Stept Studios Signs Director Jess Colquhoun

Award-winning filmmaker and photographer Jess Colquhoun, who has worked extensively with Stept Studios over the past few years, has officially joined their roster of directors.

Colquhoun’s films are told through a documentary approach with an emotive and naturalistic eye that reflects her curious nature and passion for people, music, and culture, with a love of human-centred storytelling. Her documentaries 'Valley Of A Thousand Hills' (Best Family Film - San Francisco Film Festival 2017) and 'The Black Mambas' (Winner Glamour Magazine x Girl Gaze #NewView Film Competition 2017) are two excellent examples of her attention to heart and detail.

She has collaborated with international brands including Apple Music, Dove, Levi’s, Harley Davidson, Airbnb and Times Up Entertainment, and has achieved Vimeo Staff Pick recognition for several of her films. Colquhoun’s work has been featured in Vice, National Geographic, and Glamour. She has also collaborated with numerous musical artists including HAIM and Florence and the Machine.

Her Webby nominated documentary 'Sundays at the Triple Nickel', supported by Crown Royal, won a 2020 Branded Content Gold Telly Award and two Silver awards including craft of directing. The film explores the power of music in Harlem, New York. The film is evocative and lyrical, sharing a mother’s weekly ritual to honour the profound loss of her son through the meditation of jazz performances. Colquhoun’s lens deftly showcases the Sugar Hill neighbourhood, long home to jazz legends redefining and reinventing the genre, while sharing an intimate and atmospheric portrait of the woman behind the piano. The film is a cinematic celebration of community and connection, considering its extraordinary ability to withstand grief through imagination. The film’s online release reached almost four million viewers and garnered coverage in major advertising outlets including Shots, Little Black Book, The Drum, and Shoot.

Jess’ branded films are an echo of her ability to identify relevant and undiscovered stories, built with her passion for development and hands-on approach. Her additional films include a PSA for Times Up Entertainment, which screened across AMC cinemas nationwide, shining a light on real women within the industry who are paving the way for the next generation of female filmmakers.

“I’m thrilled to join the team at Stept and continue collaborating across commercials and original projects,” says Colquhoun. “Creating with the team has always been a rewarding experience and I’m looking forward to developing further films that share compelling stories and resonate with a wide audience.”

Stept founder Nick Martini adds: “Jess and Stept are a perfect values-match. We all bring our intense passion for storytelling and our dedication to the highest caliber of filmmaking to every shoot. We’re happy to make our partnership official and to continue pushing boundaries in the work we create together.”

Colquhoun splits her time between London and Los Angeles. Stept Studios is a creative and production studio based in Los Angeles and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Over the last decade, they’ve become known for producing impactful content featuring authentic characters, celebrity athletes, and unique locations. Stept has diversified its commercial roster to include the next generation of visual storytellers, documentarians, urban lifestyle shooters, and athletic visionaries.