About Kitra
Kitra Cahana is an acclaimed documentary photographer and filmmaker known for her in-depth work on important social, anthropological, and spiritual themes. Called a “global nomad,” her diverse background, having been raised in the US, Canada, and Sweden, informs her unique perspective. She often immerses herself in communities for long periods—learning the language and culture—to tell deeply human stories with sensitivity. Her impressive body of work includes chronicling nomadic youth across the United States, documenting the daily lives of teenagers in Texas, and exploring a Venezuelan cult. More recently, she focused her lens on a deeply personal subject: her father, a rabbi and poet who became quadriplegic after a stroke. This project resulted in the award-winning short film Perfecting the Art of Longing (2022), which explores themes of isolation and resilience. Kitra is a contributing photographer to National Geographic Magazine and a TED Senior Fellow. Her work has appeared in major publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. She has received numerous top honors for her photojournalism, including two World Press Photo awards, the International Center of Photography’s Infinity Award, a Peabody Award, and a DuPont-Columbia Award. She holds degrees in philosophy and visual anthropology, bringing a thoughtful, artistic approach to every subject she covers.
