Thomas Allen Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Allen Harris
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Thomas Allen Harris
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film director, Producer |
| Known for | Documentary work |
Thomas Allen Harris is an award-winning American filmmaker and artist. He is best known for making documentaries that explore family history, personal identity, and community stories. Harris often involves the people in his films in the storytelling process, making his work a team effort.
Since 1990, Harris has used old photos, home movies, and historical records in his films. He mixes these materials to tell stories in new and interesting ways. He is also the creator of a television show called Family Pictures USA. In the show, he travels across the United States, asking people to share their family photos and the stories behind them. This helps create a unique picture of different American cities and neighborhoods.
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Career and Early Work
Harris began his career working with other groundbreaking filmmakers of color. These artists focused on telling stories about their own communities and identities. From 1987 to 1991, Harris worked as a producer for the public television station WNET in New York. He created TV segments that discussed important social issues of the time.
In 1990, he helped organize a major public television event that brought together communities from New York and San Francisco to discuss important topics. This event helped give a voice to people who were not often represented on TV.
Major Films
Harris has made several important films that have been shown at festivals all over the world. His movies often feel very personal and use creative ways to tell a story.
VINTAGE - Families of Value (1995)
This film looks at the lives of Black families. To make it, Harris gave cameras to three groups of siblings, including himself and his brother, Lyle Ashton Harris. He asked them to film their own lives and families. This created a unique and personal documentary.
É Minha Cara/That’s My Face (2001)
For this film, Harris and his family used a simple Super 8mm camera to record their lives across three different continents. The film is a poetic journey that explores his family's history and connections.
Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela (2005)
This documentary tells the story of the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Harris’s own stepfather was part of this movement. The film uses old footage, personal stories, and new actors from South Africa to bring this important history to life.
Through a Lens Darkly (2014)
This film explores how photography has been important in the history of Black Americans. It shows how photos can be used to define who you are and to challenge stereotypes. The film features many leading Black artists and thinkers sharing their own family photos. It won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary film in 2015.
Community Projects
In 2009, Harris started a project called Digital Diaspora Family Reunion (DDFR). This project travels to different communities and invites people to share their family photo albums. By recording interviews about these photos, DDFR helps connect people and preserve stories that might have been forgotten. The project has collected over 3,500 interviews and more than 30,000 photographs.
Teaching and Education
Harris is also a respected teacher and speaker. He graduated from Harvard College and has taught at several universities. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at Yale University. He teaches classes on how to tell stories using family history and historical records. Harris believes that media, like film and photography, can be a powerful tool for creating positive social change.
Filmography
| Title | Year | Awards |
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| VINTAGE - Families of Value | 1995 |
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| É Minha Cara/That's My Face | 2001 |
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| Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela | 2005 |
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| Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People | 2014 |
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Television
- Family Pictures USA (2019)
Selected Awards
Thomas Allen Harris has received many awards and fellowships for his work. A fellowship is a special grant given to artists and scholars to support their projects. Some of his most important honors include:
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Member
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary (2015)
- African Movie Academy Award for Best Diaspora Documentary (2014)
- Fund for Santa Barbara Social Justice Award for Documentary Film (2014)
- A Blade of Grass, Fellowship (2012)
- Tribeca All Access Nelson Mandela Award (2010)
- New York Foundation for the Arts Artist Fellowship (2007)
- United States Artist, Rockefeller Fellowship (2006)
- Independent Spirit Award Nomination (2005)
- Guggenheim Fellowship (2003)
- Rockefeller Fellowship (2003)
