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Historical Timeline of Feature Films Directed by African American Women 1922-1961  |  1981-82  |  1989  |  1990  |  1991  |  1992  |  1993  |  1994  |  1995  |  1996 1997  |  1998  |  1999  |  2000  |  2001  |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007 NOTE: Films marked with* were directed in America by women of African descent. Timeline Compiled by Yvonne Welbon 1922-1961 1922 A Woman's Error - Directed by Tressie Souders Considered the first film to be directed by a black woman in the United States. View the IMDB Listing 1923 Flames of Wrath - Directed by Maria P. Williams View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1981-1982 1981 Othello - Directed by Liz White The film was shot between 1962 and 1966, but it wasn't completed and screened until 1980. View the IMDB Listing 1981 Will - Directed by Jessie Maple View the IMDB Listing 1982 Losing Ground - Directed by Kathleen Collins Prettyman View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1989 Twice as Nice - Directed by Jessie Maple The first African American woman to direct two feature films. View the IMDB Listing Leola: Love Your Mama - Directed by Ruby Oliver View the IMDB Listing From Rags to Reality - Directed by Joy Shannon/Joy S'hani Ache The first feature by an African American woman to receive a home video release. The name of the film was changed to Uptown Angel for the video release. View the IMDB Listing A Dry White Season - Directed by Euzhan Palcy The French director from Martinique became the first women of African descent to direct a feature film produced by a major Hollywood studio. View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1990 Trouble I've Seen - Directed by Heather Foxworth, M.D. The Three Mustakels - Directed by Romell Foster-Owens 1991 Daughters of the Dust - Directed by Julie Dash The first feature directed by an African American woman to receive national theatrical distribution. View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1992 Alma's Rainbow - Directed by Ayoka Chenzira View the IMDB Listing Kiss Grandmama Goodbye - Directed by Debra Robinson to Top of Page 1993 Just Another Girl on the IRT - Directed by Leslie Harris Distributed by Miramax it is the first feature by an African American woman to be distributed by a major theatrical distributor. View the IMDB Listing The Gifted - Directed by Audrey Lewis The first sci-fi feature by an African American woman. View the IMDB Listing 1994 I Like It Like That - Directed by Darnell Martin The first African African American woman to direct a feature film produced by a major Hollywood studio. View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1995 Out of Sync - Directed by Debbie Allen View the IMDB Listing Naked Acts - Directed by Bridgett Davis View the IMDB Listing The Promised Land - Directed by Monika Harris Medipaid Queens - Directed by Karen Stone, M.D. to Top of Page 1996 Girlfriends - Directed by Marlies Carruth The Watermelon Woman - Directed by Cheryl Dunye The first feature film directed by an "out" African American lesbian about African American lesbians. View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1997 Eve's Bayou - Directed by Kasi Lemmons The top grossing independent film of 1997. View the IMDB Listing Black & White & Red All Over Directed by DeMane Davis (and Khari Streeter) View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1998 Down in the Delta - Directed by Maya Angelou View the IMDB Listing Let's Talk About Sex - Directed by Troy Beyer View the IMDB Listing Nandi - Directed by Peggy Hayes View the IMDB Listing State of Mind - Directed by Yvette Plummer View the IMDB Listing Ride - Directed by Millicent Shelton View the IMDB Listing Drylongso (Ordinary) - Directed by Cauleen Smith View the IMDB Listing Mixing Nia - Directed by Alison Swan The Bermuda native's first feature, is shot in New York city. View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 1999 Compensation - Directed by Zeinabu irene Davis View the IMDB Listing Del Otro Lado (The Other Side) - Directed by C.A. Griffith to Top of Page 2000 Gotta Git My Hair Did - Directed by Coquie Hughes www.acoquiehughesfilm.com Love and Basketball - Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood The top grossing film directed by an African American woman director. ($25 million). View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 2001 30 Years to Life - Directed by Vanessa Middleton View the IMDB Listing All About You - Directed by Christine Swanson All that Jazzin - Directed by Joy S'hani Ache View the IMDB Listing The Caveman's Valentine - Directed by Kasi Lemmons View the IMDB Listing Hell's Most Wanted - Directed by Coquie Hughes www.acoquiehughesfilm.com Lift - Directed by DeMane Davis (and Khari Streeter) View the IMDB Listing Prison Song - Directed by Darnell Martin View the IMDB Listing The Right Girl - Directed by Theresa Brown Stranger Inside - Directed by Cheryl Dunye View the IMDB Listing Sweetiecakes - Directed by Geretta/Geretta to Top of Page 2002 Civil Brand - Directed by Neema Barnette View the IMDB Listing Kali's Vibe - Directed by Shari Carpenter View the IMDB Listing If I Wuz Yo Gyrl - Directed by Coquie Hughes First African American woman to direct three independent feature films. 2003 Love Don't Cost A Thing - Directed by Troy Beyer My Baby's Daddy - Directed by Cheryl Dunye View the IMDB Listing to Top of Page 2004 Black Aura on an Angel - Directed by Faith Trimel Daughters of the Concrete - Directed by Coquie Hughes www.acoquiehughesfilm.com to Top of Page 2005 D.E.B.S. - Directed by Angela Robinson Herbie Fully Loaded - Directed by Angela Robinson to Top of Page 2006 Phat Girlz - Directed by Nnegest Likke Reunion - Directed by Shelia Norman Something New - Directed by Sanaa Hamri to Top of Page 2007 Clarksdale - Directed by Christine Swanson If I'd Known I was a Genius - Directed by Dominique Wirtschafter Talk to Me - Directed by Kasi Lemmons The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks - Directed by Jennifer Sharp Whitepaddy - Directed by Geretta/Geretta Within - Directed by Hanellee Culpepper to Top of Page Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database The author regrets any omissions or errors. Please send corrections and updates to: info@sistersincinema.com Also see the African American Lesbian Produced Film, Video, and Multimedia Listing, compiled alphabetically by title by Yvonne Welbon Build a Library of Films by Black Women Directors

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