Greenpoint Pictures, with bases of operation in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, has added director Allison Swank Owen to its talent roster, marking her first U.S. commercial representation. 

After honing her craft as an editor in Chicago, Swank Owen transitioned to documentary filmmaking for networks like The History Channel and National Geographic. Upon relocating to New York, she fully embraced her talent as a director while creating short- and long-format documentaries for Questlove’s music channels OkayAfrica and Okayplayer, while working with artists like Erykah Badu, Elvis Costello, A$AP Rocky, and Flying Lotus.

A subsequent move took Swank Owen to South Africa for eight years, during which time she directed documentaries, commercials, brand films and music videos with some of the country’s most well-known and visionary artists. Her keen eye and versatile approach have since attracted international attention, taking her across the African continent to work with artists like Major Lazer and Burna Boy. Combining her experience in music and non-fiction filmmaking, she traveled to Nigeria and the U.K. to direct a short documentary for Mr. Eazi, From Lagos to London, about the global rise of Afrobeats.

Scum Boy, her independent documentary, sheds light on the life and craft of the eponymous transgender 3D artist who has transcended the domain of social media to garner mainstream acclaim and be regarded as a creative-on-the-rise. The film premiered on 4:3 Short Films and has been featured in Metal magazine and Paper magazine, and others. Scum Boy won Best Short Documentary at the IMDB Independent Shorts Awards in L.A. It was also an Official Selection for Shorts On Tap--London and Hot Docs 2021, and was invited to screen at AFI Docfest.

“I’m so thankful that Greenpoint Pictures are enthusiastic about my ideas--I feel very seen by Michael [director Kuhn], Tatiana [EP Rudzinski], Niles [director Roth], and Trevor [EP of sales King],” said Swank Owen. “The connection felt right from the very first meeting and I’m excited to join their roster for my first commercial representation in the U.S.”

“Allison’s work is bold, provocative, edgy, and celebratory” said Rudzinski. “She has an innate gift for finding unexpected ways into a story that captivate and intrigue, drawing you further into the story and connecting you with the characters. I’m impressed by her unique visual style and the global feel her work brings.”