“I tell stories that refuse to settle for the world as is”
- Zanah Thirus
Zanah Thirus is a storyteller who thrives at the intersection of cultural insight and creative expression.
Named one of Diversity in Cannes' Top 10 Filmmakers of the Decade and honored with the Master of Storytelling Award by the Druk International Film Festival, Zanah is committed to crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and push culture forward.
In her free time, Zanah channels her passion for storytelling into writing, directing, blogging, and photography. Her work explores underrepresented experiences and challenges dominant narratives through topics such as the asexual spectrum, reproductive freedom, sexual trauma recovery, misogyny within Christianity, and the politics of pleasure.
Her films have earned widespread recognition, premiering at three Academy Award qualifying festivals: Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival, and St. Louis International Film Festival. She has also earned accolades from festivals in France, Nigeria, Toronto, and across the United States. Her documentaries are part of over 30 academic library collections, including Harvard University, and have been screened at events like the American Public Health Association's national conference.
She believes stories should challenge, disrupt, and imagine new ways of being.