Gena Somra is a four time Emmy award winner who brings over two decades worth of experience wearing multiple hats: executive producer, producer, writer, concept creator, director, field producer, reporter, post production supervisor and screenwriter.
Gena is equally as comfortable in the creative space dreaming up new angles for stories, and finding the best way to convey a compelling narrative for the viewer to experience catharsis, as she is at handling the less glamorous side of things, the logistics, the numbers, dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s.
As a journalist for CNN International Gena wrote and produced programs like the groundbreaking We Have Autism, special for the first ever World Autism Day. At a time when most people didn’t know what Autism was, Gena was showcasing the individuals and families who were striving to be understood and to educate others about their neurodiversity in such a way to foster understanding and care for one another.
Gena was the concept creator for the award-winning documentary Nepal’s Stolen Children, featuring actress Demi Moore. She also field produced and location managed the shoot for that high profile project.
Gena also served as acting Sr. Director of Coverage for International Newsgathering during one of the busiest news cycles in CNN history, and garnered an Emmy award for her efforts in news leadership.
Along with creative partner Farhad Shadravan and team, Gena was nominated for an Emmy as executive producer and writer for the short form documentary about the 60th anniversary of the Eichmann Trial for CNN.
Other honors include multiple George Foster Peabodys and Colombia DuPont awards.
Gena is classically trained in theatre, and has extensive experience in front of the camera, as a reporter and as an actor.
An Atlanta Native, Gena received her B.A. in Russian Area Studies from the University of Georgia, and her professional certificate in screenwriting from UCLA.
Gena also speaks conversational Russian.
