Kemp Powers

Writer, Director & Producer; Known for "One Night in Miami," "Soul" & "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"

Please Contact
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info
Entertainment, Television & Film
Read More +
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Kemp Powers Biography

Kemp Powers is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director whose career spans theater, television, and film. Although his background and training were in journalism, Powers established his reputation as a playwright with works including "One Night in Miami," which won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's Ted Schmitt Award for best new play and received an Olivier Award nomination during its London premiere at Donmar Warehouse. The play is inspired by the events of February 25, 1964, when four Black luminaries—Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke—spent time together in a hotel room following Ali's world boxing championship title, discussing their roles in the Civil Rights movement and the cultural upheaval of the 1960s. Powers also toured nationally as a storyteller for the series "The Moth" and contributed to the New York Times-produced book, "The Moth: 50 True Stories."

Powers was brought on to write several scripts for Star Trek: Discovery season one episodes. That television work opened the door to animation, where he was initially hired as a screenwriter for "Soul" and later became co-director. Powers became the first Black person to receive a director or screenwriter credit on any Pixar project. "Soul" won two Oscars—Best Animated Feature and Best Score—seven Annie Awards, two British Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and was named to the year's top ten best films by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. Powers also became the first debut Black filmmaker to win the Animated Feature Golden Globe.

In the same year, Powers saw his screen adaptation of his play "One Night in Miami" brought to the screen under the direction of Regina King, with a cast including Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. His screenplay for "One Night in Miami" earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the Academy Awards. Powers holds the distinction of being the writer for two films released on December 25 of the same year. He was also named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People.

Powers went on to serve as co-director, alongside Joaquim dos Santos and Justin K. Thompson, of the animated film "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," the second film in the series. He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for his work on that film. Beyond his animation work, Powers has continued to contribute to theater, premiering his fourth play, "The XIXth (The Nineteenth)," which chronicles the lives of two Black American sprinters who raised their fists in protest during the 1968 Summer Olympics. He has also been involved in theater productions at venues such as The Old Globe, South Coast Repertory, and Center Theatre Group.

Powers served as the John H. Mitchell Visiting Professor in Media Entertainment at the University of Michigan. He has also worked in live-action filmmaking, signing on to write and direct the crime film "Lunik Heist" for Searchlight Pictures. An advocate for diversity and representation in the film industry, Powers has spoken openly about the challenges he faced as a Black writer in Hollywood. His journey from journalist to playwright to Oscar-nominated filmmaker highlights the impact of authentic storytelling and creative reinvention in the entertainment industry.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Kemp Powers and other top speakers and celebrities.

Read more +

BOOK Kemp Powers

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/08/2026.

Kemp Powers Videos

Playwright Kemp Powers Talks Taking ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

Playwright Kemp Powers Talks Taking ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

From BroadwayWorld's Archive: Watch as Richard chats with playwright Kemp Powers who just adapted his play One Night in Miami.

A Conversation with Kemp Powers

A Conversation with Kemp Powers

First up a conversation with Kemp Powers on his experience co-directing Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Soul of Jazz in Conversation: co-director Kemp Powers

Soul of Jazz in Conversation: co-director Kemp Powers

Kemp Powers is the co-director of the Disney Pixar film SOUL. For this virtual conversation Powers will sit with Keanna Faircloth.

See All Videos »

One Night in Miami
One Night in Miami

  • How do I book Kemp Powers to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kemp Powers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kemp Powers, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kemp Powers or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Kemp Powers

    Speaking fees for Kemp Powers, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Kemp Powers are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kemp Powers, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Kemp Powers speak about?

    Kemp Powers is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainment, Television & Film

  • Where does Kemp Powers travel from?

    Kemp Powers generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Kemp Powers’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Kemp Powers for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kemp Powers for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kemp Powers or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Kemp Powers is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Kemp Powers for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Kemp Powers generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Justin K. Thompson, Jonathan Glazer, Yorgos Lanthimos and Stephanie Hsu. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kemp Powers for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Kemp Powers

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

1.800.698.2536

Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Kemp Powers or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

1.800.698.2536
Contact Us

TOP