About

Kathi Barnhill is a videographer and photographer based in Asheville, NC. She has a Masters degree in both Documentary Filmmaking and Social Work. Her thesis film, Frivolous Things, won an Award of Exceptional Merit in the Doctors Without Borders Film Festival. The film follows the creation of an effective Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit at Ridge Hospital in Accra, Ghana. She was the lead cinematographer for Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America, which screened on American Airlines international flights in June, 2017, aired on Logo TV on August 3, 2017, and won numerous awards including the Social Justice Film Award from the Southern Poverty Law Center. She also did extensive video work with the Campaign for Southern Equality during their “We Do” campaign. Portions of the video series aired on MSNBC and received national attention. A longer form documentary, Love Won: The story of the We Do campaign, was created by Saving Daylight Productions utilizing much of the video footage from the campaign.

Kathi also worked at Phare Ponleu Solpak, in Battambang, Cambodia, which provides arts education to at-risk youth. While at Phare, Kathi created Putho!, a book of photographs and interviews featuring a group of circus performers training at the school. The book is sold in Cambodia and on international circus tours. All proceeds from Putho! are donated to Phare.

Prior to going into documentary film, Kathi worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in treating children exposed to trauma.

Kathi loves working with families in capturing their traditions, memories, relationships and personality in Family Stories Videos. Through this work, she provides heirlooms that families can re-visit for generations to come.