Private Project

From My First Breath

Journey along Highway 16, a 447-mile stretch of road in British Columbia, Canada, known as the Highway of Tears—a name that bears the weight of its history.
Since 1969 officials claim that eighteen women have gone missing or been murdered along highway 16, due to the firsthand accounts of Nicole Brown we find this isn’t the case.
Through deeply personal testimony, Nicole details the reality of the missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two -spirit people crisis in Canada. Especially on the infamous highway she grew up on.
Nicole’s mum, Frances Brown, went mushroom picking along the highway on a Saturday afternoon in 2017 and disappeared. Despite the drive and efforts from Nicole and the community, the police quickly called off the search. Frances was never seen again.
A poignant testament to resilience, this story is about more than loss—it’s about the enduring fight for recognition and justice.

  • Rowan Brady
    Director
  • Nicole Brown
    Featuring
  • Lia Zhou
    Producer
  • Ella Netshidzivhani
    Editors
  • Sára Ní Eithir
    Editors
  • Finn Lamb
    Sound composer & Designer
  • Christopher Yuen
    Camera Operators
  • Lucy Cai
    Camera Operators
  • Warren Tang
    1st AC
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Indigenous
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 14, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, BRaw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The University of Edinburgh/ Emily Carr University of Art and Design
  • Everyman Cinema
    Edinburgh
    United Kingdom
    May 24, 2024
    Private screening
Director Biography - Rowan Brady

Rowan Brady recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a first-class degree in Film and TV Production. During her studies, she developed a passion for documentary filmmaking and a commitment to ethically telling real stories with care and integrity.

Her graduation project, From My First Breath, began as a research-driven exploration of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S) crisis during her exchange at Emily Carr University in Vancouver. Filmed in British Columbia, the documentary focuses on Nicole Brown’s story while addressing the wider systemic issues impacting Indigenous women and their communities.

This project has been a deeply personal and transformative journey. Rowan feels proud to have been trusted with these stories and profoundly changed by the strength, resilience, and courage of the people she met along the way.

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Director Statement

Making From My First Breath has been one of the most challenging and meaningful experiences of my life. This film began as an academic exploration but quickly became something deeply personal. Attending the memorial march for MMIWG2S in Vancouver was a transformative moment, where I first met Nicole Brown and listened to her story of loss, strength, and resilience.

Through Nicole’s courage, I was able to uncover not just a personal narrative but also a larger, ongoing crisis that demands attention. My goal has always been to create a space for these voices to be heard and to handle the stories entrusted to me with the utmost care and respect.

This project is a step toward deeper understanding, and I hope it resonates with audiences as much as it has shaped me as a filmmaker.