MY JOURNEY

Sannii Crespina-Flores is the founder of the Un-InhibitedMuse Film Festival, the global youth initiative Do Remember Me, and the art collaborative Yram Collective. Her contributions extend across various mediums, including film, literature, sculpture, creative and holistic doula practice, with her work being recognized and showcased at prestigious platforms like the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, and the United Nations.

Crespina-Flores has also made significant contributions to educational platforms, developing curricula for local organizations such as Village of Arts & Humanities, YESPhilly, and People's Emergency Center and international organizations such as TED Ed, National Geographic, and the Hip Hop Education Center. 

She is deeply committed to community work, holding positions like the board chair of the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation, juror for the Independence  Public Media Fund, juror for the International Documentary Association Awards, member of the Writers Guild of America(East) Indie Caucus and a  member of The Toni Morrison Society.

Her storytelling explores themes of cultural heritage, tradition, ritual, and the roles of women, with narratives that encourage reflection on personal and collective histories. 

She recently published a book of short stories, Machetes Are Forged in Soft Rivers and has launched the global story archive, called LO/URE.

PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDING:

  • 2025   LO/URE Writers Guide, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2025   Machetes are Forged in Soft Rivers, Arizona State University Library, Tempe, AZ

  • 2022      Root Work Journal Publication,  (online)

  • 2020      An Acceptable Sacrifice, Midnight & Indigo Black Women Writers Anthology (online)

  • 2020      50 in 50: Letters to Our Daughters Publication, On-line

  • 2020      The Matriarch Project, Black Women’s Blue Print, Brooklyn, NY

  • 2019       Untitled 5, Black Female Photographers Annual Magazine, Atlanta, Georgia 

  • 2019       Sweetness, Writer, Restoration Art and Billie holiday Theatre, Los Angeles, California

  • 2015       The world is as Big or small as you make it, (Concept, cameraperson) Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah.

  • 2010       Thank you for the Roses, (Director/Writer/Producer, Editor), MDGFIVE.COM: Uniting Artists and Activists for Maternal Health, New York, NY

  • 2009      Do Remember Me, (Director/Writer/Co-Producer, Co-Editor), Mind Media Independence, Philadelphia Stories 7, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2008      LiLi, experimental short film (Director/Writer/Producer, Co-Editor), Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2008      Pau Pau, short film (Director/Writer/Producer, Co-Editor), Termite TV, www.termite.org 

  • 2008      Poetry/neo-soul recording, Illvibe Collective, South Africa / United Kingdom

  • 2007      Conversations with my Conscience, screening (Director/Writer/Producer, Co-Editor), 60th  Cannes       Film Festival, Cannes, France and Philadelphia

  • 2005,2008   Poetry Ink, Chapbook (Philadelphia: Robin’s Bookstore)

PERFORMANCES, RESIDENCIES AND FELLOWSHIPS:

  • 2025   Exhibition, Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba, New York, NY

  • 2025   Presentation, Boston University, Boston, MA

  • 2025   Presentation,  Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK

  • 2025   Presentation, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

  • 2021      Fellow, Justice for my Sister  Sci-Fi Screenwriting Lab

  • 2021       Barbara Neely Fellowship

  • ​2021      MVICW Author Fellowship

  • 2020      Exhibition, Noyes Museum of Art, Stockton University, Atlantic City, NJ

  • 2018       Exhibition, RUSH Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2015-2017 Residency, Philadelphia Latino Film Festival

  • 2015      Residency, LaMancia, Florence, Italy

  • 2015      Exhibition, 75ºOeste/75ºWest, Medellin, Colombia

  • 2013-2016 Residency, The Village Arts, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2013      Facilitator, New Design H.S., New York, NY

  • 2010-2011 Residency, Women’s Center, Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2011-2013 Residency, Youth Empowerment Services, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2011      Residency, Multi-Cultural Arts Center, Budapest, Hungary

  • 2009     Curator, Kenyan Artist Exchange Program, Philadelphia, PA-Kenya

  • 2009     Curator, Citibank Annual Art Auction,  Montgomeryville, PA

  • 2008     Exhibition, Artist Exchange at the Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2007     Exhibition, The Un-Inhibited Muse Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA

AWARDS AND HONORS:

  • 2024      Grant, Philadelphia Cultural Treasures

  • 2023      Juror, International  Documentary Association

  • 2023      Juror,  Independence Public Media Foundation

  • 2021       Award, Independence Public Media Foundation 

  • 2021       Award, Arts Connect International Ripple 

  • 2020      Grant, Scribe Independence Public Media Foundation and the Wyncote Foundation. 

  • 2020      Grant, @30AMP          

  • 2015       Award, Sadsbury Friends      

  • 2015       Award, Sundance Film Institute Short Story Challenge Grand Prize       

  • 2012       Grant, MoFilm/AT&T       

  • 2009      Grant, Mind Media Independence, Philadelphia Stories 7        

  • 2008      Honorarium, Asian Arts Initiative   

  • 2007       Grant, Philadelphia Activity Fund

  • 2006, 2018, 2020 Grant, Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant 

  • 2001        Honorable Mention, 10th Annual Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema 

  • 2000, 2002   Award, School District of Philadelphia