Hi, I’m Stephanie, the Cinema Nomad! As a writer and director passionate about telling global stories, making my own independent films, I was approaching my 33rd birthday. I was living in Taos, New Mexico, and had just finished making my latest short film, “A Mezcal Trilogy.” While very proud of the work, I still found myself asking how to keep going: how to overcome all the many challenges a filmmaker faces, and still tell the stories that compel me?
I was also very interested in curating film screenings to share stories from around the world with local audiences, and had just put on a film fest in my hometown of Emmaus, PA. I was inspired by the enthusiastic responses to the film screenings and programs we put on featuring global stories.
An idea sparked, and on my 33rd birthday, I set out to explore the world and interact with other 33-year-old filmmakers from 33 different countries around the globe.
Over time, we selected a diverse array of talented film directors in their thirties, from over 33 countries on every inhabited continent, to visit, document and feature in the “33 and Me” Film Project.
I was also very interested in curating film screenings to share stories from around the world with local audiences, and had just put on a film fest in my hometown of Emmaus, PA. I was inspired by the enthusiastic responses to the film screenings and programs we put on featuring global stories.
“33 and Me” transformed into an international travel documentary series, now known as “Cinema Nomad,” which explores cultures through the eyes and experiences of the approximately 33-year-old filmmakers from each country we visit. Each episode features a specific country and introduces audiences to the current generation of storytellers who are dynamically challenging the status quo of the world today. “Cinema Nomad” also explores the past, present and future of cinema in each country we visit.
For me, cinema is a powerful tool that transcends borders and overcomes barriers to connect across cultures. This is why I am compelled to make films and even more so why I am drawn to traveling around the world: to connect with other individuals who are doing like-minded things in various countries. I started the “33 and Me” journey with the intention to share the stories and experiences of these 33-year-old filmmakers to present a kaleidoscope of visions which show that we are all connected, we are all human, and that communicating with others and experiencing their cultures is a positive way to learn and understand how we fit into the world at large.