Movies

Yifei Liu. Asian woman in black top stands in front of window, looks toward the camera.
Claudia Vaughan  Jul 19, 2019 2:03PM EDT

In Defense of a Mushu-less Mulan: It's Time to Take Asian Leads Seriously [OP-ED]

As Disney releases live action versions of its classic films into the world, writer Claudia Vaughan argues that losing the fantastical aspects of “Mulan” will finally allow us to treat the warrior with the weight and complexity she warrants.
Ma Rainey. Black and photo of middle-aged Black woman wearing headdress. Split: Viola Davis. Black woman wearing red dress with short black hair holding an Oscar award.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Jun 24, 2019 11:50AM EDT

Viola Davis Set to Bring Ma Rainey to Hollywood

August Wilson’s play about the legendary blues singer will be adapted for the big screen.
Jeni Rivera. Middle-aged Latinx woman with blond hair.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Jun 18, 2019 3:02PM EDT

Jenni Rivera Biopic In the Works

The world-famous Banda singer will be celebrated via a film penned by the screenwriter who created “What’s Love Got to Do with It.”
Albert Woodson. Older Black man with gray Afro holding up oar while in a canoe.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Jun 5, 2019 1:52PM EDT

'Solitary' Film to Tell Story of Angola 3's Albert Woodfox

Mahershala Ali will executive produce, and perhaps star, in biopic of the Black man who spent 43 years in solitary confinement for a crime he says he didn’t commit.
Alvin Ailey. Black and white closeup of Black man in profile with short black hair and facial hair.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Jun 4, 2019 12:14PM EDT

Barry Jenkins to Direct Alvin Ailey Film

The famed choreographer will finally get the Hollywood treatment.
The Farewell and Akwafina. Asian woman with long dark hair and nose ring.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 8, 2019 5:18PM EDT

WATCH: Awkwafina Stars in New Dramatic-Comedy 'The Farewell'

The new film, based on a true story, explores how an Asian family deals with the impending death of a loved one.
Young Black man. Curly hair black suit jacket, white shirt, and red tie.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 3, 2019 2:33PM EDT

19-Year-Old Filmmaker Phillip Youmans Wins Top Honor at Tribeca Film Fest

The New Orleans native is the youngest ever to compete in the festival.
Cast of "Le Chicano." Nine people stand in a line in front of black backdrop
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 2, 2019 5:14PM EDT

READ: Why the Creators of 'El Chicano' Fought for a Latinx Cast

This is what it looks like when filmmakers resist Hollywood #SoWhite.
John Singleton. Bald Black man in black zip-fleece.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Apr 29, 2019 11:35AM EDT

John Singleton Passes Away at 51

Hollywood and others react to the pioneering work and impact of the Oscar-nominated director.
The sign for Harlem's Apollo theater lit up in red against a cityscape at night.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 26, 2019 3:13PM EDT

New Doc 'The Apollo' Tells the Story of Harlem's Most Iconic Theater

The HBO documentary screened as the opening selection for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
A Latinx woman with long hair holds a microphone against a black backgtound, side view.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 24, 2019 12:30PM EDT

WATCH: New Doc Takes You Behind Scenes of AOC's Campaign

Netflix documentary “Knock Down the House” follows the grassroots campaigns of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three other women who ran for Congress in 2018.
Three Black women hold hands in a circle outside with a farmhouse in the background.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 19, 2019 3:02PM EDT

Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Superpowers Shine in 'Fast Color'

Mbatha-Raw: “The idea that we have power within us is something that I’ve always been interested in.”
Bright green marijuana leaves
Shani Saxon  Apr 16, 2019 4:53PM EDT

Marijuana Doc 'Grass Is Greener' Highlights War on Black and Latinx Communities

Fab 5 Freddy’s directorial debut explores the history of weed in the United States, including its criminalization and impact on music.
Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. Large sepia-tone image of Henson's face in profile, color image of Rockwell's full body in a tan jacket and denim shirt, smoking a cigarette
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 11, 2019 5:25PM EDT

On 'The Best of Enemies': Hollywood Must Stop Using Black People as Narrative Devices

Tambay Obenson writes that the film relegates Black people to “supporting roles in their own fight for freedom and recognition.”
Twon women hug outside the Emanuel AME Chucrh. To their right are flowers left for the victims.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 9, 2019 2:03PM EDT

WATCH: Trailer for Viola Davis and Steph Curry Documentary, 'Emanuel'

The new documentary follows the people whose lives were most impacted by the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Jeffrey Wright. Black man in close up with red, white and blue decorations behind him.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Mar 27, 2019 4:30PM EDT

Jeffrey Wright-Narrated Doc 'Rigged' Highlights Voter Suppression Tactics

Wright: “I hope ‘Rigged’ sounds an alarm that wakes America up.”
Lupita Nyong'o. A Black woman with long braids wearing a white shirt stands behind a large movie poster with a burgundy background with a photo of a little Black girl with straight hair and a red blouse.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Mar 27, 2019 2:44PM EDT

Lupita Nyong'o Leads 'Us' to Biggest Opening Weekend Ever for a Black Woman

Jordan Peele’s sophomore smash is breaking records and barriers.
Aretha Franklin. Black and white photo of a Black woman turned to the side with a short, curled bouffant hairstyle smoking a cigarette in front of a microphone.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Mar 11, 2019 4:25PM EDT

Watch Aretha Shine in Trailer for 'Amazing Grace'

Buried for decades, the documentary hinges on the singer’s live performance at New Bethel Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972.
Hannah Beachler. Black woman with black hair smiles while wearing white dress with red and gray and yellow leaves and black lines in front of grey background with orange lines and grey CocaCola and AT&T logos.
Sameer Rao  Feb 22, 2019 3:19PM EST

LISTEN: Oscar Nominee Hannah Beachler Talks Bringing Wakanda to Life

The “Black Panther” production designer is the first Black woman ever nominated in her category.
Illustration of Black and Brown and White incarcerated men in brown uniforms in front of white light and dark blue room.
Sameer Rao  Feb 22, 2019 2:17PM EST

Incarcerated Men Document Their 'Hard Truth' Via Film

Men incarcerated at Pendleton Correctional Facility in Indiana co-directed “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” which captures their education in documentary filmmaking.