Alek Abate is a filmmaker based in Brooklyn and originally from Jacksonville, Florida. He holds an MFA in Screenwriting from Columbia University and a BA in Philosophy from Dartmouth College. His directing work has received support from Indian Paintbrush. Prior to pursuing filmmaking, he worked as a middle school English teacher, community organizer, legal policy analyst, and vegan activist. His work often focuses on invisible realities and interpersonal drift, derived from an interest in the works of Pier Paolo Pasolini, Maurice Pialat, João César Monteiro, Gus Van Sant, and Claire Denis.