Karim Lopez

Media Educator

Karim Lopez is a writer, activist, youth-worker and filmmaker from Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York.

He was a co-founder and leader of the Uptown Youth for Peace and Justice Coalition, a key New York City anti-war youth group, and has worked as an afterschool/internship program coordinator, youth media facilitator, and EVC media coach.

In 2003, Karim teamed with fellow activist-filmmaker, Mike Tyner to form Truth2Power Films, whose first film, We Got Next, Vol. I, (edited, co-produced and co-directed by Karim) went on to become a finalist for best short documentary at the 2004 H20 International Hip Hop Film Festival. It has been screened at festivals and used educationally all over the country.

Truth2Power has devised and continues to develop an artistic process which combines Karim's three passions: youth-development, social change work and making movies. As a multi-skilled filmmaker (editor/shooter/writer/director) Karim has produced, written and/or directed over ten short films: from original narratives, to documentary and for-hire promotional pieces for schools and community-based organizations. His films have been screened at conferences, schools and youth programs around the city and nation, as well as numerous festivals, including: Brooklyn Arts Council International, Rooftop Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, Union Square Awards, H2O International Hip-Hop, ACT Now and others.

He is a member of La Lutta New Media Collective and Mayfirst/People-Link; was a panelist for the 42nd Brooklyn Arts Council International Film Festival and in 2005, was awarded Educator of the Year by Friends of Brook Park, a local South Bronx community organization, for his work building afterschool and internship programs at the Community School for Social Justice.

In addition to youth media work, Karim works as a documentary film editor and shooter and is currently writing a feature-length screenplay to be produced by Truth2Power. He still lives in Brooklyn.