For this edition of our Directors Highlight we want to celebrate our favourite Black Directors.

The recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations have called many things into to question with regards to how black people are treated in our society.

For various reasons, media of all types collectively offer a distorted representation of the lives and reality of black people. In turn, media consumption negatively affects the public’s understandings and attitudes related to black people and these distorted understandings and attitudes lead to negative real-world consequences.

That is why Black Representation in cinema matters and why we not only need more black film directors, but we should champion the rich and varied canon of work of existing black directors.

So that’s what we are going to do for this special BLM edition of our blog and introduce you to our favourite black directors and the films we encourage you to go and watch.

Spike Lee

Go watch: She’s Gotta Have It |  25th Hour | and BlacKkKlansman

Ava DuVernay

Go watch: When they See Us | Selma | A Wrinkle in Time

Ryan Coogler

Go watch: Fruitvale Station | Creed | Black Panther

John Singleton

Go watch: Boyz n the Hood | 2 Fast 2 Furious | Four Brothers

Barry Jenkins

Go watch: Little Brown Boy | Moonlight | If Beale Street Could Talk

Nia DaCosta

Go watch: Crossing the Line | Top Boy | Candyman

Issa Rae

Go watch: The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl | Insecure | The Choir

Jordan Peele

Go watch: Get Out | Us

F Gary Gray

Go watch: Straight Outa Compton | Fast & Furious 8 | Men in Black: International

Lee Daniels

Go watch: The Paperboy | Precious | Empire

Steve McQueen

Go watch: Hunger | 12 Years a Slave | Widows