Sontenish Myers is a Jamaican-American writer-director based in New York City. She is a graduate of NYU's Graduate Film program where she’s now an adjunct professor.  In her work, racial identity, womanhood, power dynamics, and the heroic journey are often explored. She is particularly interested in doing so across genres, from dramas, science fiction/fantasy, to dark comedies.

Her most recent short film, Cross My Heart, follows an American teen who upon visiting her family in Jamaica, discovers a secret that changes the way she sees the people she loves.  

The film has screened all over the world, and made its North American Premiere at Seattle International Film Festival. Sontenish was also awarded the Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker at Palm Springs International Shortfest for Cross My Heart, which was also included in Refinery29's list of The Most Exciting Woman-Directed Films At 2018's Palm Springs Shortfest. Cross My Heart won the Vimeo Staff Pick Award at Hamptons International Film Festival for its “outstanding performances from its two young leads and a nuanced directorial approach.” Cross My Heart is available to watch on SHOWTIME ANYTIME.

Sontenish was a 2018-2019 IFP Marcie Bloom Fellow in Film. She is developing her first feature film, Stampede, which has been accepted into the 2021 Sundance Screenwriting Lab, 2019 HIFF Screenwriting Lab, Film Independent Screenwriting Lab and IFP Week 2019. It is also a selected script on the Black List, and a recipient of SFFILM’s Rainin Grant and Tribeca All Access Grant.

In addition to her narrative work, Sontenish joined the roster of Great Guns USA. Under their banner, Sontenish has directed music videos for Grammy-nominated artists Tank and the Bangas and Samara Joy.

Representation

M88 Natalia Williams, NWilliams@staym88.com

Awards

Tribeca All Access Grant

SFFILM Fall Rainin Grant

BAFTA New York/BBC America Diversity Scholarship

Hampton International Film Festival Vimeo Staff Pick Award

Palm Springs Int'l Shortfest: Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker

Lorraine Hansberry/Ralph Ellison Arts, Performance, and Media Award

Martin Scorcese Scholarship Recipient

30 Under 30 Caribbean American Emerging Leader Award

Bernie Brillstein Scholarship Recipient

Tisch School of the Arts Scholarship