Eileen dreamed of being behind the camera ever since she was a little girl transfixed by the flickering images on the screen. Though the path was steep for a woman seeking to direct in a man’s world, Eileen persevered through film school, taking inspiration from pioneers like Kathryn Bigelow. Her student films on complex social issues opened eyes and challenged assumptions. Yet the industry remained unmoved by emerging female voices like herself.When Eileen finally got her chance to helm a small independent film, she imbued the story of two outsider friends with the nuances and empathy many male filmmakers lacked. The limited screening premiered to little fanfare, but soon positive whispers echoed amongst those longing for authentic women’s stories. Momentum slowly built as Eileen’s unique eye and style earned festival acclaim. Now with a major studio project in the works and a fresh cultural lens through which to view relationships and identity, she stands ready to imprint a creative mark on the filmscape as not just a woman, but a director defined on her own terms.
