Washington, DC – The District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) is pleased to recognize Kimberley Williams as the February 2022 Filmmaker of the Month.
Kimberley R. Williams is an independent filmmaker/producer, educator, and artist whose role as Senior Media Producer for DC non-profit, One Common Unity (OCU), finds her current media work centered around peace education, arts empowerment, and mental health access for DC youth.
As an independent media creative, Kimberley enjoys producing unique and inspiring documentaries and promotional videos for non-profits, highlighting the vital work they do for our communities. Her films have been shown in various festivals around the US, including the International Social Change Film Festival, Rainier Independent Film Festival, and Moondance Film Festival, where her music video “Heaven’s Falling” was selected as Audience Favorite.
"Primarily working as a person behind the scenes, it is an honor to be recognized by OCTFME for my work as an independent filmmaker/producer. It is my mission to highlight the important community work being done by non-profits throughout the country, as well as exploring unique creativity and the healing arts,” said Kimberley Williams.
Early in her filmmaking career, as an educator, Kimberley worked as a Media Arts adjunct professor for both American University and Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Her students honed their skills by producing media for organizations such as the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation, Voices for Biodiversity, Somali American Peace Council, and Bloombars. Prior to teaching at the University level, Kimberley was a secondary education teacher for six years, having taught K-12 for Virginia Beach School District as well as Washoe County School District in Reno, NV. Kimberley also lived and worked in China for a year, teaching English and traveling extensively throughout the country. In her current role with One Common Unity, Kimberley also serves as a mentor to interns who look to create media based on the inspiring mission of OCU.
Kimberley’s most recent filmmaking project for One Common Unity, The Melody Lingers On (2021), is a story about love, loss and hope through creative healing. It follows the journey of a DC native and hip-hop artist Marcus Morgan/Popp Culture, who tragically lost his brother to gun violence. As producer and director of her personal documentary "Broken Hearts & Butterflies" (2012) and music video "Heaven’s Falling," (2015), both feature Kimberley's own original music. A self-taught musician singer-songwriter, Kimberley also released her self-titled album “Kimberley Rose” (2013). Believing in the transformative power of music, art, and unique forms of self-expression, her current musical interests find Kimberley exploring sound and song as a modality for deep healing.
Originally from the West Coast, Kimberley grew up on a self-sustaining wheat and barley farm in Eastern Washington State, where she could ride horses before she could walk. Now having two horse-loving daughters, she tries to expose them to riding as much as possible while living in the middle of the city. Kimberley’s current independent film project, titled #HorseDiamonds, is about how Hungarian horses came to the United States after World War II, and why a small group of equine enthusiasts are trying to keep the Kisber-Felver bloodline alive.
Kimberley’s hope is to someday film the horses while living in Hungary. Although from Washington State, Kimberley has also lived in Minnesota, California, Nevada, Virginia, Louisiana, New York, China, and the Czech Republic.
Themes Kimberley would like to focus on in her future creative projects include: environmental rehabilitation; Indigenous Rights; the Rematriation Movement; regenerative farming; rewilding; plant medicine; wildlife and animal rescue; reparations; alternative energy; alternative living communities; tiny home movement, and, the healing arts.
To learn more about Kimberley’s past and current creative projects at her professional website.
Kimberley's Film & TV Credits:
2005 - Co-producer – Speaking for the Mute – AU & Humane Society
2006 - Screenplay Writer & Director – Transcendence - FAMU
2007 - Associate Producer – "Rookies" NOLA, post-Katrina – A&E, Tiger Aspect
2008 - Associate Producer – “Total Wrecklamation” - Big Fish Entertainment
2009 – Editor - promo for AINA (non-profit) - teaching media to Afghani women
2010 - Co-Producer & Director - promo video(s) about immigration, CLINIC Legal Network
2012 - Producer, Director, Co-Editor – Broken Hearts & Butterflies – Feature Doc. Film
2013-2016 - Producer & Performer - Shadow Puppet Show (live) – Bloombars (non-profit)
2014 - Director & Editor – Transmitting Heritage in a New World – Freyda’s Hands (non-profit)
2015 - Producer, Editor & Musician – Heaven’s Falling – Voices for Biodiversity (non-profit)
2017 - Co-Producer & Director - VOLT Videos for Healthy Teen Network (non-profit)
2018 - Producer & Editor - Louder than a Gun! (OCU)
2018 - Director & Editor - UNITY music video (OCU)
2019 - Co-Director & Co-Producer - MISS INTENTION music video (OCU)
2019 - Producer – Turnaround at Perry Street Prep - WestEd (non-profit)
2020 - Co-Producer – Intention Room (OCU)
2021 - Director & Editor – The Melody Lingers On - short documentary (OCU)
2021 - Producer & Director – “Close the Gap” Benefit Concert (OCU)
Kimberley's Social Media Handles:
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KIMBERLEY WILLIAMS DC RADIO INTERVIEW
Want to learn more about Kimberley Williams and her work? Click HERE to listen to her DC Radio interview.
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About FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) launched the “Filmmaker of the Month” initiative as a vehicle for highlighting the talents and creative contributions of filmmakers that make the District of Columbia their home. The “Filmmaker of the Month” initiative is part of OCTFME’s mission to elevate the national and international profile of the District’s talented filmmakers.
***If you know of a filmmaker that would make a great future “Filmmaker of the Month,” you can send OCTFME your recommendations using this nomination form.
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About OCTFME
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) produces and broadcasts programming for the District of Columbia’s public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable television channels and digital radio station; regulates the District of Columbia’s cable television service providers; provides customer service for cable subscribers; and supports a sustainable film, music, and entertainment creative economy and labor market in the District of Columbia.
OCTFME award-winning content provides resourceful information on government activity, education, current events, history, music, arts, and entertainment. OCTFME operates and manages the District’s government television access channels: the District Council Channel (DCC), the District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN).
OCTFME manages, operates, and programs the District of Columbia Entertainment Network (DCE). This 24-hour on-demand streaming network delivers diverse and inclusive – FREE – lifestyle, music, live events, sports, arts, variety shows, talk shows, educational and entertainment programming from the nation’s capital into homes via ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV as well as iPhone and Android mobile devices by downloading the DCE Network App or at DCENetwork.com.
OCTFME also operates, manages, and programs DC Radio 96.3 HD4 digital radio station, the District of Columbia’s first government radio station, in partnership with Howard University’s WHUR. It is one of only two full-power, city-managed and programmed radio stations in the country.
OCTFME provides production support services that advance film, television, video, entertainment, interactive, multimedia, and digital media content creators. These services include permitting, location scouting, production support; job placement assistance; workforce development; and the DC Film, Television, and Entertainment Rebate Fund.
OCTFME provides additional support to the Creative community through the Creative Affairs Office (CAO), and the Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative. CAO showcases and preserves the District of Columbia’s rich creative communities throughout all 8 Wards. CAO builds sustainability in the creative community through policy, programming, and education, further expanding the middle-class pathway for the creative workforce. CAO coordinates public, private, and community partners to accomplish all goals and create equitable and inclusive opportunities for the District’s creatives. Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative, administers programs that support the growth and sustainability of the creative industries throughout the District.
For more information, contact the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment at (202) 671-0066, visit us online at: entertainment.dc.gov, and follow us on Facebook.com/entertaindc, Instagram.com/entertain_dc, and Twitter.com/entertain_dc.
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