A Midwestern theatre kid eager to spread her wings, Jordan attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City before eventually settling in the south of France. For over 10 years, she created performance art through intermedia contemporary dance productions. She now mostly writes stories in the woods of western Massachusetts.
Please List the Title of Your Film at BIFF 2026
Thickly Settled
What was your first experience with film and how did it influence your first project?
My first memorable film experiences are all movie musicals, or maybe a Bette Midler classic like Gypsy or The Rose. There are two things about those types of movies that have always drawn me in: being fully immersed in a universe nothing like my own, and talented humans delivering beautiful performances.
This film has a touch of those things. While the universe is similar to my own, I’ve no personal experience with time travel. However, my faith in talented humans to immerse me in their story was my guiding principle in this project. There is no singing or dancing, but the stark forest in winter is just as captivating in my mind, and the feel of the place we were in felt so, so important to us. I knew this world felt like something we could immerse ourselves in, and I knew that the wonderful actors we got the chance to work with would transport us as well.
There’s something really special about film as a storytelling vessel. It allows for all of these different types of settings and places (vaudeville theaters, time machines, outer space) to create an emotional response that feels singular and familiar, and reminds us of our shared journey as humans. I went into our story wanting to create that.
Who is (are) your favorite filmmakers?
Amy Sherman-Palladino, Bob Fosse, Wes Anderson, Christopher Guest, George Cukor, Mike Nichols
What are you working on that no one knows about?
Currently working on writing romance novels!
Who would play you in a movie? What’s your go to movie snack? What’s the film title that best describes your life?
Who would play me in a movie—alive or dead? Carrie Fisher, or someone very cool like Gillian Anderson or Parker Posey
Go-to movie snack—extra buttery popcorn, fountain Coca-Cola Classic
Film title that best describes my life—A Mighty Wind
