
Stanley Nelson
Directing
Biography
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).
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Stanley Nelson
Filmography
Acting (1)
2004
A Place of Our Ownas Self - Narrator (voice)
9.0
Production & Directing (77)
2026
The Color of ColaDirector
2026
The Color of ColaExecutive Producer
2026
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis ValdezExecutive Producer
2025
Lani B. Supreme: LegacyExecutive Producer
2025
Cindy Tran: From Here to HereExecutive Producer
2025
Becoming Thurgood: America's Social ArchitectExecutive Producer
2025
True North: Canadian Myths and Black PowerExecutive Producer
6.5
2025
Sun Ra: Do the ImpossibleExecutive Producer
6.3
2025
The InquisitorExecutive Producer
2025
Free for All: The Public LibraryExecutive Producer
2025
1.0
2025
We Want the Funk!Director
6.3
2024
1.0
2024
Sister Úna Lived a Good DeathExecutive Producer
2024
Disco's RevengeExecutive Producer
7.0
2023
Bulls and SaintsExecutive Producer
2023
Sound of the PoliceDirector
4.0
2023
Sound of the PoliceProducer
4.0
2023
Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary GaffneyExecutive Producer
6.5
2023
Sydney G. James: How We See UsExecutive Producer
2023
Jonathan Thunder: Good MythologyExecutive Producer
2022
Becoming Frederick DouglassDirector
4.7
2022
Becoming Frederick DouglassExecutive Producer
4.7
2022
Becoming Frederick DouglassProducer
4.7
2022
After JackieProducer
8.5
2022
HazingExecutive Producer
2021
6.0
2021
Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great DayExecutive Producer
8.0
2021
AtticaDirector
6.8
2021
AtticaWriter
6.8
2021
AtticaProducer
6.8
2021
6.6
2021
6.8
2020
VickDirector
5.6
2019
Miles Davis: Birth of the CoolDirector
7.1
2019
Miles Davis: Birth of the CoolProducer
7.1
2019
3.5
2019
3.5
2018
The Story of AccessDirector
2018
Black MemorabiliaScript Supervisor
2017
American CarnageExecutive Producer
2017
Gavin Grimm vs.Executive Producer
5.0
2017
Picket LineExecutive Producer
2015
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the BandExecutive Producer
8.0
2015
7.0
7.0
2015
7.0
2014
Freedom SummerDirector
7.2
2014
Freedom SummerWriter
7.2
2012
2012
Jesse OwensProducer
8.0
2012
Jesse OwensWriter
8.0
2010
Freedom RidersWriter
7.5
2010
Freedom RidersDirector
7.5
2010
Freedom RidersProducer
7.5
2008
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New OrleansExecutive Producer
2006
7.0
2004
A Place of Our OwnWriter
9.0
2004
A Place of Our OwnDirector
9.0
2004
A Place of Our OwnProducer
9.0
2004
2003
The Murder of Emmett TillDirector
7.0
2001
9.0
1999
6.7
1999
6.7
1999
6.7
1987
1985
Frederick Douglass: An American LifeSound Recordist
1981
1976
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)Assistant Editor







