Still Life

Unwilling to confront the death of her grandmother, Lennox skips the funeral and retreats to her grandmother’s house in search of comfort and solitude. While there, she moves through moments of joy and pain as she grapples with the loss of her younger self and the support she once had as an artist. When Lennox receives an untimely visit from her father, she is forced to either face her grief or remain isolated from her only living family.

  • Emma Steele
    Director
  • Emma Steele
    Writer
  • Jessica Benjamin
    Producer
  • Jack Langlois
    Producer
  • Lucas Markman
    Producer
  • Jack Langlois
    Director of Photography
  • Zoé Kraft
    Editor
  • Ava Capri
    Key Cast
    "Lennox"
    Do Revenge, Love, Victor
  • Brooke Adams
    Key Cast
    "Ruth"
    Days of Heaven, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Monk
  • Adam Kaufman
    Key Cast
    "Tim"
    State of Affairs, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri, ProRes 4444 XQ
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Emma Steele

Emma Steele has 10+ years of experience working across film and entertainment projects, festivals, and non-profit organizations. She holds a degree from Dartmouth College in English, Theater, and Neuroscience. She also studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and starred in a variety of stage plays such as THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND, JULIUS CAESAR, and THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. Emma spent her childhood in the Midwest, and is creatively inspired by the quiet lives of those in rural America. She has worked on projects such as FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY (Wyatt Russell, Meredith Hagner) and CON MAN (Alan Tudyk, Mindy Sterling). Prior to Directing, Emma was the Director of Marketing for the Napa Valley Film Festival, an immersive 5-day event dedicated to the art of film, food, and wine. She also worked as an Account Director at Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis where she dedicated her time and energy to non-profit clients at the intersection of art and advocacy. STILL LIFE is Emma’s first film as a writer and director.

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Director Statement

STILL LIFE is a character piece that attempts to honor grief, celebrate love, and build connection. I spent most of my childhood living just two doors down from my grandmother. She was my best friend and trusted confidant. STILL LIFE is a love letter to her and the other creative women in my life.

The film follows an abstract narrative in order to capture the raw and personal feelings that come from losing a loved one. My goal was to create a story that explores the nonlinear way we move through grief and the emotional and subjective threads of our memory. Together the past and present merge, making STILL LIFE an elliptical journey of nostalgia, heartbreak, sorrow, and love.