Rachael DeCruz

Rachael DeCruz’s work centers on how familial and community bonds fortify people to push back against racist systems. DeCruz’s first film The Panola Project was an official selection of over 35 festivals, including Sundance, Hot Docs, and the DOC NYC Shortlist. The short film illuminates how an often-overlooked rural Black community came together in creative ways to survive the pandemic. The film received 12 festival awards, including the Oscar-qualifying Best Documentary Short Award at the Florida Film Festival, and was released with The New Yorker, featured on MSNBC's The Last Word and Morning Joe and highlighted in over 50 publications. Following the film’s release, Dr. Fauci said Dorothy’s work served as a model for the country and Dorothy received a letter of thanks from Kamala Harris. DeCruz is the former Chief of Staff at Race Forward, the country’s largest multiracial racial justice nonprofit and was the Communications Chair of the Seattle King County NAACP for over five years. Nine is her directorial feature debut.