They run the show: Black women directors to watch in 2024

Even though there’s been a lot of talk about the Academy Awards trying to be more diverse, the fact remains that it’s still very difficult for movies directed by Black women to be nominated for Oscars.& In 2024, only one Black female director received an Oscar nomination — and it was for a short film: “The Barber of Little Rock” documentary. This was a slight improvement over 2023, when there were no Black women directors who received Oscar nominations. One of the eligibility requirements for Oscar nominations is that the nominated movies have to be released in theaters. And one of the biggest obstacles is that Black women are rarely hired to direct movies that are released in theaters. Black News & Views has compiled a list of five Black women directors whose movies have theatrical releases in 2024. They have broken through discrimination barriers when it comes to which directors are hired for movies released in theaters.& Some of the women on this list have several feature film credits, while others have their first feature film releasing this year. All of these talented women are examples of Black excellence, perseverance despite systemic biases against them, and filmmaking that deserves...