Cauleen Smith was born in Riverside, California, and spent her formative years in the Sacramento area. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University in 1991, laying the foundation for her future academic pursuits. Several years later, Smith completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in Film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1998, further solidifying her expertise in the field.
Smith's feature-length film, Drylongso, garnered significant attention following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. This milestone achievement earned her the prestigious Movado Someone to Watch Award, as well as top honors at the Urbanworld Film Festival and the Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival in 2000.
Since then, Smith has remained prolific, producing a diverse range of films, including The Fullness of Time. This project holds particular significance, as it was filmed in New Orleans just two years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. Smith's latest endeavor is an experimental documentary exploring the life and legacy of the late Chicago-based jazz artist Sun Ra, whose innovative style revolutionized the Chicago jazz scene.
In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Smith is a dedicated educator, teaching in the Visual Arts department at the University of California, San Diego. She continues to write, direct, and produce, solidifying her reputation as a talented and versatile artist.
