Kim Fino is an acclaimed American director known for her films that explore the themes of identity, family, and community. She has won numerous awards and nominations for her work, including a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her debut feature, “A Way Out.”
Fino was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1975. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 and her Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2002.
Fino’s first feature film, “A Way Out” (2003), was a semi-autobiographical story about a young woman struggling to find her identity in an unfamiliar and seemingly hostile environment. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and was released to critical acclaim.
After the success of “A Way Out,” Fino directed her second feature, “Foolish Things” (2005). The film tells the story of a young man’s struggles to reconnect with his family after a difficult breakup. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Fino’s third feature, “The Land of the Lost” (2008), was a personal project that she wrote, directed, and co-produced. The film follows a young woman who is struggling to find her place in the world and is sent on a journey to a mysterious place called The Land of the Lost. The film was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
Fino has also directed two documentaries, “The Girl in the Garden” (2009) and “Loving You” (2012). The former follows the story of a young girl's search for her identity in a small town in India, while the latter explores the lives and loves of three generations of women in the UK.
Fino has received numerous awards and nominations for her work, including Best Director at the Chicago International Film Festival, Best Documentary at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, and Best Feature Film at the Seattle International Film Festival.
Fino is a passionate advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. She has served as a mentor to many young filmmakers and is a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement. She is currently working on her fourth feature film, “Life in the Sun”, which is set to be released in 2021.
