We recently had the chance to connect with Sydne Horton and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sydne, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
Thanks for having me! Ultimately, I’m chasing creating stories that bring visibility and nuance to characters who are often othered or misunderstood. As someone who was adopted later in life and came into my queerness over time, I know how powerful and necessary it is to see yourself reflected with complexity and authenticity on screen. Inspired by creatives like Céline Sciamma and Chloé Zhao, my goal is to not only write and direct these kinds of stories, but to also produce content by other creatives who share the same mission.
If I stopped pursuing this, I think I would lose the purpose that grounds me in this world. Over time, I’ve recognized that storytelling is how I process everything around me and connect with others. It’s also how I make sense of identity, belonging, and everything in between. If I stopped, the stories may still exist, but they wouldn’t be told with the same heart, care, and perspective I bring… and I’d like to think that matters.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a director and writer who grew up adopted, curious, and queer in the Midwest. More specifically, I grew up in Indiana and I was raised on a wild mix of classic films, cult favorites, trash gems, and any teen horror I could get my hands on. That love of movies and survival instincts now fuels my passion for coming of age stories with bite. I write and direct genre blending narratives that explore identity, belonging, and the messy magic of self-discovery, told with humor, horror, and heart.
I’ve found success with my short SATURDAY RITUAL screening at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival as part of the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. It also won the Best Teen Film Audience Award at NewFest and was a jury contender at Palm Springs ShortFest. My coming of age horror short META was featured in the book “I Spit Your Celluloid: The History of Women Directing Horror Movies,” and it was exhibited at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture for three months. I’m also an alum of the Women in Film Directing Mentorship and the Emmys Television Academy Internship Program.
More recently, I’m cooking up my next short film, prepping a dream project that’s still under wraps (but totally my vibe), and actively working toward breaking into episodic television directing. All that is to say that I’m currently creating the kinds of stories I searched for growing up, ones that are honest, offbeat and impossible to ignore.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve had many influences shape both my artistry and work ethic over time.
My earliest filmmaking influence was Steven Spielberg, very “Dawson’s Creek” of me, I know. I related heavily to Elliott and the alienation he felt in “E.T.” and to Littlefoot in “The Land Before Time” who was the first character for me that sort of resembled what it looked like to be adopted on screen. Spielberg’s ability to have a hand in mainstream films that were so deeply personal to him, yet also universally known, has remained a constant source of inspiration and I aspire to do the same with my work.
Céline Sciamma has also been a pivotal influence. Her films like “Tomboy” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” beautifully highlight the queer experience and the nuanced inner lives of her characters. To me, her storytelling is a masterclass in authenticity, empathy, and subtle glances that say absolutely everything. Both her screenwriting and directing talents encourage me to meticulously write each draft, delicately block my actors, and stay true to each character.
More recently, I’ve found a strong connection with David Lynch too. Every documentary I’ve watched about him has deepened my understanding of myself as an artist and further inspired me to take risks, even if it means failing. While he made some of the greatest work, he also felt that he had failures, and he believed in the growth that came with it. To me, that’s inspirational. As an artist, inspired by many things Lynch highlights in his art life philosophy, I believe I was put on this earth to tell stories, especially those that highlight queer experiences and underrepresented voices through filmmaking as my artistry medium.
On a more personal level, I’m grateful to Property Master Dwayne Grady with whom I have worked on projects such as “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and “On Swift Horses.” Beyond teaching me the craft of Prop Mastering, Dwayne has been a mentor in keeping my eyes on my true passion of directing. Before every collaboration, he would have me stand on his truck gate and declare “I won’t give up on directing just because I’m having fun learning about the world of props.” Through him, I learned how to enrich a story, connect deeply with actors through their personal character items, and create textured, lived-in worlds.
And of course, I have to thank my parents who both instilled the idea that the sky is the limit as long as you have the passion, the drive, and dedication to make things happen.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Doing anything tactile or creative often helped shift my mindset. Getting outside to shoot basketball hoops or building something from leftover craft supplies allowed me to release energy and focus my attention elsewhere.
I remember one day in elementary school when I was feeling especially anxious and decided to use that energy to make something. My dad had a section of our garage filled with untouched odds and ends and I invited a friend over and asked if we could play a game where we had to invent something using only what we found around us. We ended up reimagining a beaten up wooden chair and turning it into what we called a “chair with a pantry.” We wrapped the worn cushion in an old towel, attached a bucket underneath the seat, and added a cardboard flap to cover the open end of the bucket. It wasn’t anything to boast about, but it gave me a sense of purpose and creativity at a moment when I felt out of control.
Outside of tactile projects, escaping into movies and television shows was incredibly important for me. It started with watching comfort films or series and it slowly grew into a passion for storytelling. By middle school and high school, I was making short films with friends as a way to express what I was feeling. I didn’t always know how to say “I’m sad” or “I’m scared,” but I could put those emotions into my work. Filmmaking gave me a way to process what I was going through while staying somewhat shielded behind the stories I created. It ultimately helped me feel seen, even when I wasn’t ready to be seen directly.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d say I really care about creating stories that actually mean something. I know that sounds generic, but they’d back that up with emphasizing my passion to highlight narratives that not only help others make sense of the world, but also further push them to explore new perspectives and question their own bubbles. Again, I’m often exploring the coming of age space and they know how influential, necessary, and impactful I think this type of storytelling is.
I also think they’d share that I value any opportunity to have quality time with my friends, family, and puppy, Nona Peach. I have various traditions set up with each of them, and I believe these treasured moments play a large role in keeping me going. They also know how important traveling to new places is to me, whether solo or alongside some of my favorite people.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I’d regret not giving the art I choose to make my absolute all. Certain movies and shows handed me a life raft during the toughest years of my life, and I know I’m not alone in that. I have many friends who say the same, echoing the sentiment that these stories quite literally helped them survive.
I believe being an artist is an absolute gift, and with that comes a thrilling responsibility. When you’re the one steering the ship of a story, you have a duty to handle it with detailed intention, crafted care, and total honesty. If I ever looked back and realized I’d let fear, noise, or outside pressure distract me from that, I’d feel I had lost something sacred.
I hope to always remain hungry and eager to observe the world around me, and use those discoveries effectively in my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sydnehorton.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydnehorton
Image Credits
Mettie Ostrowski, Lauren Arnold, Tori Weller, Laura Heredia, & Winona Lo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
