Kafia Haile is a writer-director and visual artist. Prior to her creative career, she was based at the Pentagon as Defense Intelligence Agency’s Iraqi tribes and culture analyst. In 2008, she deployed to Iraq as an expert on reconciliation, by integrating tribal leaders and former insurgents into the political process. Kafia transitioned to entertainment to bring social justice, global politics, and empathy to a wider audience. She is a 2015 Nicholl Semifinalist and the writer of MR. HALL’S INTERVIEW, a short film described in Fortune as one “everyone who works should see." In 2016, Participant Media named her a semifinalist in Works for Progress, for TV pilots that inspire social change.

Kafia’s  artwork has been featured in exhibitions and live paintings to promote human rights and civic engagement. In any medium, she aspires to honor our history and inspire resistance against injustice.

EDUCATION

• B.A. Spelman College
• MALD The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
• MFA University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

AWARDS

• Nicholl Semifinalist
• Participant Media Works for Progress Semifinalist
• Graduated with distinction, USC School of Cinematic Arts

ART EXHIBITONS

• Firelight Foundation Cradle's Project
• They Reminisce Over You: We Are Troy Davis
• Blackout for Human Rights