Private Project

Ladies First

‘Ladies First’ is a short period drama set in 1919, focusing on a young couple challenging gender inequality as a social norm.

  • James Bowsher
    Producer
  • Matthew Steggles
    Producer
  • Matthew Steggles
    Director
  • Matthew Steggles
    Writer
  • James Bowsher
    Writer
  • Martha Bailey
    Assistant Producer
  • Amy Newton
    Key Cast
  • Andrew Horton
    Key Cast
  • Aaron Bell
    Editor
  • Howard Mills
    Director of Photography
  • Graeme Willetts
    Sound Recordist
  • George Johnson
    1st Assistant Director
  • Emily Dodge
    Make-Up Artist
  • Simone Cilio
    Composer
  • Jamies Ward
    Sound Designer
  • Aaron Bell
    Colour Grader
  • Ayse Kaya
    Assistant Camera
  • Olivia Jakeman
    Production Assistant
  • Elly Obeney
    Production Assistant
  • Jack Hughes
    Publicity Stills Photographer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 4, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    2,300 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Amira (2k Pro Res)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:40:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cannes Short Film Corner
    Cannes
    May 11, 2016
    World Premier
  • Zero Film Festival - London
    London
    United Kingdom
    August 16, 2016
    UK Premier
  • New Renaissance Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    August 20, 2016
  • Exit 6 Film Festival
    Basingstoke
    United Kingdom
    September 24, 2016
  • London International Short Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 27, 2016
  • Grand Rapids Feminist Film Festival
    Michigan
    United States
    October 23, 2016
    North American Premier
  • Carmarthen Bay Film Festival
    Carmarthen Bay
    United Kingdom
    May 10, 2017
Director Biography - Matthew Steggles

Matthew Steggles was born and raised just outside of Wrexham, UK. At the age of 13 he created his first video. in 2013 Matthew graduated from the University of South Wales with a Bachelors Degree with Honours in Film and Video. Later that same year, Matthew was accepted as a member of the National Youth Film Academy, UK.

Matthew’s music video 'Lost days' has to date garnered over 1 million hits on YouTube and been televised on BBC Midlands, ITV Central and UKESAD (2014).

Matthew Steggles' current directorial, ‘Ladies First’ is a short period drama set in 1919, focussing on a young couple challenging gender equality as a social norm. He is also producing a psychological short film thriller ‘Withheld’ set to be released later this year.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

‘Ladies First’ has two sources of inspiration; Emma Watson’s HeForShe speech at the UN and Amma Asante’s film ‘Belle’. I felt that Asante’s intelligent use of 19th Century England as a setting highlighted the racial obstacles the protagonist endured. However, Gender Equality was the subject I wanted to tackle. Specifically the linguistic modes employed by the patriarchy to re-enforce traditional social dynamics. The films title, ‘Ladies First’ references the term: whilst promoting women in the short run, it actually segments society in favour of the man. You may walk through the door first as I allow you to.

This film is set in 1919 as this was famously a turning point in the movement towards gender equality in Britain. My goal was to use the past to reflect contemporary issues and use the trappings of the setting to illustrate that while there has been great legislative and social change in nearly 100 years, the linguistic dimension has yet to catch up.