

Xavier Burgin is an Emmy-nominated writer/director from USC Cinema. He’s a staff writer on Starz’s wrestling drama, Heels. He’s written for the WWE, CryptTV, Amazon Studios, The Discovery Channel, and Paramount. He directed AMC Network’s Horror Noire, Adult Swim’s Juneteenth Holiday Special, and the BET+ series, Giants. Xavier is the dubbing director for Netflix’s sumo sports drama, Sanctuary.
Xavier grew up in the deep south where chain-link fences guarded you from the dog snapping at your feet. The TV in his grandparent’s house switched between SEC football, wrestling, or Remember The Titans. Xavier would disappear into the evergreen forests of Mississippi until sunset. He’d emerge for Cowboy Bebop, Final Fantasy 7, and Event Horizon-wondering if these tales could co-exist. Now, he creates adventure, legend, and myth–the type of worlds his younger self dreamed about in the rural heat.
Xavier developed Sankova, a sci-fi comedy centering a black utopia ruled by an autocratic A.I. five million years after the collapse of the American empire, with Justin Simien’s Culture Machine. The project was acquired by Paramount.
Xavier directed the English Dub version of Sanctuary, a Netflix drama about a young sumo wrestler who rejoins the sumo world in pursuit of fame, riches, and a path to fix his broken family.
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror expounds on the untold history of Black Americans in the genre. The documentary holds a “100% Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The project premiered on horror streamer, Shudder.
Xavier earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for his directorial work on Giants. The show was acquired by Paramount’s BET+.
Xavier directed Juneteenth With Open Mike Eagle, an Adult Swim Special about the national holiday’s history. The project premiered between The Boondocks & Black Dynamite.
Xavier’s shadowed director & cinematographer, Michael Goi, on American Horror Story to hone his technical direction. He shadowed show-runner, Jordan E. Cooper, on The Ms. Pat Show to sharpen his sitcom experience. He shadowed director & executive producer, Mary Lou Belli, on the set of Sacrifice to further his knowledge on stunt coordination, fight scenes, and action sequences.
Xavier’s participated in numerous industry programs, including: Paramount’s Viewfinder Program, Netflix’s Dubbing Initiative, The Sundance Labs, HBO’s Short Film Showcase, Berlinale Talents, The Commercial Directors Diversity Program, and Ryan Murphy’s Director Shadow Program.
Xavier’s collaborations also include D.C. Comics, Lenovo, LOL Network, and Stage 3 Productions.
RESUME
CRYPT TV/WWE – Feature Writer
NETFLIX – Sanctuary Season 1, Dubbing Director
STARZ – Heels Season 2, Staff Writer
AMAZON STUDIOS – Horror Feature Writer
ADULT SWIM – Juneteenth w/Open Mike Eagle, Director
DISCOVERY CHANNEL – Doc Horror Writer
2019 DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATION
AMC NETWORK – Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, Director
BERLINALE TALENTS
ACADEMY NICHOLL SCREENWRITING FELLOWSHIP TOP 50
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE NEW VOICES LAB
RYAN MURPHY DIRECTOR SHADOW PROGRAM
COMMERCIAL DIRECTORS DIVERSITY PROGRAM
HBO SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
43rd STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATION
PROJECT GREENLIGHT COMMERCIAL WINNER
SCREENCRAFT DRAMA FEATURE WINNER
FOX SOUL TV
ISSA RAE SHORT FILM SUNDAYS
OTHER AWARDS —
Winner, The Film Empire Diversity Screenplay Competition. Winner, Ivy Film Festival Screenplay Competition. Winner, Audience Awards. Winner, ISA’s Table Read My Screenplay. Finalist, Audience Awards Social Justice Competition. Finalist, The Industry Next. Semi-Finalist, ABC | Disney Directing Program. Semi-Finalist, Sony Diverse Directors Program. Semi-Finalist, ABC | Disney Writing Program. Semifinalist, HaydenFilms Screenwriting Competition.
FESTIVALS —
Toronto International Film Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Black Warrior Film Festival, Day of Black Docs, Overlook Film Festival, Salem Horror Fest, Sitges International Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, SAG AFTRA Short Film Showcase, New Voices in Black Cinema, Los Angeles International Shot Film Festival, Bronzelens Film Festival, Black Harvest Film Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival, Fox Soul TV, Urbanworld Film Festival, BESLA Film Festival