Filmmakers To Watch I Natalie Jasmine Harris
When we asked our community to tag filmmakers who deserve the spotlight, Natalie Jasmine Harris’ name came up immediately — and for good reason. Her work pulses with tenderness, courage, and a deep commitment to honoring Black stories in all their complexity and joy.
Her newest short film, GRACE, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and continues to travel the world, screening at Palm Springs International ShortFest, Chicago International Film Festival, NewFest (where it won the Emerging Black LGBTQ Filmmaker Award), and Torino Film Festival. This month, GRACE arrived on The Criterion Channel, placing Natalie alongside cinematic icons like Julie Dash, Wong Kar-wai, Cheryl Dunye, and Agnès Varda.
About GRACE
Set in the 1950s South, GRACE follows a sixteen-year-old preparing for her baptism. When she’s told she must repent before the ritual, Grace confronts her blossoming feelings for her best friend, Louise. The film is intimate, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted — a quiet exploration of identity, spirituality, and first love.
GRACE showcases exceptional work across casting, production design, score, editing, and cinematography, with support from organizations including Creative Culture, Frameline, The Future of Film Is Female, and Inside Out’s RE:FOCUS Fund.
You can watch GRACE on Vimeo above and now on The Criterion Channel.
Photo credit: https://www.nataliejharris.com/bio
About the Filmmaker
Natalie Jasmine Harris is an award-winning filmmaker and NYU Tisch alum whose storytelling centers on Black joy, queer coming-of-age narratives, and pathways to liberation. Her thesis film PURE won the Directors Guild of America Student Award and was acquired by HBO/Max. Natalie is currently developing PURE into her debut feature with producer Avril Speaks and support from SFFILM Rainin Grant, Outfest, The Gotham, and Women in Film.
Her documentary work includes BEN IN BLOOM, created during a Traverse32 and Outfest fellowship, and she recently directed an episode of FLOWERS, a YouTube series with Breakwater Studios that surpassed 8 million views.
Natalie has held fellowships with Sundance, Film at Lincoln Center, NYFA, GLAAD, PBS Creative Voices, and more — establishing her as one of the most exciting emerging voices in contemporary cinema.
Why We Love Her Work
Natalie’s films hold a rare tenderness. She explores memory, identity, and love with a gentle curiosity that feels both grounded and expansive. Her stories honor the quiet emotional spaces between people while celebrating the beauty of Black life across generations.
Her upcoming film, EVERGREEN, continues this exploration. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it follows a young woman traveling with her grandmother’s late-in-life love to scatter her ashes. It’s a story about chosen family, grief, and unexpected connection.
Support the film here: https://www.evergreenshortfilm.com/donate
Natalie Jasmine Harris is without question a filmmaker to watch — and we can’t wait to see what she creates next!
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