East of Wall Interview: Sundance Award Winner Is a Love Letter To the Badlands

The Badlands is a tough place to be in. And yet, despite its harsh climate and rough terrain, one would be surprised by the warmth and resilience exhibited by those living in it. Serving as writer-director, Kate Beecroft’s debut feature film, East of Wall, follows Beecroft’s latest subject, Tabatha Zimiga, a young, tattooed horse trainer who has no interest in conforming to society’s standards. Despite her rebellious heart, Tabatha is wounded by the death of her husband. Grappling with unresolved grief and financial insecurity, Tabatha also serves as the caretaker for a group of wayward teenagers seeking refuge in her far-from-perfect ranch in the Badlands.

A project that took five years to make, East of Wall could not get any more personal for Beecroft. Living with Tabatha and her daughter Porshia Zimiga for three years, Beecroft got a first-hand account of Zimiga’s unique ranch. With the American West oftentimes being a male-dominated world, Tabatha, Porshia, and their fellow teens prove that through strength and companionship, no place is too rugged or rough for them. Also starring Jennifer Ehle (Special Ops: Lioness) and Scoot McNairy (Speak No Evil), East of Wall is a 97-minute love letter to the Badlands and the untold stories that have yet to permeate out of the region.

In this interview, Collider’s very own Perri Nemiroff had the opportunity to speak with Beecroft, Tabatha, Porshia, and Ehle at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival at the Rendezvous Cinema Center. In this interview, they share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the movie and the lessons learned along the way. Both fact and fiction, this story is the best of both worlds, combining seasoned professionals with acting newcomers, working with a traditional script, and simultaneously winging moments—making the project a creative hybrid of different methods.

#sundance #filmmaking #filmmaker #horse #western

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