KARI MOTE

Being the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a career US veteran who served internationally and during two wars greatly influenced Kari's lens. Her work channels her complex heritage into deeply character-driven stories that explore themes of identity, trauma, and abuse. These stories are often centered around resilient, complex female characters. In contrast, she relishes adapting long-forgotten public domain material.
Optioning her ancestor's sinister story to ITV Studios empowered Kari to craft gritty female roles while sharpening her skills under the mentorship of Randall Jahnson, (The Doors).
YOLANDA, formerly titled CRABS IN A MOTHER F*CKING BUCKET, a Latine female-driven feature, won at HollyShorts for Best Feature Screenplay and is a 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowship semifinalist with Jacy Mairs of Ryko Films attached to direct. Jacy’s debut feature, Trash Baby, will have its world premiere at SXSW.
Kari holds over 100 awards and accolades across all significant screenwriting competitions. She is among the ISA's Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025.