Just nine years ago, in 2015, an overwhelming lack of diversity led to the #OscarsSoWhite movement — a mere 50 years after the Civil Rights Act passed. In addition, only eight women have ever been nominated for a Best Director Oscar (only two have won) and a Black woman has never been nominated in the Academy’s director category.
But just because Black women haven’t been properly appreciated by mainstream awards ceremonies doesn’t mean they haven’t made films more moving, funny, creative, and poignant than those with accolades. In fact, despite the lack of representation, Black women have been at the center of filmmaking since it began. In the 1920s, Zora Neale Hurston, known more as an author, was also a filmmaker. So we’ve rounded up some of the best films created by Black women to celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month to watch all year long.
‘Selma’ by Ava DuVernay (2014)
Many consider it a major snub that Ava DuVernay wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for directing Selma, but she did become the first Black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe in the same category. The film follows Martin Luther King Jr. during his famous march from Selma to Montgomery, which has been celebrated for its direction. From David Oyelowo’s performance as MLK to the intimate moments highlighted between his family members, Selma also dives deep into the female perspective (adding Coretta Scott King’s story to the mix). While Selma may arguably be Ava’s most significant work, she’s also directed 2023’s Origin, 2019’s When They See Us, 2016’s 13th, and more must-sees.
‘Queen & Slim’ by Melina Matsoukas and Lena Waithe (2019)
Queen & Slim came out at a time when awareness of police violence against Black people was at an all-time high. It follows a Tinder date gone wrong when a routine traffic stop forces “Queen” and “Slim” to go on the run together from law enforcement after Slim accidentally kills an officer in self-defense. With Lena Waithe’s signature touch, humor between the two characters emerges as they’re forced to reckon their relationship amidst their unique situation. But it’s not a comedy. Melina’s direction allowed us to focus on the love story in the context of a much bigger societal issue. And although Queen & Slim won Best Movie at the BET Awards, it was completely snubbed at the Oscars and Golden Globes.
‘One Night in Miami’ by Regina King (2020)
Regina King received some well-deserved attention for her directorial debut, One Night in Miami, which was based on Kemp Powers’ stage play of the same name. The film follows a fictionalized version of a meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke to celebrate Ali’s title win. Regina’s direction was specifically celebrated by adapting the story from stage to screen with overhead shots, the use of mirrors, the casting, and intimate moments between characters.
‘Love & Basketball’ by Gina Prince-Bythewood (2000)
In the years since Love & Basketball’s release, it’s gained a cult following of fans who consider it one of the best romances to date. In 2023, the Library of Congress selected Love & Basketball for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It uniquely takes place in four quarters (like a basketball game), following the romantic leads in four parts of their lives, as they intertwine in different ways. Gina later said that her goal was “to do a black When Harry Met Sally.” With actors Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union, and Tyra Banks, it’s a film about Black love with an all-star cast of Hollywood royalty.
‘Alma’s Rainbow’ by Ayoka Chenzira (1994)
Growing up in Philadelphia, Ayoka was always immersed in the arts and knew by the time she went to college she wanted to be a filmmaker. She always worked outside of mainstream financing to create films and served as the program director for the Black Filmmakers Foundation from 1981 to 1984. It was only fitting she’d create one of the 75 best films by Black directors, according to Slate. The story follows the relationship between an expressive teenage girl and her stick-in-the-mud mother in Brooklyn when the girl’s cosmopolitan aunt arrives. While their complex relationships are the heart of the film, Ayoka’s direction has been celebrated for showcasing the movements and emotions of Black women.
‘The Watermelon Woman’ by Cheryl Dunye (1996)
Like Love & Basketball, The Watermelon Woman has also been preserved by the Library of Congress. It was the first film directed by a Black lesbian as it follows a young lesbian working in a video store trying to make a documentary about a famous 1930s Black actress. Cheryl has dedicated the film to Black actresses like Louise Beavers, Hattie McDaniel, and Butterfly McQueen, who inspired the film’s subject. In all of its societal importance, The Watermelon Woman is also a comedy for its tongue-and-cheek humor, such as the name of Center for Lesbian Information and Technology, aka CLIT. Upon its release, the New York Times said it was “both stimulating and funny” while also commending Cheryl for her “talent and open-heartedness.”
‘Daughters of the Dust’ by Julie Dash (1991)
Daughters of the Dust is historic for many reasons, the least of which is kicking off legendary filmmaker Julie Dash’s career. It was the first film directed by a Black woman to receive a wide theatrical release in the United States. Its importance in American history cannot be understated as it follows three generations of Gullah women on Saint Helena Island as they decide to move North. Julie paints a picture of Gullah women, creating what some critics called a “visual poem” as the minutiae of daily life stood out in a way to add more meaning to the bigger picture of holding onto Black culture in America.
