Dee Rees News

Sundance Institute today announced a significant expansion of its signature artist development programs to include targeted support for second-time feature filmmakers, addressing a growing need in the field of independent storytelling, especially for women and filmmakers of color. The new FilmTwo Initiative, led by the Institute's renowned Feature Film Program, with generous support from Founding Partner NBCUniversal, will offer selected directors specialized creative and tactical guidance in navigating the unique challenges of making their second feature films. The Initiative's inaugural Fellows announced today participated in a Screenwriters Intensive in March and continue to receive customized creative and tactical support and participate in select FFP activities.

Sundance Institute has selected eight first-time filmmakers for its signature Directors Lab, which helped launch the careers of award-winning filmmakers Cary Fukunaga, Dee Rees, Marielle Heller, Benh Zeitlin and Quentin Tarantino. Taking place May 30-June 23 in the mountains of Sundance Resort in Utah, the annual Lab supports the next wave of independent filmmakers exploring new ideas and shaping the future of storytelling.

The DGA (Directors Guild of America) Awards have just been announced! Among the winners are THE REVENANT's Alejandro Inarritu, GAME OF THRONES' David Nutter, and DESCENDANTS' Kenny Ortega. Check out the full list of winners below!

Among the winners announced was NBC's THE WIZ LIVE in the category of Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art announce the initial eight official selections for the 45th edition of New Directors/New Films (ND/NF), a festival dedicated to the discovery of new works by emerging and dynamic filmmaking talent.

THE WIZ LIVE's Kenny Leon (Director) and Matthew Diamond (Live Television Direction) were nominated in the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series.

The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards telecast air live coast-to-coast on tonight, Sunday, September 20th (8 PM ET/5 PM PT) on FOX from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and BroadwayWorld has you covered with all of the winners, highlights, and commentary. Check out all of BWW's week-long 2015 Emmy Coverage.

Through out the past week, BroadwayWorld has been brinigng you coverage of the 67th Annual Emmy Awards with a decidedly theatre-specific focus, and tonight will be no different. At some point during the tedious Red Carpet, I will begin live blogging everything from the Andy Samberg's hosting performance to the awards to the acceptance speeches, and everything inbetween. That being typed, I will be doing this in shorts and a t-shirt, so don't expect too much fashion commentary. 

Media and Entertainment Commissioner Cynthia Lopez, the Made in NY Media Center by IFP, and NYCEDC have announced the creation of ten Made in NY Fellowships, a year-long program that will provide expanded resources and opportunities for New Yorkers to bring their media projects to the next level. The Made in NY Fellowship Program seeks to foster a diverse media industry, recognizing that different experiences, perspectives, and cultures are critical to advancements in innovation and creativity. Ten Fellowships will be available to those working on projects in documentary filmmaking, narrative filmmaking, gaming, post-production, animation, virtual reality, and media/technology.

HBO received 126 Primetime Emmy® nominations, the most of any network for the 15th year in a row, for the upcoming 67th Primetime Emmy Awards®, which were announced today in Los Angeles.

?HBO has confirmed the debut date for BESSIE, with the HBO Films presentation scheduled to debut SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ("Pariah") from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois.

?Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ("Pariah") from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois.

Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ("Pariah") from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois.

Queen Latifah sings the blude in her new film BESSIE. The multi-talented actress and singer, who produced and stars in the new HBO film, stopped by ABC's Good Morning America to talk about the film.

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is proud to announce the digital release of Bessie (Music from the HBO Film) on Tuesday, May 12. The official soundtrack for the upcoming HBO film will also be released on CD on Tuesday, June 2.

?Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah (“Chicago”) stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees (“Pariah”) from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois.

Starring Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") in the title role, BESSIE focuses on legendary blues singer Bessie Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. Check out the first trailer for the film below!

The HBO film BESSIE is scheduled to debut SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. This marks a return to the network for Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah following her Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning performance in HBO Films' “Life Support.”

?HBO has confirmed the debut date for BESSIE, with the HBO Films presentation scheduled to debut SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.