May 23, 2023
AAPI Heritage Month Celebration:
In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Luminate Film & TV has selected talent and projects that spotlight the vibrancy of the Asian diaspora.
The talent and projects featured this month represent only a small fraction of the diversity of the Asian experience and cultures. The contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander talent, both behind and in front of the camera, enrich the tapestry of America’s cultural landscape. Asian voices and narratives are taking center stage, as exemplified by the record-breaking success of Netflix’s Squid Games and the groundbreaking achievement of South Korea’s Parasite becoming the first non-English project to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Adding to this momentum, Everything Everywhere All At Once won the Academy Award winner for Best Picture and India’s RRR won Best Original Song - Motion Picture at the Oscars and was a 2023 Golden Globes nominee for Best Motion Picture. These successes, and the project and talent highlighted here, remind Hollywood that the Asian experience and culture is not a monolith.
The Luminate Film & TV database offers a comprehensive selection of the top 100 projects for film, TV, and digital content originating from South Korea, Japan, and India. Our coverage spans from 2015 to the present, and as of last year, we have expanded our scope to include forward-looking data, providing information on projects at various stages of production.
The film industry in India, commonly referred to as Bollywood, is centered in Mumbai. Luminate Film & TV recognizes and acknowledges the significance of diverse regional cinema industries within India. We have introduced different arena tags for specific regional film industries, such as Kollywood for Tamil cinema, Pollywood for Punjabi cinema, Tollywood for Bengali and Telugu cinema, and Mollywood for Malayalam and Marathi cinema. These tags allow us to highlight and honor the unique contributions of each regional industry and provide comprehensive coverage to our users. These stories matter, and Luminate Film & TV is thrilled to share them this month as clients continue to explore throughout the year!
AAPI HERITAGE MONTHProject Spotlight
BEEFNETFLIX
RELEASE DATE:
4/6/2023BEEF follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho, a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau, a self- made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships in this darkly comedic and deeply moving series.
Never Have I EverNETFLIX
RELEASE DATE:
6/8/2023A coming-of-age comedy series about the complicated life of a modern-day first generation Indian American teenage girl, inspired by Kaling's own childhood.
Jimmy O. Yang: Guess How Much?PRIME VIDEO
RELEASE DATE:
5/2/2023A follow-up to GOOD DEAL, Yang's beloved first global special, GUESS HOW MUCH? dives into various topics including love languages, loser friends, and negotiating with his Asian parents.
Past LivesA24
RELEASE DATE:
6/2/2023A budding childhood romance between Nora and Hae Sung, at a primary school in Seoul, ends abruptly when Nora's family emigrates to Canada. Twelve years later, Nora, now a playwriting student in New York, notices that Hae Sung's been searching social media for her. They reconnect online and imagine reunion. Another dozen years pass and they finally meet in New York.
AAPI HERITAGE MONTHTop Selected AAPI Talent
Tan France
JOB TITLE Talent SCREENSCORE 45 PROJECTS Queer Eye, Next in Fashion
Ali Wong
JOB TITLE Writer, Producer, Talent SCREENSCORE 72 PROJECTS Human Resources, BEEF
Steven Yeun
JOB TITLE Documentary Producer, Producer, Talent SCREENSCORE 79 PROJECTS BEEF, Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV
Jimmy O. Yang
JOB TITLE Writer, Producer, Talent SCREENSCORE 57 PROJECTS American Born Chinese, 80 for Brady
Nicole Scherzinger
JOB TITLE Talent SCREENSCORE 57 PROJECTS That's My Jam, The Masked Singer
Jason Momoa
JOB TITLE Producer, Alternative Producer, Writer, Documentary Producer, Director, Talent SCREENSCORE 80 PROJECTS Fast X, The Climb
Merle Dandridge
JOB TITLE Talent SCREENSCORE 55 PROJECTS The Last of Us, Truth Be Told
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
JOB TITLE Talent SCREENSCORE 31 PROJECTS Never Have I Ever
Utkarsh Ambudkar
JOB TITLE Producer, Writer, Talent SCREENSCORE 60 PROJECTS Never Have I Ever, The Drop
Mindy Kaling
JOB TITLE Director, Writer, Showrunner, Producer, Talent SCREENSCORE 77 PROJECTS Never Have I Ever, Velma
Celine Song
JOB TITLE Writer, Director SCREENSCORE N/A PROJECTS Past Lives
Hong Chau
JOB TITLE Talent SCREENSCORE 75 PROJECTS Showing Up, The Whale
May 18, 2023
Jewish American Heritage Celebration:
In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in May, Luminate Film & TV is shining a spotlight on Jewish American talent and the stories that celebrate, explore and embody Jewish heritage. To achieve this, Luminate Film & TV has developed a Cultural/Religious Identity dataset that takes into account a person's Religious Background, identifying which religion they were born into or raised in (important note: this may no longer reflect their current cultural or religious affiliation/practice); their Religious Practice, which is the religion they currently practice; and their Religious Cultural Identity, which describes how they identify as part of a religious or cultural group, even if they choose not to participate in certain or all aspects of the formal religious practice. Our identity and heritage are not just about our ethnic background but also highlight our generational religious practices and cultural religious origins, which are often linked to a specific land or geographical region. The Jewish American community is just as diverse and unique as any other community, and Luminate Film & TV is thrilled to showcase the selected talent and projects that bring heart, laughter, tears, understanding, and joy to the screen.
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHProject Spotlight
Jewish MatchmakingNETFLIX
RELEASE DATE:
5/3/2023A new series from the producers of Indian Matchmaking, Jewish Matchmaking features singles in the US and Israel as they turn their dating life over to a top Jewish matchmaker. Will using the traditional practice of shidduch help them find their soulmate in today's world?
Marvelous Mrs. MaiselPRIME VIDEO
RELEASE DATE:
4/14/2023A dramedy about Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a 1958 New York City woman who has everything she's ever wanted the perfect husband, two kids, and an elegant Upper West Side apartment perfect for hosting Yom Kippur dinner. But her perfect life suddenly takes an unexpected turn and Midge discovers a previously unknown talent-one that changes her life forever.
A Small LightNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICS / DISNEY+
RELEASE DATE:
5/2/2023Tells the remarkable story of 20-something secretary Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who didn't hesitate when her boss Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked her to hide him and his family from the Nazis during World War II. It was Miep who found Anne's diary and preserved it so that she and Otto could later share it with the world.
The FabelmansUNIVERSAL
RELEASE DATE:
11/23/2022Inspired by Steven Spielberg's childhood, this story details the coming-of-age of 16-year-old aspiring filmmaker Sammy Fabelman in Arizona, California. In this portrait of 20th Century American childhood, we see the effects of shattering family secrets and explore how movies have the power to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves.
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHTop Selected Jewish Talent
Mila Kunis
JOB TITLE Producer, Talent RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Daniel Levy
JOB TITLE Director, Writer, Alternative Producer, Animation Writer, Producer, Talent RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Christianity (Protestant), Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Ben Platt
JOB TITLE Talent, Producer RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) RELIGIOUS PRACTICE Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Rashida Jones
JOB TITLE Producer, Writer, Author, Director, Alternative Director, Alternative Producer, Documentary Director, Documentary Producer, Talent CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Ashkenazi Jewish)
Daveed Diggs
JOB TITLE Talent, Producer, Writer, Composer RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Julia Garner
JOB TITLE Talent RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Jon Favreau
JOB TITLE Talent, Producer, Writer, Director, Alternative Producer CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Abbi Jacobson
JOB TITLE Talent, Producer, Writer, Director CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Mandy Patinkin
JOB TITLE Writer, Producer, Talent RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) RELIGIOUS PRACTICE Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Ariela Barer
JOB TITLE Talent CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Michael Zegen
JOB TITLE Talent, Producer, Writer, Director RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
Alex Borstein
JOB TITLE Director, Writer, Showrunner, Production Management, Producer, Talent RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND Judaism (Jewish) RELIGIOUS PRACTICE Judaism (Jewish) CULTURAL IDENTITY Judaism (Jewish)
May 4, 2023
NATIONAL EARTH MONTH PROJECTS & DISTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT:
In celebration of Earth Month, Luminate Film & TV is shining a light on the many different creatives, projects and companies in entertainment that use their platform to bring awareness to climate change and sustainability.
This week we’ve selected a handful of projects and distributors that are working to make a difference in the entertainment industry. Many studios have recognized the impact the film industry has on the planet - a single hour of television can produce 13 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the amount a single person can generate in a year - and have committed to making changes behind the camera and through the content they produce.
Through new initiatives and certifications, these select distributors below are working to make the industry more sustainable. They’re not just trying to make an impact behind the camera - many are creating content that makes us think about and care for the world we live in. From recognizing the beauty of the oceans in Avatar: The Way of the Water to dealing with climate change in real time in Extrapolations, each will leave you with a message of the importance of preserving the natural world for generations to come.
EARTH MONTH DATA CELEBRATIONDistributor Spotlight
Netflix
Netflix has implemented a plan called Net Zero + Nature, which works to REDUCE their emissions, RETAIN existing carbon storage, and REMOVE carbon from the atmosphere. Netflix is committed to creating empowering stories of sustainability and created an independent advisory group of experts to better understand their own carbon footprint. In their collection "Sustainability Stories," viewers can choose from a collection of various genres, exploring our changing world through Climate and Sustainability stories.
Universal
In March 2023, Universal created a new program called GreenerLight, an initiative focused on embedding sustainability across the entire filmmaking process through development, production and distribution. Their goal is to continue to reduce environmental impact on their sets. Universal integrates a sustainability mindset from the development stage to on- screen behaviors.
Apple TV+
Apple Inc. is committed to achieve carbon neutrality across all of its products by 2030. Apple TV+ is reinforcing these efforts by producing climate and sustainability related content like, Extrapolations and Five Days at Memorial. Behind the camera, Apple TV+ utilized the sustainability consulting agency Earth Angel to improve their carbon footprint on shows like Severance.
EARTH MONTH DATA CELEBRATIONProject Spotlight
SHOWS
Extrapolations
RELEASE DATE 3/17/23 DISTRIBUTOR Apple TV+
Unstable
RELEASE DATE 3/30/23 DISTRIBUTOR Netflix
Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Down Under
RELEASE DATE 11/11/22 DISTRIBUTOR Netflix
MOVIES
Nope
RELEASE DATE 7/22/22 DISTRIBUTOR Universal
Avatar: The Way of Water
RELEASE DATE 12/16/22 DISTRIBUTOR 20th Century Studios
All That Breathes
RELEASE DATE 10/21/22 DISTRIBUTOR Submarine Deluxe *Won Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film
April 18, 2023
April is National Autism Awareness Month, and Luminate Film & TV is taking this opportunity to showcase a selection of series that not only provide an empowered representation of the autism spectrum and neurodivergent experience but also highlight the incredible talents of six trailblazing artists who live with autism and or a neurodivergence.
These series were created with a clear intention to uplift the stories and lived experiences of people with autism, and the casting choices were made with careful consideration to ensure that individuals with autism were given the opportunity to showcase their talents in a safe environment. True diversity is not just about placing individuals in roles as a mere box-ticking exercise. It's about creating an environment of equitable inclusion, where everyone's unique story is expressed and presented within the vast scope of their lives.
Luminate Film & TV invites you to discover and explore the groundbreaking talents featured in these series, as they pave the way for authentic casting and inspire young kids with autism to dream big and make it to the big screen.
National Autism Awareness Trailblazers
As We See It(PRIME VIDEO)
A half-hour coming- of-age comedic drama about three 20-something roommates on the autism spectrum, striving for the same things that we all desire: to get a job, keep a job, make friends, fall in love, and navigate a world that eludes them.
Everything's Gonna Be Okay(FREEFORM)
The half-hour comedy introduces Nicholas (Josh Thomas), a neurotic 25-year-old still living at home with his single dad and two teen half-sisters, one of whom has autism. When their dad becomes terminally ill, Nicholas is the one who will have to hold it all together.
Heartbreak High(NETFLIX)
An incendiary mural exposes everyone's secret hook-ups at Hartley High. Its author, Amerie, has to grapple with the messy fallouts as a total outcast. A reboot of the popular 1990s Australian teen drama.
Love on the Spectrum U.S.(NETFLIX)
An insightful and warm- hearted docu-reality series following people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships searching for something we all hope to find, love.
Albert Rutecki
SCREEN SCORE 39 JOB TITLE Talent CREDITS Chicago MED, As We See It
Rick Glassman
SCREEN SCORE 43 JOB TITLE Makeup Department, Talent CREDITS Not Dead Yet, As We See It
Sue Ann Pien
SCREEN SCORE 28 JOB TITLE Talent CREDITS As We See It, Ballers
Kayla Cromer
SCREEN SCORE 24 JOB TITLE Stunts, Talent CREDITS Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Apparition
Josh Thomas
SCREEN SCORE 25 JOB TITLE Director, Writer, Showrunner, Talent CREDITS Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Please Like Me
Chloe Hayden
JOB TITLE Talent CREDITS Heartbreak High
April 13, 2023
In celebration of April being Earth Month, Luminate Film & TV is shining a light on the many different creatives, projects and companies in entertainment that use their platform to bring awareness to climate change and sustainability.
This week, we've selected these top talents who you may not know have utilized their platform to advocate for climate change awareness by using social media, engaging in specific business ventures, making sustainable lifestyle choices, and working with advocacy organizations. Many of them have dedicated their careers to climate activism and have a significant influence not only in the entertainment industry but also in policymaking, inciting change in real-time.
Whether it's supporting anti-fracking measures, protesting on Capitol Hill, or persuading major designers to produce only vegan fashion, they make sure their voices -- and those whom they represent -- are heard. As a reminder, subscribers both active and inactive will continue to have free access to our Data Celebration Awareness Month alerts until April 22, 2023!
EARTH MONTH DATA CELEBRATIONTop Selected Environmental Champions
Jane Fonda
SCREEN SCORE 83 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Spearheaded climate change advocacy for 30+ years through actively promoting causes on media/press tours, attending/leading climate protests and supporting petitions. Wrote the book What Can I Do: The Path From Climate Despair to Action.
Cristela Alonzo
SCREEN SCORE 47 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Promotes vegan alternatives on social media, signs climate petitions and works with the group Climate Power to spread awareness about the affects of climate change on farm workers.
Pamela Anderson
SCREEN SCORE 64 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Throughout her career, she's advocated for PETA, veganism, and created the Pamela Anderson Foundation supporting climate change awareness. She will host a plant-based cooking show for Food Network Canada.
Elliot Page
SCREEN SCORE 70 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Directed There's Something in the Water in 2019 which followed activists protecting land in Nova Scotia from pollution. They've advocated for access to clean water, water conservation and the right to protest injustice.
Javier Bardem
SCREEN SCORE 84 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Recently become a vegan and worked with Greenpace and Extinction Rebellion throughout his career. In 2018, he partnered with Sea2See to support upcycling ocean plastic waste it into eyewear.
Jaden Smith
SCREEN SCORE 49 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT He founded the company JUST Water to reduce single- use plastic in the world. The company is a Certified B Corp. JUST Water and his charity, 501CTHREE, have actively donated water to Flint, Michigan and other underserved communities.
Mark Ruffalo
SCREEN SCORE 85 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT On the Board of Directors for The Solutions Project. Advocates for anti-fracking measures and brings awareness to protests. He can be seen in the documentary In This Climate and leading the environmental drama Dark Waters.
Lucy Liu
SCREEN SCORE 75 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2004 and has traveled internationally to advocate for impoverished communities, as well as composting. She eats a primarily plant-based diet.
Antonio Banderas
SCREEN SCORE 78 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT A UN Goodwill Ambassador since 2010 and uses his social media to encourage his followers to take actionable steps to reduce the effects of climate change.
Billie Eilish
SCREEN SCORE 71 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Encouraged her 108 million Instagram followers to participate in Veganuary, used her Vogue cover story to highlight youth environmental activists and partnered with Reverb to make her tours more sustainable.
Zoe Saldana
SCREEN SCORE 81 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Wore vintage and ethnically made fashion to the 2023 Oscars in support of RCGD (Red Carpet Green Dress) Global. Partnered with Adidas, who prioritzes inclusivity and sustainability.
Jason Momoa
SCREEN SCORE 81 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Attended protests for the protection of land, oceans and indigenous people, and has spoken at the UN. The owner of Mananalu, a company that produces water in aluminum bottles to reduce the amount of single-use plastics in the industry.
Priyanka Chopra-Jonas
SCREEN SCORE 59 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT A dedicated ambassador for UNICEF and Global Citizen, she's attended numerous events raising awareness for ending global poverty, proper waste management and addressing the growing problem of plastic.
Djimon Hounsou
SCREEN SCORE 74 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT Raises awareness for protecting endangered species and wildlife conservation on social media. In 2021, he narrated a short video about the white rhino in Kenya and bonds they form with their protectors.
Alicia Silverstone
SCREEN SCORE 61 CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT A strong advocate for a vegan lifestyle, she has also become an animal agricultural activist. In a 2021 Bumble interview she shared her composting style and efforts to reduce food waste.
April 12, 2023
NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH DATA CELEBRATION: CREATIVE INNOVATORS
In recognition of March’s National Disability Awareness Month, Luminate Film & TV aims to draw attention to the important and vital contributions made by artists with disabilities in our database. For far too long, both in front of and behind the camera, authentic representation for those with lived disability experience has been largely unseen. The individuals featured this week include 12 top creative innovators who navigate the world through paralysis, limb loss, spinal cord injuries, mobility issues, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, dwarfism, cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, and Down syndrome. Their work has transcended stigma and stereotypes to uplift and expand the diversity of voices telling stories today. It is our hope that the Luminate Film & TV database can be a positive tool for bringing about a more equitable and inclusive entertainment industry. We encourage you to explore our database and discover artists with disabilities who are enhancing the collective narrative—project by project—to create a more accessible and inclusive space for all. In the upcoming months, we look forward to celebrating the contributions of many more individuals from our database, as we celebrate Deaf Awareness Month, as well as Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Months, among others.
DATA CELEBRATIONNational Disability Month
Ali Stroker
Talent SCREEN SCORE 38 SELECTED CREDITS Gossip Girl, Only Murders in the Building
Baxter Humby
Stunts, Talent SELECTED CREDITS Amsterdam, Mayans MC
Daryl Mitchell
Talent SCREEN SCORE 45 SELECTED CREDITS Fear the Walking Dead, NCIS: New Orleans
Eric Graise
Director, Talent SCREEN SCORE 30 SELECTED CREDITS Step Up, Locke & Key
Kiera Allen
Writer, Talent SCREEN SCORE 31 SELECTED CREDITS Law & Order, The Good Doctor
Kurt Yaeger
Talent SCREEN SCORE 41 SELECTED CREDITS Quantum Leap, Best Foot Forward
Liz Carr
Talent SCREEN SCORE 22 SELECTED CREDITS The Witcher, Infinite
Nic Novicki
Producer, Talent SCREEN SCORE 30 SELECTED CREDITS Marry Me, T11 incomplete
Ryan J. Haddad
Talent SCREEN SCORE 29 SELECTED CREDITS The Politician, Madam Secretary
Santina Muha
Writer, Talent SCREEN SCORE 24 SELECTED CREDITS Moving On, Dollface
Shannon DeVido
Talent SCREEN SCORE 26 SELECTED CREDITS Lucky Hank, The Other Two
Zach Gottsagen
Producer, Talent SCREEN SCORE 31 SELECTED CREDITS Best Summer Ever, The Peanut Butter Falcon
Mar 24, 2023
Women’s History Month Data Celebration: Noteworthy Women Creatives
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Luminate Film & TV is taking the opportunity to highlight the incredible accomplishments and stories from female creatives throughout March, which builds upon the ways in which we already celebrate these artists throughout the year. This week, we acknowledge twelve diverse artists who use their words, share their perspectives, compose stories through musical notes, fill our bellies with laughter and use their voices to transport us into worlds unknown. Explore our database for even more unique and talented women directors, actors, writers, editors, cinematographers and many more!
DATA CELEBRATIONWomen's History Month
Amber Midthunder
Talent SCREEN SCORE 58 SELECTED CREDITS PREY, Reservation Dogs
Chanda Dancy
Film Composer SELECTED CREDITS Devotion, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Gina Prince -Bythewood
Director, Writer, Producer, Talent SELECTED CREDITS The Woman King, Women of the Movement
Hiam Abbas
Director, Talent SCREEN SCORE 54 SELECTED CREDITS Succession, Hellraiser
Jillian Mercado
Talent SCREEN SCORE 33 SELECTED CREDITS Along for the Ride, The Wonder Years
Laura Kariuki
Talent SCREEN SCORE 58 SELECTED CREDITS PREY, Reservation Dogs
Mandy Walker
Camera and Electrical Department, Director of Photography SELECTED CREDITS Elvis, Mulan NOTES Third woman DP to be nominated for an Oscar
Michelle Yeoh
Talent, Producer SCREEN SCORE 96 SELECTED CREDITS The School for Good and Evil, Everything Everywhere All At Once NOTES First Asian woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress
Our Lady J
Talent, Writer SCREEN SCORE 21 SELECTED CREDITS American Horror Story, Fantasy Island
Pinar Toprak
Composer, Music Department, Producer SELECTED CREDITS Shotgun Wedding, Slumberland
Ruth E. Carter
Costume Designer, Producer, Longform Costume Designer, Talent SELECTED CREDITS Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Above Suspicion NOTES First Black woman to win multiple Oscars
Simone Ashley
Talent SCREEN SCORE 70 SELECTED CREDITS Bridgerton, The Sister
Mar 3, 2023
Black History Month Data Celebration: Noteworthy Black Stories and Directors
For our last Black History Month Data Celebration, we’re highlighting the richness and breadth of Black Stories – and specifically the power of visual storytelling as told through the eyes of these Top Ten Directors. The stories they've brought to screen are poetic, groundbreaking. They include an uplifting animated series, thrillers led by Black actors, historical symphonies of the Black experience, the trials of a sports player forced to use his fame to stand in the margins for civil rights, the courage of trans women who unapologetically reveal the hidden complexities of society, and a teenage girl super genius who reverse engineers Iron Man's suit. We invite you to explore or re-explore the creative worlds of these Black Stories and noteworthy directors.
Noteworthy Black Stories
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
RELEASE 1/23/23 PLATFORM Theatrical Release
88
RELEASE 2/17/23 PLATFORM Theatrical Release
The 1619 Project
RELEASE 1/26/23 PLATFORM Hulu
Kokomo City
RELEASE 1/21/23 PLATFORM Theatrical Release
Bill Russell: Legend
RELEASE 2/8/23 PLATFORM Netflix
Creed III
RELEASE 3/3/23 PLATFORM Theatrical Release
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
RELEASE 2/10/23 PLATFORM Theatrical Release
lronheart
RELEASE Fall/Winter 2023 PLATFORM Disney+
Missing
RELEASE 1/20/23 PLATFORM Theatrical Release
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
RELEASE 2/10/23 PLATFORM Disney+
Top 10 Black Directors
Calmatic
Known for his work with Grammy Award-winning music video for Lil Nas X's hit record "Old Town Road"
2023 PROJECT House Party
Michael B. Jordan
Directorial debut
2023 PROJECT Creed III
Nia DaCosta
The first Black female director to have a film debut in the top spot in the US box office
2023 PROJECT The Marvels
Stephen Williams
Multi time Emmy Award nominee
2023 PROJECT Chevalier
D. Smith
Grammy award winning producer and first transgender cast member on the Love & Hip Hop series
2023 PROJECT Kokomo City
Maggie Betts
Winner of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch for 2023
2023 PROJECT The Burial
Mo McRae
Feature Film debut
2023 PROJECT A Lot of Nothing
Raven Jackson
Making her directorial debut with Oscar winning director Barry Jenkins as producer
2023 PROJECT All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
Thomas Ikimi
A computer programmer who created Qurator, a movie review app
2023 PROJECT 88
Sam Pollard
Oscar nominated documentarian
2023 PROJECT Bill Russell: Legend
Feb 2, 2023
BLACK HISTORY MONTH DATA CELEBRATION: CLIMATE CHANGE & SUSTAINABILITY
Join us for a Black History Month Data Celebration, which will highlight the creative achievements of Black creatives in front of and behind the screen. While the expansive contributions of the Black community could not possibly be captured within the span of a few weeks, we hope to shed a light on these incredible artistic feats of Black talent across all disciplines that continue to enrich the entertainment industry with their voices, their stories, and their multifaceted cultural influence.
In this week’s Celebration, we recognize advocacy and activism. These two practices are carried out in a myriad of ways, and the contributions to Climate Change and Sustainability are no exception with these Top Ten Black Sustainability Advocates. Through their commendable efforts, these dynamic talents have utilized their platforms, money, and stardom to not only encourage others to participate in Sustainability advocacy but are going the distance themselves.
Top Black Sustainability Advocates
Adjoa Andoh
Has supported the work of the Fairtrade Foundation since 2005, and discusses sustainability in interviews while promoting Bridgerton.
Angela Bassett
In addition to being mostly plant based, she has lent her acting talents to many voice over roles advocating for the environment, such as the Nature Conservancy and National Geographic.
Beyoncé
She founded BeyGood in 2013 which, among many other accomplishments, supports sustainable equity in business and serves underresourced commmunities.
Don Cheadle
He's been a longtime environmentalist activist and is apart of many organizations, such as the Years Project, the United Nations, and Citizen's Climate Lobby.
Lizzo
In an interview she mentions that she keeps track of her carbon footprint, saying that she doesn't have a car, is vegan, and is very much against litter.
Rihanna
Her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) invests in climate justice initiatives in the Caribbean & United States and helps communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters.
Rosario Dawson
Co-founded Studio 189 which focuses on empowerment, creating jobs, and supporting education, and partners with orgs such as the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative.
SZA
In 2018, she created a line of sustainable merch that featured upcycled shirts with the phrase "puck flastic" and "sustainability gang."
Viola Davis
She will co-chair the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in L.A during Oscar season, which honors environmental and social sustainability in the fashion world and entertainment industry.
will.i.am
In 2020, he partnered with Amazon to promote their Climate Pledge Program. He's vegan and promotes sustainability through his social media and music.