Justin Simien

Justin Simien is the creator, writer, director and producer of the critically acclaimed feature, Dear White People, which debuted at Sundance where it won the Breakthrough Talent Award, then was nominated for Independent Spirit and Gotham awards. Justin subsequently adapted the feature into a critically acclaimed series for Netflix which is now entering its fourth season. Both the film and series tackle issues of racial tensions, identity, gender, sexuality and class in the modern era. Justin leaned heavily on his own experiences attending Chapman University to help shape his story.

He is the writer, director and producer of the feature film, Bad Hair, starring Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Blair Underwood, Laverne Cox and James Van Der Beek. Paralleling the rise of New Jack Swing in 1989, Bad Hair is a psychological thriller that follows an ambitious young woman who gets a weave in order to survive the image obsessed world of music television.

Justin also hosts the popular podcast Don't @ Me where he interviews his peers across the entertainment industry from Barry Jenkins to Ava Duvernay. He also co-wrote the original songs in Bad Hair and authored a companion book to Dear White People. In June of 2020, he was featured as one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 50 Most Powerful LGBTQ Players in Hollywood.

Justin is committed to producing film, television, digital content and print media that is inclusive, daring, subversive and truthful, and supporting others who do the same.