Emily Elizabeth Thomas is a vivacious filmmaker that hails from the Great State of Texas. A true cowgirl at heart, Emily’s electric and imaginative work pulses with the boldness of the Wild, Wild West. 

Emily’s work explores ideas of womanhood, rebellion and resiliency through a unique patina made of both girl and grit. Her work confronts traditional ideas of femininity with a punk flair, and seeks to inspire women and girls to believe in their magic.

Emily made a name for herself on the independent film festival circuit from a young age with her breakout short film ‘Lola: Girl Got a Gun’. Her debut feature titled ‘MadGirl’, a surrealistic drama about mental illness in girlhood, is in development with PGA Stanley Kramer Award-Winning producer Michael Reilly, and was awarded Finalist of the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards, and the New York International Screenplay Awards.

Commercially, Emily directs visually arresting campaigns that go viral, and that stay true to her undaunted style of story-driven imagination and whimsy. She’s worked with a wide range of clients such as ESPN, Disney, Southwest Airlines, Dell, Bacardi and Garnier Fructis, and world class talent such as Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart, and Ashley Judd. She’s been shortlisted for ADC and One Show Awards, and was inducted into SHOOT Magazine’s prestigious New Directors Showcase in 2021. 

Emily most covets her custom cowboy hat collection, her 90’s archive vintage clothing, and her Dolly Parton records. You can often find her in an indie movie theater, or over-caffeinated writing a screenplay.

SELECTION OF AWARDS

ADVERTISING
Free The Work Creator Showcase Feature | We Are Sexy, 2022
SHOOT Online | New Directors Showcase, 2021
ADC Awards, TV/Film/Video Craft in Writing (Shortlist) | The Gathering, 2020
One Show, Best Branded Entertainment (Shortlist) | The Gathering,  2020
Ad Age Pick of the Day | The Gathering, 2019
Shots Best of the Month | The Gathering, 2019

MOVIES
New York International Screenplay Awards, Finalist | Bye Bye Daisy, 2023
Santa Barbara International Feature Screenplay Awards, Finalist | Bye Bye Daisy, 2022
Showcase: Most Powerful Films on Gun Violence | We Are Moving Stories | Lola: Girl Got a Gun, 2020
Best Indie Short | Independent Short Awards, Untitled Marfa Project, 2020
Best Cinematography | Victoria TX Independent Film Festival | Untitled Marfa Project, 2019
Best Film Noir Short , Finalist | Indie Short Fest | The Other Woman, 2019
Crossroads Award for Emerging Directors | The Victoria TX Independent Film Festival, 2018
Best International Short | Oslo Independent Film Festival | Lola: Girl Got a Gun, 2018
Best Professional Short | George Lindsay UNA Film Festival | Lola: Girl Got a Gun, 2018

Official Selection | Lola: Girl Got a Gun | Victoria TX Independent Film Festival,
Harlem International Film Festival, Norwegian International Seagull Short Film Festival,
Marfa Film Festival, Key West Film Festival, George Lindsay UNA Film Festival,
Oslo Independent Film Festival, Nitehawk Shorts Festival, Cannes Short Corner

Official Selection | Untitled Marfa Project | Victoria Texas Independent Film Festival,
Lone Star Film Festival, South Texas Underground Film Festival, Indie Short Fest,
Independent Short Awards

SELECTION OF PRESS

‘The Best Halloween Ads From Brands Including Ikea, Burger King and Bacardi’, The Drum
‘The Directors’ Interview Series, Little Black Book
Emily Elizabeth Thomas Dives into the Midnight Zone’s Depths, Little Black Book
SHOOT New Director’s Showcase, SHOOT Online
Who’s the Other Woman and Where Can We Find Her?, Reel 360
Keeping the Dream Alive with Emily Elizabeth Thomas, Free The Work
A Nun, Spy and Elf Queen Share #MeToo Stories in the Brooklyn Film Festival’s Statement Film, AdAge
The Brooklyn Film Festival Artfully Tells a Story Hollywood Would Rather Ignore, Muse by Clio
A Nun, a Spy and an Elf Tell a Genre-Spanning Tale of Sexual Misconduct for Brooklyn Film Fest, Little Black Book
Director Emily Elizabeth Thomas & TBWA\Chiat\Day New York: #METOO talks with a Softer, More Powerful Voice, The Stable
Progressive In Colorado Senate Race Raises Eyebrows With Apocalyptic Climate Ad, Huff Post
‘Lola: Girl Got a Gun’ Feature, Curated By Girls
Emily Elizabeth Thomas Tackles Southern Gun Violence With a Twist in ‘Lola: Girl Got A Gun’, Directors Notes
Jagwar Twin Dreams of a World Renewed, Purple Magazine
‘Lola: Girl Got a Gun’ Review, Film Threat