Be Steadwell is a filmmaker and songwriter from Washington, DC. Be discovered film through her songwriting-learning to shoot and edit her own music videos. After falling in love with filmmaking, Be enrolled in Howard University's MFA film program and developed her skills in scriptwriting, cinematography and directing. Using rhythmic pacing, and melody driven narratives, Be's work highlights the parallels between music and film.
One of her first works, a music-driven short entitled Bones tells the story of an enslaved woman who runs from her captors to find the woman she loves. Bones won Howard University's Paul Robeson award in cinematography in 2011. Be's next work, Red Sky Snow White featured an interpretation of the Brothers Grimm's Little Red Cap. In 2012, Red Sky Snow White was selected for the Black International Cinema Festival in Berlin and the Queer Women of Color Film Festival in San Francisco.
While a graduate student at Howard University she founded fatback films, a DC-based film production team comprised of talented woman of color. Facing a lack of support from a male dominated medium, Be decided to create a space for female filmmakers to work together. Her production team offers community workshops, events, and affordable services in film, music video, and event production.
Be is unapologetic in her filmmaking, telling stories with queer women of color at the center of the narrative. Be's work relies on re-imagining the lives of her ancestors, the stories of marginalized folks in DC, and creating futuristic love stories.
Be is currently completing her thesis, a short film entitled Vow of Silence, which tells the story of Jade, a heart broken composer who takes a vow of silence in attempts to win back her true love. Vow of Silence fuses characteristics of experimental, narrative and musical film. The premiere screening of Vow of Silence will be held May 19th at Busboys & Poets 14th and V.
Visit www.besteadwell.com for more information.
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