Exclusive: Director D. Smith talks Kokomo City, Award-Winning, Loving Doc of Black Trans Sex Workers
Hitting theaters on July 28 from Magnolia Pictures is the documentary Kokomo City, the award-winning, loving portrait of Black Trans Sex Workers.
In the wildly entertaining and refreshingly unfiltered documentary KOKOMO CITY, filmmaker D. Smith passes the mic to four Black transgender sex workers in Atlanta and New York City – Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, and Dominique Silver – who unapologetically break down the walls of their profession. Holding nothing back, the film vibrates with energy, sex, challenge, and hard-earned wisdom.
This vital portrait, edited and shot by Smith in bold black and white, is her feature directorial debut. A two-time Grammy-nominated producer, singer, and songwriter, Smith made history as the first trans woman cast on a primetime unscripted TV show. Executive produced by Lena Waithe, KOKOMO CITY won the Sundance Film Festival’s NEXT Innovator Award and NEXT Audience Award, as well as the Berlinale’s Audience Award in the Panorama Documentary section.
Via Wikipedia - On April 18, 2023, Koko da Doll, real name Rasheeda Williams, was found dead from a gunshot wound in Southwest Atlanta. Smith responded to the news by emphasizing her intent to show the lighter side of life for Black trans women, and said Williams "will inspire generations to come and will never be forgotten." Other tributes came from her costars, one of the film's producers Harris Doran, and the Sundance Film Festival.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with D. Smith on the making of this extraordinary doc and her current well-being
