By Tihut Tamrat, Voice & Viewpoint Staff
At just 15 years old, a native of Southeastern San Diego, Kalahari Lewis-Campbell is already making waves in the film industry. Selected as one of ten young filmmakers for the prestigious Black Girls Film Camp (BGFC), Kalahari is not only bringing her creative vision to life but also working to close the representation gap for Black girls in media. With a production team dedicated to realizing her vision, she is turning her passion into a powerful narrative that speaks to the experiences and voices often overlooked in mainstream cinema.
Growing up in San Diego contributed to her passion for filmmaking. “San Diego is a melting pot of everything. I grew up in the Spanish immersion program, so Spanish was the first language I learned. It allowed me to immerse myself in a different culture and definitely ignited my creativity. Film is about telling other people’s stories and examining how other parts of the world learn and think differently.”
The Black Girls Film Camp is a nonprofit program dedicated to empowering Black girls. Each year, ten filmmakers are selected, providing them with mentorship, hands-on experience, filmmaking equipment, and production teams to bring their stories to life. The camp has become a launching pad for aspiring directors, screenwriters, and producers designed to empower and elevate Black girls with a passion for storytelling and ensure they have a space in film, both behind and in front of the camera. Kalahari was one of the ten selected.
Kalahari shared her journey of getting accepted into Black Girls Film Camp. “So it actually happened a few days before Christmas. I was finishing up some school work and then I get a gmail notification on my phone that said ‘BGFC Acceptance Decision’,” she says. “Half of me told me not to click it because I know my mom wanted to be there and the other half wanted to open it in case I didn’t get accepted, and just get it over with. When I opened it I sped ran through it, and when I saw it, I literally screamed! I was so excited.”
Inspired by the lack of authentic Black girl narratives in mainstream media, she has always been drawn to storytelling as a means of self-expression and empowerment. “I’ve always loved stories. I’ve always loved movies. When I was younger I was convinced I was going to be an actress, but after COVID, I realized how much I love writing and musical theater. I didn’t want to lose that visual component with my love for writing and stories so then I was like, ‘I can make movies!’” Kalahari shared.
Beyond directing, Kalahari is a standout AP student at California Online Public Schools, which serves over 9,000 TK-12 students statewide. Her flexible online education allows her to travel and hone her filmmaking craft, all while working towards her dream of attending USC’s prestigious film program. “I’ve always been independent and self-motivated. That’s what my parents instilled in me, that education is also important. While the courses are advanced and rigorous I’m able to do my classes at my own pace which allows me to be able to create freely.”
When she applied to BGFC, she saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take her storytelling to the next level. Her biggest influence in film is Ava Duvernay, filmmaker and screenwriter for films Origin, 13th, and When They See Us. “She’s incredible, she’s amazing. That component of being able to learn something from Origin completely changed the way that my brain functioned. It’s a phenomenal film,” gushes Kalahari.
Kalahari’s own film that she will be directing, “Just As Poetic”, will follow a teen poet who faces the dilemma of either silencing her voice and historical truth or embracing her controversial, authentic artistry while competing in the biggest poetry competition of her life. “It will focus largely on the idea of cultural identity and being able to speak freely about your Blackness in a way that’s authentic and what feels right for you,” says Kalahari.
“I want the audience, especially Black audiences, to take away and know that your culture is never too much. That you never need to water down or censor yourself from your experience and any experience that anyone in any different culture has to say. I want everybody to fully be their unapologetic and authentic self, the right experiences and the right paths and opportunities that are meant for you will come along, whether you know it or not.”
As she embarks on this journey with BGFC, Kalahari is more determined than ever to make a lasting impact in the world of filmmaking. “Filmmaking is all about bridging that gap between fiction and reality and bringing it to a mass audience,” says Kalahari, “I think it’s important to have Black female filmmakers in the industry because they see so much, they’re so often the backbone of many systems and rarely get attention in the spotlight and the opportunity to tell the stories that they deserve,” emphasizes Kalahari.
Kalahari shares a personal anecdote, “My mother and my grandmother, they are the backbones of my community. They do so much for everybody around them and put up with everybody around them and rarely complain. So often we see Black women be in these positions where they have to uphold everybody else they don’t get a chance to exactly tell their story.”
“Black women have the ability to connect with people in odds and struggles that other minorities and oppressed people go through. They are the perfect people because they have the most insight into these communities and will make the perfect filmmakers,” she adds.
Kalahari gives her thanks and appreciation to her production team. “My alumni coach Precious Foreman, production coach Ricki Nelson, and editor Siani Johnson, are all phenomenal and incredible Black women. They’ve all been so helpful and wonderful just in the beginning points of the experience, I can’t even imagine how amazing they’re going to be the further we get into it.”
She is currently undergoing the pre-production period and will be in production in Los Angeles in May. Her film is set to premiere in June in North Carolina at a special screening event, where all ten selected filmmakers will showcase their work.
Her advice to other Black girls inspired by film, “Just know that your story has a purpose. Be willing to learn and be willing to immerse yourself in something new. Just make sure you show your passion for filmmaking because that makes other people want to work with you! That’s what happened for me.”
If you would like to support Black Girls Film Camp, Kalahari, her production team, and other Black girls that have a passion for filmmaking but have not been given the chance, you can donate film equipment, supplies, sets, time, and money through blackgirlsfilmcamp.org. Follow Kalahari’s journey until her premiere on Instagram @blackgirlsfilmcamp.
One thing is certain: the future of filmmaking will be brighter with Kalahari Lewis-Campbell.
