Shatara Michelle Ford
Biography
Born in Arkansas and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ford studied political studies and sociology at Pitzer College before earning an MFA in screenwriting from Royal Holloway, University of London. Their screenplay Queen Elizabeth was selected for the 2017 Black List.
Ford made their feature directorial debut with Test Pattern (2019), which they wrote and produced as well as directed. The film follows a Black woman and her white boyfriend as they navigate the aftermath of sexual assault and systemic barriers to obtaining medical care. The film received major festival recognition, and Ford later received the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's New Generation Prize and was named a 2020 Pew Fellow.
Ford's second feature, Dreams in Nightmares (2024), follows three Black queer femmes traveling across the Midwest in search of a missing friend. The film premiered at BlackStar and subsequently screened at festivals including Berlinale, BFI Flare, Inside Out Toronto, and NewFest. It is scheduled to open in New York on August 21, 2026, in Los Angeles on August 28, and expand nationwide in September 2026.
BQW Impact
Ford's filmmaking centers Black and queer characters while examining relationships, community, identity, and the systems that shape their lives. Test Pattern addresses racial and gendered barriers surrounding sexual assault and access to care, while Dreams in Nightmares explores Black queer friendship, chosen family, and belonging.
Ford has spoken directly about their experience as a Black, queer, nonbinary person and the importance of chosen family within queer communities. Their work contributes to contemporary Black queer cinema by placing Black queer lives and perspectives at the center of narrative filmmaking.
Notable Works
Afro-Woman: 2016 CE (2016)
Ford's short film, which they wrote, directed, and produced.
Queen Elizabeth (2017)
Ford's screenplay about a high-achieving Black postgraduate questioning the life she has built. The script was selected for the 2017 Black List.
Test Pattern (2019)
Ford's feature directorial debut, which they wrote and produced. The film examines the aftermath of sexual assault and the racial and gendered barriers encountered by a Black woman seeking medical care.
Dreams in Nightmares (2024)
Ford's second feature, following three Black queer femmes traveling across the Midwest in search of a missing friend. The film premiered at BlackStar in 2024 and has screened internationally, with its U.S. theatrical rollout beginning in August 2026.
Learn More
Ford's profile and information on Dreams in Nightmares, including the film's festival presentation and creator biography.
Interview with Ford about Dreams in Nightmares, Black queer life, chosen family, and their filmmaking influences.
Professional biography documenting Ford's background, education, screenplay work, and Test Pattern.
Ford's writing and perspective on chosen family and queer community, alongside discussion of Test Pattern.