Alana I. Smith, a Sacramento native, is a rising senior Television and Film major, Business Administration minor at Howard University. Since her freshman year, Alana has written, directed, and produced five short films: Wake Up (2020), Forgotten (2021), Too Fresh 4 School (2021), Nineteen (2022), and Something Sweet (2023). Wake Up is an award-winning short film and has garnered Alana recognition as the National Black Movie Association's 2021 Reel HBCU Challenge winner and "Filmmaker of the Year." In addition, she is a recipient of the Black Artistry Seed Grant and Da Cypher Youth Creative Fund. On April 21, 2023, Alana executive produced and curated the first ever Student Film Festival on the yard at Howard University. Recently, she launched her production company, AIS Productions, and served as Director of Photography on a senior thesis film and docuseries titled Championship Culture for the Howard University Women's Basketball team. Currently, she is interning at Amazon Studios in partnership with Howard Entertainment, participating in the Academy Gold Rising program and developing an upcoming film.