As a storyteller, Mercedes Kane is forever fascinated by the human experience and the many ways to explore and express that experience. She most recently directed the feature films ART AND PEP (2022), MORE WITH LESS: THE POWER OF HBCUs IN AMERICA (2022) and WHAT REMAINS: THE BURNING DOWN OF BLACK WALL STREET (2021, the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture). ART AND PEP premiered at OutFest in Los Angeles, before winning the Audience Award at the Chicago International Film Festival. It is currently screening at dozens of film festivals worldwide and has received several additional awards including Best Documentary Film. Her third feature length documentary, the award-winning BREAKFAST AT INA’S, premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival before screening at 50+ international film festivals, then being acquired by American Public Television. 

Mercedes’ other previous films include BANANA SEASON (producer, 2018) TODAY WE SAW THE FACE OF GOD (director, 2012), HEARTS OF HOPE (director, 2009) CHICAGO HEIGHTS (associate producer, 2010), named “One of the Best Art Films” of the year by Roger Ebert. In addition to her film work, Mercedes has served as a creative and film director for many nonprofit and corporate clients including Lambda Legal, Uber, Duncan Hines, AbbVie, Astellas, Biohaven, McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, BP, Governors State University and Deborah’s Place – just to name a few! She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in narrative nonfiction at the University of Georgia.