Laura Somers wrote and directed the feature film RICH KIDS, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the HBO New York Latino Film Festival and continues to be a smash on the festival circuit, playing at over 30 film festivals and winning 15 awards. It will be premiering on Netflix in February 2020.

Laura is a determined, nurturing, and enthusiastic director whose strengths lie within her solid storytelling skills, powerful use of imagery, and ability to inspire earnest performances from actors. She is particularly strong with young talent.

Laura is a fellow with Film Independent’s Project:Involve, and was featured in SHOOT Magazine’s New Directors showcase. She also has mentored screenwriters through various programs of the Writer’s Guild of America East since 2012.

Laura began her career directing theater in the small black box venues in New York City and Austin before moving to directing short films and digital sketch comedy in Los Angeles. Her work has been highlighted in American Theater Magazine, New York Magazine, Remezcla, Vanity Fair, The W Hotels and UCLA Medical Center. For eight years she worked as a reality television editor, which has helped sharpen her story telling skills and ability to make quick decisions on set. She has directed three feature films.

Laura is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Film Fatales. She holds a BFA in Theater Directing from NYU’s TISCH School of the Arts, and is a graduate of UCLA’s Professional Screenwriting Program. She grew up in Houston, TX and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and son.