Cliffy Barz Productions

A CLIFFY BARZ STORY

Born and raised in the heart of Harlem, New York City, filmmaker and director Cliffy Barz developed a creative voice shaped by the culture, resilience, and raw authenticity of his community. He attended St. Agnes Boys High School before continuing his studies at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, where his early passions for basketball and music first took root.

Driven by a desire to work in media, Cliff enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College with hopes of pursuing radio broadcasting. When the program was unexpectedly discontinued, he chose the closest related path—Television Production—a decision that would ultimately unlock his true calling.

What began as curiosity quickly grew into a profound passion for filmmaking. Cliff immersed himself in the craft, enrolling in multiple film courses and impressing both professors and staff with his dedication and natural storytelling ability. He spent countless hours in the editing labs—often until closing—teaching himself the art of video editing and refining his cinematic style.

Inspired to share the stories of his community, Cliff launched his own public access television show, “Harlem Streets.” The show rapidly gained popularity across Harlem and Manhattan, resonating with families and attracting the attention of both local and major hip-hop artists, including Reverend Run, Mack 10, and Doug E. Fresh.

As Cliff expanded his work to YouTube, his films gained international recognition. His raw, unfiltered documentaries—capturing life in underserved and often misunderstood neighborhoods—caught the attention of major media outlets such as The Source Magazine, The New York Times, The History Channel, and BET. Audiences were deeply moved by the intimate, firsthand perspectives he brought to the screen, revealing stories rarely seen or heard.

After documenting the streets of Harlem, Cliff broadened his lens to the rest of New York City and eventually the nation—filming in Los Angeles, Daytona Beach, San Antonio, and beyond. His mission to share real, human stories soon took him across the globe. He has filmed in Mexico, Spain, Aruba, Costa Rica, Barbados, Greece, Dubai, and many other countries, capturing powerful narratives that highlight culture, struggle, beauty, and resilience around the world. His most recent international exploration took him to Ghana, where he continued uncovering stories that connect audiences to global communities.

Today, Cliffy Barz continues to inspire and captivate audiences with his bold visual storytelling and emotionally resonant documentaries. His work remains a testament to authenticity, global exploration, and the power of film to illuminate truths that deserve to be seen.