently forged a successful career as a Promo Producer and First Assistant Director in between making her own films, working with top tier talent, broadcasters and production companies including BBC, CH5, Netflix, Westbrook and Sky.
Stephanie has several Film and TV projects in development and is a member of BAFTA, WGGB, Director's UK, WFTV, Primetime Network and Cinesisters. She holds dual UK/US citizenship.
