Meet Stephanie Byron-ene | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Byron-ene and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, why did you pursue a creative career?
As cliche as it sounds, Art has been something that came to me naturally or I guess you could say something I was always drawn to as a kid. It also helped that I have parents who believe that art is not totally useless in contrary to other adults I saw around me as I grew up in Lagos Nigeria. Art has always been a way to express myself especially growing up as an introvert. I would draw, design as a way to amplify my voice in a way that speaking didn’t do justice to and eventually, I found myself drawn to storytelling especially in filmmaking. To me, there is something beautiful about amplifying people’s stories and voices by putting others in their shoes as I related to this. My journey as a filmmaker didn’t begin with this school of thought. It all started as a way to spend more time with my father who worked as a cinematographer in the Nollywood film industry. I eventually blossomed as I was became engulfed in the beauty of building a world where people can escape into and hopefully learn something about other humans that they would have never otherwise experienced in their own little corner in life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a Nigerian Filmmaker in Atlanta, I love to tell Nigerian stories! There are so many cultural groups in Atlanta and I love that my films can provide a different experience and perspective for people. Right now, I am most proud and excited that I will be making my directorial debut with my upcoming short film called Omenala, which just wrapped up production in Nigeria! It follows a young Nigerian man who returns to Nigeria from the US due to the death of his father. As the first child, he has to protect the legacy of his father as well as navigate his own culture for the first time in years and I am excited to show the world this film in 2025. Getting to this point where I am proud to share my short films to the world did not just happen, it took a lot of encouragement from friends and families around me as well as honing my craft as a student at SCAD. Putting myself out there in the film school by taking up leadership roles in projects like SCAD’s ChefATL as Unit Production Manager and eventually as Student Executive Producer really helped me to explore how to apply my skills as a filmmaker and build the confidence needed to execute my upcoming projects. This was not easy at all and if I’m being honest, it is still not easy as I have to constantly fight through self doubt and sometimes the fear of failure from making bold decisions but it is quickly replaced by the need to tell powerful stories. Along the way, I have learned to trust that everything will be well and not worry so much about how things will turn out but to be more in the present and focus on the impact you are making to people currently around you. Every obstacle that seems so big at this point will soon be a chapter in your story and what is a good story without conflicts to push through? Finally, as an international filmmaker, I would love people from all over to resonate with the stories I tell no matter the setting or culture which is why as a storyteller, I am inspired by people around me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting the area, I would love to take them to some fun places, like the Botanical Gardens, and enjoy nature with a walk at Piedmont Park! I also love going to Japanese BBQ spots with friends, especially Gyu-Kaku. Museums are a personal favorite of mine as an artist because the atmosphere is so calming. The High Museum is one of my top picks—it has free days and hosts really fun jazz events.

Lastly, I’d definitely show them SCAD’s campus! I might be a bit biased as a student, but it feels like a museum and an artist’s playground. It’s always exciting to show friends what art schools look like, and the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film is a must-see, with so many fascinating pieces on display.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe the love and support I have from my family deserves all the credit and recognition. They have so much faith in my abilities even more than I do and they always encourage me when I feel like my dream is too far fetched or too “Risky”. They would always go all in and support all my artistic choices.

Website: https://byronenestephanie.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram: @stephaniebyron_ @omenalafilm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-byron-ene-8597b71b7

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UsonwaByron

Image Credits
Suko Sado