Kemp Powers

Kemp Powers is an accomplished playwright, screenwriter, and director, with a diverse portfolio of works that spans theatre, television, and cinema. Best known for his play "One Night in Miami" and its film adaptation, Powers has also penned several scripts for the first season of "Star Trek: Discovery" and co-wrote and co-directed the animated films Soul and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which received nominations for Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards and is currently working on its sequel.

Powers' screenplay for "One Night in Miami..." garnered him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 93rd Academy Awards. Beyond his work in film, he has been involved in theatre productions at renowned venues such as The Old Globe, South Coast Repertory, and Center Theatre Group. His play "The XIXth (The Nineteenth)" premiered in March 2023. Not only has Powers achieved success in the arts, but he also made history as the first African-American to co-direct a Disney animated feature. His contribution to the field of animation was recognized when he won an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in a Feature Production in 2020 for Soul.

An alumnus of Howard University, Powers' early career includes a stint as a journalist for The Hilltop.