DIRECTOR
Geneva is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and commercial director. Growing up with a single mom taught Geneva the value of perseverance and triumph, which she now captures in others through her films.
As a woman in the film and commercial space, Geneva focuses on changing the narrative in front and behind the camera, greatly knowing the importance and need of visibility and autonomy in telling our own stories. With a focus on collaborative storytelling and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, she aims to work with others to share their stories in a true and authentic celebratory light to change narratives.
Over the course of 14 years, she’s brought her endless curiosity and desire for authentic stories to the documentary, commercial and feature animation worlds. She has directed groundbreaking films such as UNSPOKEN and the WOMXN Series. UNSPOKEN follows the journey of 14-year-old Emma Zurcher-Long as she challenges societal judgment surrounding autism (*Emma co-directed the film). The film, which marked Geneva’s co-directing, developed by and producing debut, premiered at The Mill Valley Film Festival, screened at numerous festivals and venues across North America, including SXSW EDU, SLAMDANCE 2021, had a theatrical release at Maysles Documentary Cinema and was in consideration for the 2019 Academy Awards Short Documentary category.
UNSPOKEN’s innovative and stigma-breaking format has transformed the way society views autism, challenging viewers to address their own biases and exercise more acceptance in the process. 14 year old co-director Emma Zurcher-Long received the TASH ‘POSITIVE IMAGES IN THE MEDIA’ Award for UNSPOKEN and the film won the ZUKER THEATRE and AUDIENCE Award at Astoria Film Festival in 2019. UNSPOKEN is now available on KANOPY and for educational distribution across North America through Video Project.
Most recently she directed the NEW ORLEANS Film Festival 2024 Jury Award Winner and soon to be released THE SOLACE OF SISTERHOOD, a short documentary executive produced by Fujifilm. Her new short documentary film, BLACK LONGEVITY is set to premiere at festivals in mid 2025. Her films have premiered and screened at the TRIBECA Film Festival, SXSW, Mill Valley Film Festival, Slamdance, Hamptons International Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival and many more. As a director, Geneva has collaborated with influential agencies such as BBDO, BLKSHP, SidLee, 72and Sunny, COMPLEX, RWJF, Forsman & Bodenfors, Area23, The Meteor and iconic brands like NETFLIX, Audible, Google, Adobe, ROGERS, HBO, TD Bank, Kingsford and more.
As a director and storyteller, Geneva’s goal is not only to empower and educate, but spark real change.
Photo by Pete Thompson