Yvonne Welbon, a highly acclaimed filmmaker and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Sisters in Cinema, a Chicago-based non-profit organization established in response to her groundbreaking documentary about the history of Black women feature film directors. Throughout her illustrious career, Welbon has produced and distributed numerous award-winning films that have been broadcast on a wide range of prominent networks, including PBS, Starz/Encore, TV-ONE, IFC, Bravo, the Sundance Channel, BET, HBO, Netflix, and iTunes. Her films have also been showcased at over one hundred film festivals worldwide.
Welbon's current projects in development include "The Spies Who Loved Me," a gripping exposé on surveillance that draws heavily from her personal experiences living in Taipei, Taiwan for six years. Another notable project is "American Pride," a Black lesbian coming-of-age series set on the south side of Chicago, inspired by true events. Welbon has also taught at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, and held the position of Associate Professor and chair of the Journalism & Media Studies Department at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Born and raised in a Honduran household on the South Side of Chicago, Welbon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College, a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Northwestern University. She is also a graduate of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. In 2020, Welbon was welcomed as a member of the Documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, a testament to her enduring influence and dedication to the world of filmmaking.
