Kiri Laurelle Davis

Kiri Laurelle Davis knew from an early age that film was a medium she wanted to work in. Through film and media related projects, she’s found away of expressing herself, while telling the stories most important to her. Shehas produced and directed several short films includingher first documentary A Girl Like Me,which she directed at age sixteen.

Since 2005 the film has received numerous awards including the Urban League Guild: “Vanguard Award,” Hampton Film Festival “Golden Starfish Award,” “SilverDocs Audience Award”and The Media That Matters “DiversityAward.” A Girl Like Me has also been featured in over twenty film festivalsincluding the Tribeca Film Festivaland has screened worldwide. Currentlythe film has reached over 40 million viewers.

Kiri Laurelle Davis, has been named by EbonyMagazine as one of “The Ebony Power:150 Most Influential Blacks In America,” and was selected by Essence Magazine as one of the “25 MostInfluential African-Americans in the Country.” She has been presented with the“Racial Justice Award” by theNational YMCA, and was honored with a proclamation by the City of New York forher work. She frequently lectures and participates in numerous panel discussions to further explore the issues raised in her film. She has beenfeatured in a host of magazine articles including JET, CosomoGirl, N.A.A.C.P’S CrisisMagazine and news articles throughout the U.S as well as internationally,including the NY Daily News and Washington Post. Kiri has been featuredon The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show/HeadlineNews, Good Morning America, ABC World News, and Sharp Talk with Al Sharpton. Additionally she has been aparticipant on various national radio shows, which include: the Steve Harvey Morning Show and NationalPublic Radio’s “Talk Of The Nation”.

Kiri majoredin Communications at Howard University before completing her under graduate degree in Media Studies at New School University. Currently based in New YorkCity, she continues to work in Film and Television, while also serving as aMedia Consultant for numerous youth and non-profit organizations. In 2012, Kiribegan production on her first feature documentary. The film takes an insidelook at youth of color, lost, exploited and targeted within the Justice System,while exploring the gut wrenching question, is it “Justice or Just Us?” She is also the creator of the JUST US PROJECT, a new multimedia platformdeveloped to actively address social justice issuesthrough media, art, an