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Earth to KB

Earth to KB is a documentary portrait of KB Brookins: a Black, queer, and trans writer and artist from Texas. The film explores the expansive worlds within KB's poetry, as well as intimate moments shared with their wife, friends, and community in Austin. KB performs selected poems from their collections, Freedom House, and, How To Identify Yourself With a Wound, within the film.

  • Em Shapiro
    Director
  • KB Brookins
    Writer
  • An Chen
    Producer
  • Ariel Juarez
    Producer
  • KB Brookins
    Key Cast
  • Luciano Mar Gonzalez
    Director of Photography
  • Teresa Guerrero
    Production Designer
  • Yvonne Eniola Goodwyne
    Composer
  • Em Shapiro
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 8, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The University of Texas at Austin
  • BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    March 17, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • TRANSlations: Seattle Trans Film Festival
    Seattle
    United States
    June 8, 2024
    North American Premiere
    Best Documentary Short Jury Award
  • Oak Cliff Film Festival
    Dallas
    United States
    June 21, 2024
  • RIO LGBTQIA+ 13th Film Festival
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    July 6, 2024
    South American Premiere
  • Mimesis Documentary Festival
    Boulder, Colorado
    United States
    August 15, 2024
  • OutSouth Queer Film Festival
    Durham, North Carolina
    August 8, 2024
  • Out on Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival
    Atlanta
    United States
    September 26, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    September 19, 2024
    Midwest Premiere
    Official Selection
  • San Francisco Transgender Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    November 13, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Charlotte Film Festival
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    September 28, 2024
    Honorable Mention for Documentary Short Jury Award
  • Denton Black Film Festival
    Denton, Texas
    United States
    January 25, 2025
    Best Texas Student Short
  • New Filmmakers LA
    Los Angeles
    United States
    June 14, 2025
    Official Selection
  • MIX CPH LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
    Copenhagen
    Denmark
    October 25, 2025
    Nordic Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Massimadi
    Montreal
    Canada
    October 28, 2025
    Canada Premiere
Director Biography - Em Shapiro

Em is a non-binary multimedia filmmaker based in Austin, TX. Their documentary and animated short films center community stories of queerness and disability. They recently received the 2023 Austin Film Society Grant for Short Films.

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