Search Results for: ava duvernay

Ava DuVernay named Guest Artistic Director of AFI Fest

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay will serve as Guest Artistic Director at AFI FEST 2022.  DuVernay has selected three independent films amplifying the voices and vision of women directors to showcase: Hellion (2014), directed by Kat Candler and starring Academy Award-nominee Juliette Lewis and Aaron Paul; Mosquita … Continue reading “Ava DuVernay named Guest Artistic Director of AFI Fest”

DuVernay, Kaepernick team up for Netflix series

The adolescent life of all-star athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick will come to television screens around the world in Colin in Black & White, a new scripted limited series from Kaepernick and Academy Award® Nominee and Emmy Award® Winner Ava DuVernay. The series will focus on Kaepernick’s formative high school years, lending meaningful insight into the … Continue reading “DuVernay, Kaepernick team up for Netflix series”

Netflix makes docs available for teachers on YouTube

For many years, Netflix has allowed teachers to screen documentaries in their classrooms. However, this isn’t possible with schools closed. So at their request, the streaming giant has made a selection of their documentary features and series available on the Netflix US YouTube channel. See the full list of documentary films and series below. Each title also has … Continue reading “Netflix makes docs available for teachers on YouTube”

DuVernay, Wiley, Carter honored at GLAAD Media Awards

GLAAD Media Award recipients were announced in the remainder of this year’s categories for the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Delta Air Lines, Gilead, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Wells Fargo at the Hilton Midtown in New York on Saturday night. Television personality Ross Mathews hosted the event that included an opening duet … Continue reading “DuVernay, Wiley, Carter honored at GLAAD Media Awards”

Rasha Clark, Ataboy Head of Production

Editor’s Note: Five years ago we had an idea. Being a woman-owned publication, it made sense to us to celebrate women who were making a difference in the industries we cover. So, we started a “little” feature for Women’s History Month called “Reel Women.” To say it blossomed into something special would be a vast … Continue reading “Rasha Clark, Ataboy Head of Production”

Everything Everywhere All at Once leads Spirit Film noms

Film Independent, the nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering independence and inclusivity in visual storytelling, have announced the nominations for the film categories at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Multiverse-hopping adventure film Everything Everywhere All at Once  leads all films with eight nominations including best feature, director, lead actor for Michelle Yeoh, supporting actor for Ke Huy … Continue reading “Everything Everywhere All at Once leads Spirit Film noms”

Director Kevin Wilson Jr. joins Little Minx

Little Minx, a 2022 AdAge A-List Production Company Standout, has signed the award-winning filmmaker Kevin Wilson Jr. to its renowned roster of directors for commercial and content representation. A North Carolina native, Wilson first came to the attention of the industry with his short student film My Nephew Emmett, based on the true story of the … Continue reading “Director Kevin Wilson Jr. joins Little Minx”

AFI FEST announces full festival lineup

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the full lineup for this year’s AFI FEST Film Festival including Bones and all, directed by Academy Award-nominee Luca Guadagnino, Le Pupille, directed by Alice Rohrwacher, Nanny, directed by Nikyatu Jusu, SR., directed by Chris Smith, and Women Talking by Academy Award-nominated writer and director Sarah Polley, which … Continue reading “AFI FEST announces full festival lineup”

Studios respond to abortion protection demands

AMC Networks, Amazon Studios, Apple TV+, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Discovery have responded to letters written and signed by nearly 1,500 writers and directors including 411 female, trans and non-binary TV creators and showrunners, 594 of their male counterparts, and almost 400 directors. The group demanded that AMC Networks, … Continue reading “Studios respond to abortion protection demands”

VFX Golden creates dystopian NYC for DMZ

VFX Legion created a mix of digital effects for HBO Max’s dystopian miniseries, DMZ. Produced by Emmy winner/Oscar nominee Ava DuVernay, and Emmy nominee Roberto Patino, DMZ is based on the DC comic book series of the same name. Set in the not-to-distant future during the Second Civil War, the drama unfolds in New York City, … Continue reading “VFX Golden creates dystopian NYC for DMZ”

Bola Ogun signs with Believe Media Commercial

Award-winning director, actress and writer Bola Ogun has signed with Believe Media for US commercial representation. Believe will be the first company to represent Ogun for commercial work. A first-generation Nigerian-American filmmaker, Bola Ogun landed her television directorial debut on Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar after DuVernay saw Bola’s short Are We Good Parents? at SXSW in 2018. The film, … Continue reading “Bola Ogun signs with Believe Media Commercial”

RBL Spotlight: Director Ron Brodie

Editor’s Note: “The Reel Black List” is our annual spotlight of brothers and sisters in the worlds of advertising, film, TV, music, radio and media who are making a difference through their contributions and creativity on a daily basis. For the next 29 days, you will be able to celebrate wonderful human beings, like, 1stAveMachine director, guru Ron … Continue reading “RBL Spotlight: Director Ron Brodie”

Thor and Passing star Tessa Thompson is new face of Armani

Armani Beauty is has announced American actress Tessa Thompson as the newest face. Thompson will feature in both the campaigns for the iconic Luminous Silk Foundation and the new Lip Power, shot by Swedish photographer Mikael Jansson. Luminous Silk Foundation is known to be the first expression of Armani’s philosophy of perfecting the complexion with the lightest touch, and comes with a … Continue reading “Thor and Passing star Tessa Thompson is new face of Armani”

A chat with Director / Writer / Producer Layne Marie Williams

After meeting Director / Writer / Producer Layne Marie Williams at a Stage 18 event, Dallas McGee, owner and Executive Producer of production company turned creative agency Pink Hippo, decided he had to have the young auteur on his directing roster. It was not an outlandish wish, as Williams, it turns out, was also a … Continue reading “A chat with Director / Writer / Producer Layne Marie Williams”

Here are all the deets for DC FanDome

If you’re a DC Fan, and I am, there’s only one thing that you will be doing this weekend and that is attending the online event of the year – DC FanDome. Having launched last year during quarantine, it is like a Comic-Con specifically for DC fanboys and fangirls, promising trailers, news and first-look previews … Continue reading “Here are all the deets for DC FanDome”

IATSE receives backing from Directors Guild in contract fight

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) released a statement of support standing with the film and television workers in their contract fight with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). In the statement they wrote, “the DGA National Board, as the representatives of more than 18,000 directors and members of the directorial team, … Continue reading “IATSE receives backing from Directors Guild in contract fight”

Actor Michael K. Williams remembered by his colleagues

Many were expecting Michael K. Williams to win a posthumous Emmy, however Emmy voting ended August 30, a week before Williams died of a possible drug overdose. The actor was heavily favored to win best drama supporting actor for HBO’s now canceled Lovecraft Country, but Tobias Menzies took “the crown” instead as Prince Philip on … Continue reading “Actor Michael K. Williams remembered by his colleagues”

Godfather of Black Cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, passes away at age 89

Daytime Emmy Award Winner, actor, filmmaker, playwright, novelist, composer, and Godfather of Black cinema, Melvin Van Peebles has passed away at age 89 at his home in Manhattan.  His death was confirmed by his son, Mario Van Peebles, who said in a statement: “Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a … Continue reading “Godfather of Black Cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, passes away at age 89”

Emmys: Ted Lasso’s lovable losers are big winners last night

The fictional team of AFC Richmond may be enormous losers on Apple TV+’s hit series Ted Lasso, but last night they proved to be big winners. The feel-good soccer-themed ensemble scored four Emmys last night, taking home wins for outstanding comedy, series lead actor (Jason Sudeikis), supporting actress (Hannah Waddingham) and supporting actor (Brett Goldstein). … Continue reading “Emmys: Ted Lasso’s lovable losers are big winners last night”

Nia DaCosta first Black woman to own Box Office as Candyman takes in $22.3 m

Nia DaCosta’s Candyman earned an estimated $22,370,000 in its opening domestic weekend, beating the lowball projection of $15 million by nearly 50% showing the world that there is an audience for Black filmmakers telling Black stories and earning DaCosta the title of the first Black woman director to take the top spot. Some have come … Continue reading “Nia DaCosta first Black woman to own Box Office as Candyman takes in $22.3 m”