Eleanor Burke and Ron Eyal are a filmmaking duo whose work explores the limits and possibilities of human connection.
Burke and Eyal grew up far across the pond from each other, one in England, the other in California. They began collaborating while attending New York University’s Tisch Graduate Film Program, where Eleanor Burke received a fellowship for excellence from director Ang Lee.
Over ten years of collaboration they have developed a directing vision centered on authentic and raw performances. By using a lightweight, fast-moving crew and shooting in script order, the filmmakers put the actors’ process at the heart of their projects. They direct using untraditional methods – collaborating with the actors to build their characters and character histories – in order to create unusually delicate, intimate and surprising films.
Their micro-budget debut feature STRANGER THINGS was produced for under $20,000 and won $75,000 in awards and post-production grants, including the IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Lab Finishing Grant. The film went on to win the Grand Jury Prizes at the 2011 Slamdance Film Festival, the 2011 Raindance Film Festival, and the 2010 Woodstock Film Festival, among other awards. It was an official selection of the 46th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and of BAMcinemaFest.
STRANGER THINGS had a limited theatrical release in New York, Chicago, and Seattle, and was a New York Times Critics’ Pick. The film is released digitally in North America through Cinedigm / New Video.
Ron Eyal is a fellow of the Toronto International Film Festival Talent Lab and Eleanor Burke is a fellow of the talent lab at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Berlinale Talent Campus, and BFI’s Think Shoot Distribute Talent Lab. Their feature project BRIGHT AS DAY is in development with the Sundance Producing Labs. They were recently featured in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.