DIRECTORS

Debra Aroko is an award-winning Kenyan filmmaker and producer, recently honored with the prestigious Albert Maysles Award for Best New Director at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival for her directorial debut, *Searching For Amani*, which also won Best Documentary at the Raindance Film Festival. She currently serves as the Africa Communities Manager for the Video Consortium, where she is dedicated to fostering and supporting the growth of the African filmmaking community. Driven by a deep passion for storytelling, Debra focuses on capturing the nuanced realities of communities confronting the global climate crisis. Her work not only highlights the challenges these communities face but also delves into the resilience and hope that sustain them. As a producer at the Solutions Storytelling Project, she oversees the production of 19 short documentary films across the African continent. This project connects African filmmakers with social innovators to create solutions-focused films that inspire and uplift their communities. Currently, Debra is in post-production on her second feature-length documentary, following the inspiring journey of a young Kenyan athlete and mountain guide who, against all odds, is redefining the world of mountaineering while discovering his true self. Debra remains committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities across the continent and beyond, using film as a powerful tool for hope and change.