Ashley Eakin

Born in California and raised in Nebraska, Ashley Eakin is a disabled director and writer. Her latest film, FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, was developed as part of Netflix’s Emerging Filmmaker Initiative and is currently live on the streaming platform.

For television, Eakin is developing a half-hour series with 20th TV for FX. The project is inspired by her award-winning short film SINGLE, produced in the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. The project premiered at SXSW in 2020 and received the Special Jury Recognition Award. The film has played in over 40 festivals winning 8 awards and 3 nominations. The project was also the recipient of the New York Women in Film Loreen Arbus Disability Awareness Grant. Eakin recently directed two episodes of BEST FOOT FORWARD for Apple TV+ and an episode of Brie Larson’s new series GROWING UP for Disney+.

For film, she is currently writing a project for Netflix under the Created By Initiative. She also often partners with her husband Shawn Lovering. The pair has written a thriller for Netflix and a biopic for Wayfarer Studios.

In 2021 Eakin was a participant in the Powderkeg Fuse Incubator, curated by Paul Feig. They produced her short film ROOMMATES selected for Slamdance and SXSW 2022. She was also selected for the Commercial Director’s Diversity Program. In 2020 Eakin was hired as a Staff Writer on an Animated Netflix series, MECH CADETS featuring a character with a disability.

Eakin is also an active member in both the WGA and DGA. She currently serves on the leadership team for the Women’s Steering Committee SQUAD program; a peer-to-peer mentorship program for mid-career directors. She was an alumni of the program in 2022 and mentored by director Kelly Fremon Craig.