Still Life

Following her grandmother’s death, a young artist skips the funeral and returns to her grandmother’s home to relive their last encounter. When she receives an untimely visit from her father, she is forced to navigate a tense relationship and make peace with 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
  • Country of Filming:
    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
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Emma Steele

Emma Steele is a writer + director based in Los Angeles. Her debut film, Still Life, will make its world premiere at the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival. The film stars Ava Capri (Love, Victor), Brooke Adams (Days of Heaven), and Adam Kaufman (State of Affairs).

Prior to filmmaking, Emma was an Account Director at Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis for clients at the intersection of art and advocacy. She also worked as the Director of Marketing for the Napa Valley Film Festival, an immersive 5-day event dedicated to the art of film, food, and wine.

Emma holds a degree from Dartmouth College in English, Theater, and Neuroscience. She has appeared in numerous stage plays and studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Originally from the Midwest, Emma is creatively inspired by her upbringing in rural America.

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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.