Amadea Katz

Amadea Katz, 14, is the youngest student to receive a YDA fellowship in 2014.  The daughter of two writers, Amadea has always found solace in the arts: through poetry, drawing, violin, acting, and now filmmaking.  A sophomore at Coronado High School, Amadea is a strong ally with the LGBT community.  She chose to make her YDA film, T-GIRL, about the experience of a transgender woman in Colorado Springs who has faced severe prejudice and bullying after transitioning from male to female several years ago.

T-GIRL premiered at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and has screened at Inside/Out Youth and has been submitted to the All American High School Film Festival in New York City.

Amadea believes filmmaking is one of the most powerful ways to open hearts and minds, particularly around issues that make people feel uncomfortable. In her spare time, Amadea plays violin for the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, has published poems in several anthologies, and is also busy working on writing new stories.