Biografia
Catriona Rubenis-Stevens is a multi-award-winning director and producer and was part of the team that went to the 93rd Academy Awards with the Oscar nominated live action short; Feeling Through.
Born and raised in a small town in the UK, she moved to NYC in her early 20s to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and soon learned her passions lay behind the camera, and so turned her attention to directing and producing and in 2020 founded her production company, Half-Light Productions.
She has directed several award-winning short films for the Easterseals' Disability Film Challenge that have screened across America at top tier festivals including Slamdance, Hollyshorts and Heartland. Her film e.ro.sion, noun screened at over 20 festivals worldwide, including The Sci-Fi London Film Festival, SoHo International Film Festival and the Fargo Fantastic Film Festival and went on to receive numerous wins including Best Director and Best Film. Her foreign language short, The Path Of Avarice was a finalist for Best Director at the BBC Alba awards in Glasgow, Scotland. She is on the festival circuit again with her 3rd feature film as a producer, Regarding Us, and her disability musical comedy short, Unlucky In Love.
Over the years, Catriona has managed to build a reputation for authentic storytelling, carefully blending together her exploration of the human condition and her passion for social awareness. Her style leans toward magic realism and comedy, and her journey into motherhood has further influenced her empathetic nature, sarcastic dry humor and her approach to her work!
Other directing credits include over a dozen short films, multiple music videos for Mila Jam, Broadway Cares, LUX and On The Quays, the digital series Speak American, The Scoop and Maestro's Magical Music Box, in-house commercial and industrial training videos for Cartier's High Jewelry, Money Map Press and the famous children's animated series, Brainpop. Catriona was recently commissioned by Speak.a Technology in Hangzhou China to write, direct and produce over 50 videos for an English language learning app specifically aimed at preschoolers in China to aid them in their study of English.
Notable producing credits include the BBC's Houdini's Diaries for the History Channel, Daymond John's Money Map, the MSNBC docu-series, Model America and A&E Network's short branded spots Greatest of all Time with Laila Ali. Feature films include Lost Cos, Indigo and the upcoming Regarding Veronica starring Alexandra Grey.
Every Halloween Catriona directs and produces the Zombie Opera. An experiential concert in her hometown, bringing international opera singers together with an orchestra for one night and attracting audiences of 4000 people. She is also an established theater director in New York and New Jersey, directing shows such as the World-premiere of Allerleirauh, The Wizard of Oz, Cats, Oklahoma!, Anything Goes, Hairspray, The Lion King, Oliver, Into The Woods and Spring Awakening.
Outside of her own filmmaking career, Catriona serves as a mentor for jHRTS members and Reel Works, working with teens and kids as they begin their journey into the world of film.
Catriona serves as a programmer and juror for the Slamdance film festival's Unstoppable and narrative shorts categories.
