Barry Simmons

Trip:
Fellows Spring 2006
Affiliation during program:
WTVF-TV, Nashville
Country:
Kenya
Year:
2006
Find me on:
Email:
[email protected]

Barry Simmons is a former television journalist whose reporting in Kenya during his IRP fellowship won him two regional Emmys. Barry later expanded one of those stories -- about a Vanderbilt med student building a health clinic in his village --  into a feature-length documentary. The film, "Sons of Lwala," drew the attention of CNN and ABC News and helped to raise more than $400,000 for the clinic. It has also won several film festival awards, as well as the CINE Golden Eagle and Grand Jury Awards. In January 2009, after screening the film throughout the U.S., Barry returned to Kenya to show the documentary in the village. He is currently preparing "Sons of Lwala" for television broadcast.

As a journalist, Barry won 9 regional Emmys and twice received the Edward R. Murrow award. Now an independent filmmaker based in Nashville, Barry splits his time directing commercial projects and developing other documentaries. 

Since The IRP Update

More than 1,800 people attended the world premiere on March 27, 2008, of former IRP Fellow Barry Simmons' new film, “Sons of Lwala,” a project he began work on Read More

Post-IRP Stories

  • August 11, 2009 | Barry Simmons

    A Film Premiere With Challenges

  • August 11, 2009 | Barry Simmons

    Return to Lwala

  • August 11, 2009 | Barry Simmons

    Sons of Lwala Trailer

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