Stanley Nelson

Directing

Stanley Nelson

Born 7 July 1955 · New York City, New York, USA · 71

Stanley Earl Nelson Jr. (born June 7, 1951) is an American documentary filmmaker and a MacArthur Fellow known as a director, writer and producer of documentaries examining African-American history and experiences. He is a recipient of the 2013 National Humanities Medal from President Obama. He has won three Primetime Emmy Awards. Among his notable films are Freedom Riders (2010), Wounded Knee (2009), Jonestown: The Life & Death of People's Temple (2006), Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice (2005), A Place of Our Own (2004), The Murder of Emmett Till (2003), and The Black Press: Soldiers without Swords (1998).

Known for

Highlights

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool2019 · Film · Director
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple2006 · Film · Director
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy2021 · Film · Director
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution2015 · Film · Director
30 for 302009 · Series · Director
Attica2021 · Film · Director

Filmography

Movies

27 films

The Color of Cola2026 · Film · Director
Critical Condition: Health in Black America2025 · Film · Director
We Want the Funk!2025 · Film · Director
San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood2024 · Film · Director
Sound of the Police2023 · Film · Director
Becoming Frederick Douglass2022 · Film · Director
Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom2021 · Film · Director
Attica2021 · Film · Director
Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre2021 · Film · Director
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy2021 · Film · Director
Vick2020 · Film · Director
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool2019 · Film · Director
BOSS: The Black Experience in Business2019 · Film · Director
The Story of Access2018 · Film · Director
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities2017 · Film · Director
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution2015 · Film · Director
Freedom Summer2014 · Film · Director
Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas2012 · Film · Director
Jesse Owens2012 · Film · Writer
Freedom Riders2010 · Film · Writer
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple2006 · Film · Director
A Place of Our Own2004 · Film · Writer
Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise2004 · Film · Director
The Murder of Emmett Till2003 · Film · Director
Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind2001 · Film · Director
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords1999 · Film · Director
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker1987 · Film · Director

Filmography

Series

4 shows

Black Panthers2020 · Series · Director
30 for 302009 · Series · Director
We Shall Remain2009 · Series · Director
American Experience1988 · Series · Writer