Dream Hampton

Dream Hampton is an acclaimed filmmaker, producer, and writer recognized for her impactful storytelling and dedication to social justice. After her short film I Am Ali was selected for the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and won Best Short Film at the Newport Film Festival the same year, Dream Hampton established herself as a filmmaker with a profound commitment to impactful storytelling. An alumna of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Hampton began her career contributing extensively as a writer for prominent publications including Vibe, Essence, Harper’s Bazaar, The Village Voice, Detroit News, and Spin. Her versatility as a writer and storyteller was further demonstrated when she co-wrote Jay-Z’s critically acclaimed 2010 memoir, Decoded.

That same year, Hampton was recognized for her profound influence by being named to the Time 100 list and receiving a Ms. Foundation Gloria Award. Building on her impactful body of work, Hampton served as director and executive producer for the 2023 docuseries Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop. She further explored significant cultural narratives as director of It Was All a Dream in 2024.

Her contributions to film and social commentary continue to be recognized, as evidenced by her receipt of a Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center Residency in 2023 and her selection as the Stuart Regen Visionary by The New Museum in 2024.