Overview
Joie Lou Shakur (they/them) is a Black Trans immigrant from Jamaica. They are currently a Southern culture worker and filmmaker based in Durham, North Carolina.
Joie Lou Shakur is the Founder & Executive Director of Comfrey Films, a film training pipeline and production studio ecosystem focused on cultural organizing and narrative power led by and for Black Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people.
In addition to their work with Comfrey Films, Joie Lou founded and curates the Black Trans Short Film Festival. This annual event is dedicated to showcasing the stories and creativity of Black Trans/Gender Non-Conforming/Intersex (TGNCI) filmmakers from around the world. It's a space where the unique experiences, struggles, and joys of Black TGNCI lives are shared on screen, giving visibility to voices that often get overlooked in mainstream media.