[ Jia Rizvi ]

Filmmaker Jia Rizvi pursues stories that explore the conflict between powerful institutions and the individuals harmed by them in the name of protecting the social order. Her work investigates the inconsistencies of the American criminal justice system through the experiences of people like Jeffrey Deskovic and other exonerees whose freedom was restored only after devastating personal loss.

 

Her award-winning debut documentary, Conviction, examines Deskovic’s wrongful conviction and the systemic failures that allowed it to happen. Jia is currently in the distribution process for her feature documentary Sixteen Years, which continues that story. She is in development on three additional documentary projects with Empowerment Avenue Films and Warner Hanson Television.

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In addition to filmmaking, Jia has written more than 400 articles for Forbes, co-hosts the Speaking of Crime podcast, and is the founder and fashion designer behind Studio 15. She also serves on the board of Youth Represent, an organization that uses legal services, policy advocacy, and peer education to build power and opportunity for Black, Latiné, and other youth of color impacted by the criminal legal system.

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Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Jia now lives in New York City with her husband and son. She is a graduate of the New York Film Academy.​

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IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11175987/

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