Raushanah Simmons is a native New Yorker, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist whose work is deeply rooted in community, lived experience, and a commitment to authentic storytelling. A SAG-AFTRA and AEA member, she has spent over two decades working across film, television, and theater, building a career that bridges performance, writing, and production.

Raised in New York City, Simmons is an alumna of Brooklyn Technical High School and Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, where she earned a B.S. degree. She was also a member of the inaugural Smart Start class, a full college scholarship program sponsored by JP Morgan Chase—an early experience that shaped her understanding of access, opportunity, and the systems that both uplift and exclude. These themes continue to inform her creative work.

As an actor, Simmons has appeared in television series including FBI: Most Wanted, Freeridge, On My Block, and Law & Order: SVU, as well as films such as The Other Woman and Annie. Her theater work includes In the Red and Brown Waterat Studio Theatre D.C. and The Tempest at the Delacorte Theater. She has also trained at the Public Theater’s Shakespeare Lab, further grounding her work in character-driven storytelling.

Simmons’ transition into directing and writing grew out of a desire to tell stories she was not seeing represented—particularly stories centered on women navigating power, survival, and moral complexity. In her early twenties, she worked in group homes, an experience that left a lasting impression and ultimately inspired Group Home. Years later, she returned to those memories with clarity and intention, crafting a genre-driven film that blends suspense, action, and emotional depth.

Group Home marks Simmons’ first feature as a director and reflects her belief that entertainment and impact are not mutually exclusive. Her work prioritizes authenticity, collaboration, and representation both in front of and behind the camera, aligning with Tribeca’s mission to champion bold voices and socially resonant storytelling. Through Group Home, Simmons aims to deliver a gripping cinematic experience that honors the communities that shaped her while reaching audiences eager for stories that feel urgent, human, and alive.