‘Kokomo City’ Filmmaker D. Smith Honors Koko Da Doll: ‘There’s Something Very Divine About Her Being in This Film’
variety.comD. Smith Filmmaker D. Smith’s debut documentary “Kokomo City” presents a raw depiction of the lives of four Black trans women — Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell and Dominique Silver.
Based in Atlanta and New York City, the women get real about sex work and confront the prejudices they experience, as well as the persistent threat of violence they face each day. “Kokomo City” made a huge splash at Sundance, winning both the NEXT Audience and Innovator awards, landing Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad as executive producers and securing theatrical distribution from Magnolia Pictures.
Following the big wins, the documentary continued along the festival circuit, screening for massive crowds at Berlin, SXSW and BFI’s London LGBTQIA+ film fest, among other international venues.
But, in April, on the eve of the “Kokomo City’s” debut as a marquee selection at the Atlanta Film Festival, the unthinkable happened: Koko Da Doll, also known as Rasheeda Williams, was shot and killed.
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