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IMDbPro

Xavier Burgin

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Xavier Burgin
Give Me Back My Daughter tells the story of Renee (Gabourey Sidibe) and her daughter, Imani (Cadence Reese), who are left homeless after Renee loses her job and they are evicted from their home. Determined to stay independent, Renee refuses any public assistance, but her desperation leads to a difficult decision: leaving her daughter, in the car during a job interview, which results in her arrest and Imani being taken by Child Protective Services. As Renee navigates family court, she discovers the support of those around her and comes to understand that she cannot do it all on her own. With the help of new friends, she starts to see a glimmer of hope in her situation and remains steadfast in her determination to do whatever it takes to be reunited with her daughter.

Directed by Kelley Kali  Written by Xavier Burgin
Play demo reel1:01
Trailer: Give Me Back My Daughter - A Lifetime Feature Film
3 Videos
4 Photos
Xavier Burgin is an Emmy-nominated writer/director from USC Cinema. He's a staff writer on Starz's wrestling drama, Heels. He wrote the Lifetime TV movie, Give Me Back My Daughter (2025). 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 wrote Give Me Back My Daughter, a social drama for Lifetime TV.

He 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.

He 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.

He directed AMC Network's Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, which 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+.

He directed Juneteenth With Open Mike Eagle, an Adult Swim Special about the national holiday's history. The project premiered between The Boondocks & Black Dynamite.

He 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 also 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: Starz Series Bible Development Program, Starz Take The Lead Writing Program, 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.
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 8 nominations total

    Photos3

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    Known for

    Give Me Back My Daughter (2025)
    Give Me Back My Daughter
    8.3
    • Writer
    • 2025
    Wataru Ichinose in Sanctuary (2023)
    Sanctuary
    8.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Additional Crew(english version)
    Mary McCormack, Chris Bauer, Allen Maldonado, Alexander Ludwig, Stephen Amell, James Harrison Jr., Kelli Berglund, Trey Tucker, Alison Luff, and Robby Ramos in Heels (2021)
    Heels
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Writer
    Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
    Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
    7.5
    • Director
    • 2019

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer



    • Give Me Back My Daughter (2025)
      Give Me Back My Daughter
      8.3
      • written by
      • 2025
    • Beta Eta - 50 Years of Friendship (2024)
      Beta Eta - 50 Years of Friendship
      • story
      • 2024
    • Mary McCormack, Chris Bauer, Allen Maldonado, Alexander Ludwig, Stephen Amell, James Harrison Jr., Kelli Berglund, Trey Tucker, Alison Luff, and Robby Ramos in Heels (2021)
      Heels
      8.0
      TV Series
      • staff writer
      • 2023
    • Tymon Jones, Nesta Cooper, Keith Powers, Woody McClain, and Deloor James in A Little Closure (2021)
      A Little Closure
      8.6
      Short
      • written by
      • 2021
    • Lily & Maya
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2019
    • To Pimp a Butterfly (2017)
      To Pimp a Butterfly
      6.1
      Short
      • writer
      • 2017
    • Inger Tudor and Araija DaCosta in On Time (2016)
      On Time
      6.1
      Short
      • co-writer
      • 2016
    • Amani Starnes, Esteban Cueto, and Adam J. Jefferis in Sassy Batman (2014)
      Sassy Batman
      3.6
      TV Series
      • writer
      • 2014
    • One on One (2013)
      One on One
      3.2
      Short
      • story
      • writer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2013
    • Do
      Short
      • writer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2012
    • I.F.
      2.7
      Short
      • Writer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2012
    • And Goodbye (2011)
      And Goodbye
      Short
      • story
      • writer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2011
    • Jake Boyd, Sarah Carlton, and Alexandra Ficken in Face Value (2009)
      Face Value
      3.1
      Short
      • story
      • writer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2009

    Director



    • Beta Eta - 50 Years of Friendship (2024)
      Beta Eta - 50 Years of Friendship
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2024
    • Open Mike Eagle in Juneteenth with Open Mike Eagle (2021)
      Juneteenth with Open Mike Eagle
      TV Special
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2021
    • Tymon Jones, Nesta Cooper, Keith Powers, Woody McClain, and Deloor James in A Little Closure (2021)
      A Little Closure
      8.6
      Short
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Outta Pocket (2019)
      Outta Pocket
      TV Series
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2019
    • Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
      Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
      7.5
      • Director
      • 2019
    • James Bland in Giants (2017)
      Giants
      6.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Vanessa Baden in Other (2017)
      Other
      Short
      • Director
      • 2017
    • Inger Tudor and Araija DaCosta in On Time (2016)
      On Time
      6.1
      Short
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Olde E (2016)
      Olde E
      4.5
      Short
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Mack Miles in Mr. Hall's Interview (2016)
      Mr. Hall's Interview
      2.5
      Short
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Minty Meets Her Massa: A 'My First Slavery Book' (2015)
      Minty Meets Her Massa: A 'My First Slavery Book'
      2.0
      Short
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Amani Starnes, Esteban Cueto, and Adam J. Jefferis in Sassy Batman (2014)
      Sassy Batman
      3.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2014
    • Black Man Depressed (2014)
      Black Man Depressed
      2.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2014
    • One on One (2013)
      One on One
      3.2
      Short
      • Director (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2013
    • Do
      Short
      • Director (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2012

    Producer



    • Give Me Back My Daughter (2025)
      Give Me Back My Daughter
      8.3
      • co-executive producer
      • 2025
    • Beta Eta - 50 Years of Friendship (2024)
      Beta Eta - 50 Years of Friendship
      • producer
      • 2024
    • Tymon Jones, Nesta Cooper, Keith Powers, Woody McClain, and Deloor James in A Little Closure (2021)
      A Little Closure
      8.6
      Short
      • producer
      • 2021
    • Riotville
      TV Short
      • producer
      • 2017
    • Inger Tudor and Araija DaCosta in On Time (2016)
      On Time
      6.1
      Short
      • producer
      • 2016
    • Mack Miles in Mr. Hall's Interview (2016)
      Mr. Hall's Interview
      2.5
      Short
      • producer
      • 2016
    • Amani Starnes, Esteban Cueto, and Adam J. Jefferis in Sassy Batman (2014)
      Sassy Batman
      3.6
      TV Series
      • producer
      • 2014
    • Do
      Short
      • producer
      • 2012
    • Bottom of a Glass
      Short
      • executive producer
      • producer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2011
    • Portrait of the Storm: Tuscaloosa, AL
      Short
      • producer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2011
    • Jake Boyd, Sarah Carlton, and Alexandra Ficken in Face Value (2009)
      Face Value
      3.1
      Short
      • producer (as Xavier Neal-Burgin)
      • 2009

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    Horror Noire - A History of Black Horror
    Demo Reel 1:16
    Horror Noire - A History of Black Horror
    Trailer: Give Me Back My Daughter - A Lifetime Feature Film
    Demo Reel 1:01
    Trailer: Give Me Back My Daughter - A Lifetime Feature Film
    Trailer: Give Me Back My Daughter - A Lifetime Feature Film
    Demo Reel 1:01
    Trailer: Give Me Back My Daughter - A Lifetime Feature Film
    Directing Reel
    Demo Reel 5:01
    Directing Reel

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Bio
      • Website
    • Alternative name
      • Xavier Neal-Burgin
    • Publicity listings
      • 11 Articles

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