Aprill Winney (Director)
Aprill was born and raised in the Sequoia National Forest in Central California. After graduating from the University of California, San Diego with her degree in theatre, Aprill moved to Chicago to work as a dramaturg and director in its thriving theatre scene. Aprill’s first and only short film was part of a feature film collaboration called “Brushfires.” Produced by Splitpillow films in Chicago, “Brushfires” had great film festival success and was quickly picked up for international distribution.
In 2005, Aprill moved to Los Angeles to begin a career as a filmmaker and a script supervisor. Soon after, she returned to Chicago to direct her first feature film “Counting Backwards.” “Counting Backwards” premiered at the 2007 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and went on to win Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Narrative Feature at the 2008 Chashama Film Festival, won Most Triumphant Film at the 2008 Seattle True Independent Film Festival, won Best Director at the 2008 La Femme Film Festival, and was one of twelve films selected to participate in the 2008 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. Aprill is currently in Buffalo, New York, directing her second feature film “David Dance.”