Monika Watkins

Monika Watkins, born in Atlanta, GA on October 8, comes from a creative and education-focused family. Both of her parents attended HBCUs; her father Morehouse and her mother Bennett College. Her independent and artistic spirit caused her to take up photography, writing and other creative arts at a young age. Continuing in these pursuits through high school she later attended the University of North Texas where she earned a BA in Radio, Television and Film. Her path would lead her to AMS Pictures where she produced documentaries and contributed to the production of several television shows. She is now moving into independent filmmaking with Bird Set Free Films. Her first release is an animated, short titled, From Selma to New York, which she will direct and produce. Her passion to give back to the community has provided her the great honor to produce and direct videos for a number of non-profit organizations including HRC, the Boys and Girls Club, the Nate Parker Foundation, Embody Love Movement, LaunchAbility and the American Heart Association. Her documentary work has screened at film festivals across the country including Chicago International Film Festival, New York's Urbanworld Film Festival, the International DocuFest in Atlanta and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.