ABOUT US
Born By A River exists to innovate in storytelling - both on-screen and behind the scenes. We produce compelling narratives and provide a home for bold auteur-driven content. We bring a collective approach to world-building, cultivating a space for talent to explore, get their feet wet, and play. We work across fiction, non-fiction, short and long format.
We foreground an inclusive practice that has been embedded from the ground up. In real terms, this means considering how outdated ways of operating may exclude some. At the core of our work is a commitment to making our processes more accessible - threading this approach into everything we do; putting those who face barriers to participation at the centre of design and planning. We are Black-led, ethically-minded, and rooted in equity.
Founded by Steph Tari Odu in 2022, Born By A River has to-date garnered recognition for output in short-form documentary. Over a 15+ year career as an art director, Steph has worked on projects of different scales for broadcasters including Channel 4, the BBC, Sky, HBO, Amazon, and Netflix. As a researcher, Steph has looked at the arts, communities of colour, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Helming operations is researcher and cultural producer Jordan Rowe. Jordan brings a background in urban research, artist production, and cinema exhibition, having worked for cultural organisations and higher education institutions across the UK and Germany. For over seven years, Jordan managed UCL’s Urban Laboratory, where he developed a varied and interdisciplinary range of work that included collaborations with the BFI, ICA, Bertha DocHouse, and Somerset House.
What’s in a name? The banks of a river are fertile ground. Our name pays homage to the ingenuity of the very first technologies of our existence; planting a seed, cultivating, and nurturing for sustenance. We like to say that as a company Born By A River is fertile ground for creativity.
© 2023 Born by a River