Stephanie Joline is an Indigenous writer, director, and producer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her Indigenous roots come from her mother who is Inuit from Labrador; her father is French Acadian from the South shore of Nova Scotia. Equally adept at film and television, Stephanie’s stories provoke conversation, break boundaries, and are deeply rooted in inclusivity and feminism.
Her feature films include Night Blooms (starring Jessica Clement and Nick Stahl), a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s; and Play Your Gender, a documentary that pulls back the curtain on gender bias in the music industry, featuring interviews with Patty Schemel, Melissa Auf Der Maur, and Sara Quin.
Stephanie has also directed for television and streaming platforms (Stream Me 2020, Amazon Prime; Farm Crime 2020 CBC Gem; Spirit Talker 2019, APTN). In 2020 she was awarded the Irving Avrich Award from TIFF recognizing rising Canadian talent. The following year she was long-listed for the DGC Discovery Award, and in 2022 she was nominated for her first Canadian Screen Award for best directing in the factual television category.
Stephanie’s feature, Night Blooms, is a gritty coming-of-age story set in the 1990s about 17-year-old Carly and her love affair with her best friend’s Dad. An emotionally charged narrative that navigates the moral murkiness of agency, consent, and accountability.