Kief Davidson

Kief Davidson (born May 12, 1970) is an American filmmaker whose career spans over three decades, showcasing a versatile talent in directing, editing, producing, and screenwriting. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Davidson entered the entertainment world initially as an editor of comedy and music videos, a foundation that honed his keen sense of pacing and visual storytelling. In the mid‑1990s he transitioned to documentary work, serving as editor on the 1994 short Blood Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann, and quickly expanded his responsibilities to directing and writing with the 1998 independent feature Minor Details. His early involvement with South Park in 2000, credited as Keef Davidson, demonstrates his willingness to explore diverse media formats, including television acting.**

The breakthrough moment arrived with The Devil's Miner (2005), a gripping documentary that earned him the Special Jury Mention for Best New Documentary Filmmaker at the Tribeca Film Festival, solidifying his reputation for socially conscious cinema. Following this acclaim, Davidson founded Urban Landscapes, a film and advertising company that has produced a steady stream of acclaimed documentaries such as Kassim the Dream (2008), Open Heart (2012)—which secured an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Short—and A Lego Brickumentary (2014). His later projects, including The Ivory Game: The Hunt for the Hunter Begins (2016), Bending the Arc (2017), and the 2022 Meltdown: Three Mile Island, continue to explore urgent environmental and humanitarian issues. Residing in Los Angeles, Davidson balances his creative pursuits with an entrepreneurial spirit, maintaining an active presence in both the film festival circuit and commercial advertising. His body of work reflects a profound commitment to illuminating hidden narratives, making him a distinctive voice in contemporary documentary filmmaking.