Shahari Moore is an African American, writer, director, and professor, who was born in South Central Los Angeles, and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She is an alumni of The Writers Colony in LA, founded by Mara Brock Akil.  While in the program she curated a panel for Sundance X Chicago. She is a Professor of Africana Studies at Kennedy King College, and has taught as a Visiting Professor at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Prior to earning tenure, Shahari worked as a teen and family therapist. Her primary caseload planted a seed that would later blossom creatively through her pen. While completing her MFA in Creative Writing at Chicago State University, Shahari’s lyrical writing style and bold directorial vision inspired the adaptation of her short story, Swimmin’ Lesson as a short film that screened in Cannes in 2012. 
     Swimmin’ Lesson, the story of a father who loses his son during Hurricane Katrina was selected by the Cannes International Film Festival as an international premiere; a rare feat for a first time writer/director. Swimmin’ Lesson secured a three year distribution deal with PBS, and was featured on season 11 of AfroPop, hosted by Danielle Brooks. As a writer and director, Shahari’s work has caught the attention of Netflix, Tribeca Films, HBO, BET, and numerous independent producers. Her films have continued to screen at top tier film festivals, and have won awards locally, nationally, and internationally; including the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Star Filmmaker Award, AT&T’s 48 Hour Film Challenge, the Diversity in Cannes Film Showcase, and the Black International Cinema in Berlin.
     Shahari’s second film, B Love, featuring Eamonn Walker (Chicago Fire, Chicago PD & Cadillac Records), Corey Hendrix (The Bear, Fargo & The Chi), and Brély Evans (Being Mary Jane, Ambitions & Just Wright) is a playful love triangle between a man, a woman and a honey bee. B Love was recently celebrated as a Top 10 Short Film Made by a Chicagoan by Chicago Onscreen Magazine & Movies in the Parks. Her third film, Brooks People, a documentary about the first Black Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Gwendolyn Brooks has screened in Oscar Qualifying Film Festivals across the United States. In 2019, Shahari was awarded a grant by the Gene Siskel Film Center to make, Chicago Guy, a supernatural tale, set on the South Side of Chicago. In 2020, Shahari was honored by the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated as the 2020 Gallery DST Honoree, with a short documentary to  illuminate her life and her contributions as a writer/director. Her workshop on Loglines & Treatments continues to be a YouTube favorite. 

     Today, Shahari continues to write, create, teach and give back to Bronzeville, the community where she was raised, as well as to communities of color across the globe.

 

Contact Info & Links
Website: http://www.shaharistory.com
IG: @shaharistory
YouTube: Shahari Moore Documentary
YouTube: Loglines & Treatments