Gina Maria Prince, born on June 10, 1969, is a renowned American filmmaker and writer, whose illustrious career has been marked by numerous critically acclaimed projects. Notably, she has helmed the films Disappearing Acts and Love & Basketball, both of which have garnered significant recognition within the industry. The latter, in particular, earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, a testament to her exceptional storytelling abilities.
Prince-Bythewood's academic background is equally impressive, having attended the University of California, Los Angeles's (UCLA) prestigious film school, where she also pursued competitive track. During her time at UCLA, she was awarded the Gene Reynolds Scholarship for Directing and the Ray Stark Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduates. She graduated in 1991, alongside her friends Mara Brock Akil, Sara Finney Johnson, and Felicia Henderson, who together established The Four Sisters Scholarship.
In addition to her work in film, Prince-Bythewood has also adapted the best-selling novel "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, bringing the story to life on the big screen. The film, released by Fox Searchlight in October 2008, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Urbanworld Film Festival that same year.
In her personal life, Prince-Bythewood is married to Reggie Rock Bythewood, a fellow film director and writer, with whom she shares a deep passion for storytelling and filmmaking.
