Malani Coomes hails Tennessee as her home state. Born in Murfreesboro,
her family later moved to Short Mountain just outside of Woodbury. As a
child, she performed in multiple plays and musicals at the local Arts
Center with her two brothers and two sisters and sometimes also with
her dad. Her mother was more of a producer personality, which
translated into Malani's growth into adulthood. She received her BFA in Theatre Performance from the
University of Memphis, and studied improvisation at The Second City in
Los Angeles. Malani now lives in Los
Angeles, California, and enjoys health food, hiking in the canyons, and
wine country.
Her first feature film "Black Hearts" premiered at Laughlin International Film Festival and won Best Comedy.
Usually works with her brother and sister, Jonathan Coomes and Rachel Coomes.
Became an award winning director at 28 when her first short "A Saturday" won an Audience Choice award in San Francisco at the Art Institute's Virgin and Rejects Film Festival.
Received her BFA in Theatre Performance from University of Memphis.
Nominated "Best Director" for "Black Hearts" at Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema in January 2014.