Ya'Ke Smith is a rising voice in independent cinema, recognized for his unflinching and veracious style of storytelling. His films have garnered worldwide acclaim, screening at over 100 film festivals and winning numerous awards. The Director's Guild of America, the Student Academy Awards, HBO, Showtime, the City of Buffalo, NY, and the City of Cincinnati, OH have all honored him.
His short film, KATRINA'S SON, screened at over 40 film festivals and won 14 awards, with eligibility for the 2012 Academy Award in short filmmaking. His debut feature, WOLF, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and has since screened and won awards at festivals across North America. The film is now available for download via several VOD outlets.
Ya'Ke's film, DAWN., made its television premiere on HBO in February 2015, screening on the network for two years and also being streamed as part of Issa Rae's Short Film Sunday series on her YouTube channel. His web-series, THE BEGINNING AND ENDING OF EVERYTHING, is currently streaming on the digital platform A Space for Creators.
Ya'Ke has three projects on the film festival circuit, BROTHER, EDWIN, and THE PANDEMIC CHRONICLES, all of which have won top honors at film festivals across the U.S. THE PANDEMIC CHRONICLES is currently being distributed by Full Spectrum Features. He recently directed an episode of the BET series TALES.
Ya'Ke has been featured on NPR, CNN, HLN, Ebony Online, Indiewire, Filmmaker Magazine, Variety Magazine, Vogue Magazine, and Shadow&Act.
Ya'Ke graduated with his B.A. from the Communication Arts Department at the University of The Incarnate Word, where he later became the youngest recipient of the Alumni of Distinction for Professional Achievement award. He received his M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin's film program, where he is currently an Associate Professor of film and the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Moody College of Communication.
