Kayra Aliza Jamal
Kayra Aliza Jamal is an emerging filmmaker and screenwriter based in Greater Boston whose work centers on character-driven narrative film and emotionally grounded storytelling. A student in the Media Arts Production program (Cinematography and Film/Video Production) at Emerson College, she is passionate about creating authentic stories that reflect her true voice as an artist. As an international student from Malaysia, Kayra brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work, shaped by travel, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for learning from different people and cultures. Her creative philosophy is rooted in the belief that storytelling is a way of crossing boundaries—“we are people who travel, we are people who cross seas.”
Before focusing on filmmaking, Kayra developed a strong background in performance through musical theatre. She earned an Associate Diploma (ATCL) in Musical Theatre Performance with Distinction from Trinity College London, where she trained in vocal performance, script interpretation, and character-driven stage presentation. The program culminated in the development and performance of an original solo piece that explored narrative through staging, music, and performance choices. This foundation in acting and storytelling continues to influence her filmmaking, particularly in her emphasis on performance, emotional authenticity, and character interiority.
Kayra is currently developing “Mitra,” an original feature-length coming-of-age psychological drama named after its central character. The screenplay reflects her interest in exploring identity, emotional experience, and the complexities of growing up. Guided by the advice of the women in her life—especially her mother and close friends—she remains committed to telling stories that matter to her. Their encouragement to keep creating work that reflects her true voice has shaped her artistic philosophy: that real art comes from honesty and personal conviction. In an industry that often prioritizes commercialization and remains male-dominated, Kayra is dedicated to creating films from a woman’s perspective and contributing to a cinematic landscape where women’s voices and stories are fully seen and heard.
• Trinity College London - Associate Diploma (ATCL), Musical Theatre Performance
• Taught English to Indigenous Malay people
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to determination, empathy, persistence, discipline, authenticity, and a deep love for the art of storytelling. These qualities keep me grounded in my creative vision and allow me to approach filmmaking with both emotional understanding and commitment to the craft.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The career advice that has stuck with me has honestly come from the women around me - my mom, my friends, the women who have believed in me. They keep telling me to keep making the stories that matter to me, and that's where real art is. Real art is when your voice is true to you. That's not something that's easy in an industry that tries to monetize off of people's impressions, but that's the kind of advice that has stuck with me and guides my work.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Trust your perspective, build a strong network, know your worth and value yourself. Find suppurative community.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the film industry today is that it remains largely male-dominated, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles. This creates a continued underrepresentation of women’s voices in directing, producing, and executive positions. At the same time, there is growing awareness and opportunity to change that by supporting more diverse storytellers and perspectives behind the camera.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Taking it day by day and giving yourself breaks is really important to me. As an artist, a lot of the work is in your head, and there's a lot of pressure, especially when you're trying to change the world at 21. You need to allow yourself to take breaks, because that's how you burn out, and that's how people control you - it's when you don't have the energy to think properly and clearly. So I value taking breaks and pacing myself. I also value determination, empathy, persistence, discipline, authenticity, and grace. Family is very important to me as well.
Locations
Film and Media
Boston, MA 02116