COWGIRL STORIES: Kate Beecroft
JOURNAL
A Cowgirl Film Maker & Story Teller
KATE BEHIND THE SCENES OF HER LATEST FILM “EAST OF WALL”
Meet Kate Beecroft:
Kate Beecroft is a Los Angeles native writer and director who graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Her background in acting has given her a deep love and respect for those she works with on camera, whether professional or non-actors. Her feature film debut "East of Wall" — a story about rebellious cowgirls — premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, winning the Audience Award, where it was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Kate has been placed on IndieWire’s list of "Sundance 2025 breakouts" as well as a "ReFrame Rise Finalist, 2025 Cohort" for WIF. Kate is also the 2025 recipient of the Adrienne Shelley Excellence in Filmmaking Award.
Her latest project “East of Wall” is a Sony Pictures Classic docu-fiction film , featuring real life South Dakotan cowgirls, takes place on a ranch in Badlands. The film follows Tabatha, a horse trainer, who wrestles with financial issues and unresolved grief, while providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers on her broken-down ranch. Kate met Tabatha and her family while traveling through South Dakota and trained them to act in this unique western film.
We sat down with Kate and asked her a few questions about her latest project, East of Wall.
BTS OF EAST OF WALL
About East of Wall:
Q: East of Wall is a unique film because it blends documentary and fiction. What initially inspired you to tell this story?
Those girls. The second I stepped foot on that ranch and saw their faces, it was as if I had been looking for them my whole life without knowing — there was such a wildness about them in a way I’d never seen before, certainly not on camera. I wanted to see their faces on film.
Q: In what ways do you see East of Wall contributing to—or challenging—traditional cowgirl film narratives?
There’s been such a resurgence in western films and shows, there’s this incredible comeback, but I haven’t seen any told by women and young girls.
BTS OF EAST OF WALL
“Being a cowgirl, to me, is about as gritty and raw as it gets. It's about tough, real women who don’t hold back—and that’s exactly what I wanted to bring to the screen. The girls in my film are wild, untamed, and free, and I aimed to shine a spotlight on that fierce spirit.”
— KATE BEECROFT
KATE WITH EAST OF THE WALL CAST AND CREW
Where can we watch your film?!
East of Wall will be in theaters August 15th!! Watch it on the big screen, tell your friends. There will also be a special showing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the “Jackson Hole Film Festival” on Wed, Sept 10th, 2025 at 7:00pm.
Follow Kate’s work & East of Wall on Instagram:
