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.

 SELECT PUBLICATION & RECORDINGS 

  • 2026 – YETUNDE, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2025 – LO/URE Writers Guide, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2025 – Machetes Are Forged in Soft Rivers, Arizona State University Library, Tempe, AZ 2022 – Root Work Journal, Online 

  • 2021 – Machetes Are Forged in Soft Rivers, Independent Publication 

  • 2020 – “An Acceptable Sacrifice,” Midnight & Indigo Black Women Writers Anthology, Online 

  • 2020 – “50 in 50: Letters to Our Daughters,” Online 

  • 2020 – The Matriarch Project, Black Women’s Blueprint, Brooklyn, NY 

  • 2019 – “Untitled 5,” Black Female Photographers Annual Magazine, Black Women Photographers (BWP) 

  • 2019 – Sweetness, Restoration Art & Billie Holiday Theatre, Brooklyn, NY 

  • 2015 – The World Is as Big or Small as You Make It, Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah 

  • 2010 – Thank You for the Roses, MDGFive, Brooklyn, NY 

  • 2009 – Do Remember Me, Philadelphia Stories 7, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2008 – LiLi, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA 2008 – Pau Pau, Termite TV, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2008 – Poetry/Neo-soul Recording, Illvibe Collective, Philadelphia, PA • London • South Africa 

  • 2007 – Conversations with My Conscience, 60th Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France 

  • EXHIBITIONS (SOLO & GROUP) 

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

  •  2025 – Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY 

  • 2024 – Harriett’s Bookshop, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2020 – Noyes Museum of Art, Stockton University 

  • 2018 – RUSH Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

  •  2015 – 75º Oeste / 75º West, Medellín, Colombia

  •  2008 – Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA 

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

  • RESIDENCIES 

  • 2025 – Josephine’s Bookshop, Paris, France 

  • 2015–2017 – Philadelphia Latino Film Festival

  •  2015 – LaMancia Residency, Florence, Italy 

  • 2013–2016 – The Village Arts, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2010–2011 – Women’s Center, Community College of Philadelphia 

  • 2011–2013 – Youth Empowerment Services, Philadelphia, PA 

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

  • CURATORIAL & COMMUNITY PROJECTS 

  • 2024 – Founder & Director, LO/URE Project, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2021 – Founder & Director, From Chitlins to Champagne Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2019 – Founder & Conceptual Artist, Yram Collective, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2013 – Facilitator, New Design High School, New York, NY 

  • 2007–2011 – Founder & Director, The Un-Inhibited Muse Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA 

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

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

  • 2007–2018 – Founder, Do Remember Me Project, Philadelphia, PA • Lagos, Nigeria • Paris, France 

  • PRESENTATIONS, LECTURES & TALKS 

  • 2026 - University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

  • 2025 – Boston University, Boston, MA 

  • 2025 – Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom 

  • 2005, 2008 – Poetry Ink, Chapbook, Philadelphia, PA 

  • 2025 – Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 

  • FELLOWSHIPS 

  • 2021 – Justice for My Sister Sci-Fi Screenwriting Lab 2021 – Barbara Neely Fellowship 2021 – MVICW Author Fellowship 

  • AWARDS & HONORS 

  • 2024 – Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures Grant 

  • 2023 – Juror, International Documentary Association 

  • 2023 – Juror, Independence Public Media Foundation 

  • 2021 – Independence Public Media Foundation Award 

  • 2021 – Arts Connect International Ripple Award 

  • 2020 – Scribe Independence Public Media Grant 

  • 2020 – @30AMP Grant 

  • 2015 – Sundance Film Institute Short Story Challenge Grand Prize 

  • 2015 – Sadsbury Friends Award 

  • 2012 – MoFilm/AT&T Grant

  •  2009 – Mind Media Independence Grant 

  • 2008 – Asian Arts Initiative Honorarium 

  • 2007 – Philadelphia Activity Fund Grant 

  • 2006, 2018, 2020 – Leeway Foundation Art & Change Grant 

  • 2001 – Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema Honorable Mention 

  • 2000, 2002 – School District of Philadelphia Awards