Shia Shabazz Smith
Shia Shabazz Smith is a writer-director, poet, and educator based in Oakland, California, with over 20 years of storytelling across film, literature, and performance. Her work centers Black voices, cultural integrity, and emotional truth. She is currently in post-production on her directorial debut, Dawn, a love story with a sci-fi twist. As a screenwriter, her festival-screened short Curdled, starring Keke Palmer, Robinne Lee, and Chenoa Maxwell, blends humor and poignancy. Shia’s writing also includes the animated series I Am a King. A Cave Canem Fellow, VONA participant, and member of The Austin Project, Shia and her work have been featured in TORCH Literary Magazine and in the critically acclaimed docu-series Portraits of a King. Shia nurtures emerging storytellers while creating art rooted in liberation.
