Outstanding Director

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Outstanding Director *

History of the Category

Since its inception in 2000, the Outstanding Director category at the Black Reel Awards has recognized the creative visionaries whose work elevates Black cinema. From the trailblazing Malcolm D. Lee, who won the first-ever award for The Best Man, to Cord Jefferson’s win for American Fiction in 2024, this category has celebrated filmmakers who push boundaries and deliver unforgettable stories. Gina Prince-Bythewood holds the record as the most awarded director with three wins, including Love & Basketball and The Woman King. The category has highlighted directors from diverse backgrounds and styles, with winners spanning drama, action, horror, and even superhero films like Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther.

Over the years, the Outstanding Director category has also made history with its milestones. Gina Prince-Bythewood became the first woman to win, while Denzel Washington was the first to direct himself to an acting nomination and a Bolt win with Antwone Fisher. The Hughes Brothers became the first duo to win for The Book of Eli, and Regina King was the first director to win for a streaming film with One Night in Miami.... By celebrating both established legends like Spike Lee, the most nominated director with 11 nods, and emerging voices like Ryan Coogler, the youngest winner at 29, the category has solidified its role in spotlighting the best in Black filmmaking.

From period dramas like 12 Years a Slave to genre-defining horrors like Get Out, the Outstanding Director category showcases the dynamic storytelling and technical expertise of Black filmmakers. With nominees consistently pushing the boundaries of cinema, the category remains a vital reflection of the evolving landscape of Black storytelling. Whether it’s honoring historical epics, groundbreaking comedies, or cultural milestones, this category continues to amplify voices that redefine filmmaking and inspire audiences worldwide.

PAST WINNERS & NOMINEES

  • Malcom D. Lee

    THE BEST MAN (2000)

    Nominees:
    Rick Famuyiwa | The Wood

    Spike Lee | Summer of Sam

  • Gina Prince-Bythewood

    LOVE & BASKETBALL (2001)

    Nominees:

    Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes | American Pimp

    Spike Lee | Bamboozled

    John Singleton | Shaft

  • Antoine Fuqua

    TRAINING DAY (2002)

    Nominees:

    Thomas Carter | Save the Last Dance

    Gary Hardwick | The Brothers

    Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes | From Hell

    John Singleton | Baby Boy

  • Denzel Washington

    ANTWONE FISHER (2003)

    Nominees:

    Malcolm D. Lee | Undercover Brother

    Spike Lee | 25th Hour

    Charles Stone III | Drumline

    Tim Story | Barbershop

  • F. Gary Gray

    THE ITALIAN JOB (2004)

    Nominees:

    Carl Franklin | Out of Time

    Antoine Fuqua | Tears of the Sun

    Gary Hardwick | Deliver Us From Eva

    John Singleton | 2 Fast 2 Furious

  • Mario Van Peebles

    BAADASSSSS! (2005)

    Nominees:

    Ernest Dickerson | Never Die Alone

    Antoine Fuqua | Lighting in a Bottle

    Spike Lee | She Hate Me

    Charles Stone III | Mr. 3000

  • Thomas Carter

    COACH CARTER (2006)

    Nominees:

    Malcolm D. Lee | Roll Bounce

    John Singleton | Four Brothers

    Tim Story | Fantastic Four

  • Spike Lee

    INSIDE MAN (2007)

    Nominees:

    Bryan Barber | Idlewild

    Sanaa Hamri | Something New

    Clark Johnson | The Sentinel

    Chris Robinson | ATL

  • Gina Prince-Bythewood

    THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (2008)

    Nominees:

    Malcolm D. Lee | Soul Men

    Spike Lee | Miracle at St. Anna

    Darnell Martin | Cadillac Records

    Gabriele Muccino | Seven Pounds

  • Lee Daniels

    PRECIOUS (2010)

    Nominees:

    Bill Duke | Not Easily Broken

    Spike Lee | Passing Strange

    Scott Sanders | Black Dynamite

    George Tillman Jr. | Notorious

  • Albert & Allen Hughes

    THE BOOK OF ELI (2011)

    NOMINEES:

    Antoine Fuqua | Brooklyn's Finest

    Tanya Hamilton | Night Catches Us

    Sanaa Hamri | Just Wright

    Tyler Perry | For Colored Girls

  • Steve McQueen

    SHAME (2012)

    Nominees:

    Salim Akil | Jumping the Broom

    Qasim Basir | Mooz-lum

    Ava DuVernay | I Will Follow

    Dee Rees | Pariah

  • Ava DuVernay

    MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (2013)

    Nominees:

    Salim Akil | Sparkle

    Spike Lee | Red Hook Summer

    Peter Ramsey | Rise of the Guardians

    Tim Story | Think Like a Man

  • Steve McQueen

    12 YEARS A SLAVE (2014)

    Nominees:

    Ryan Coogler | Fruitvale Station

    Lee Daniels | The Butler

    Malcolm D. Lee | The Best Man Holiday

    George Tillman Jr. | The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

  • Ava DuVernay

    SELMA (2015)

    Nominees:

    Amma Asante | Belle

    Gina Prince-Bythewood | Beyond the Lights

    Chris Rock | Top Five

    Justin Simien | Dear White People

  • Ryan Coogler

    CREED (2016)

    Nominees:

    Rick Famuyiwa | Dope

    Antoine Fuqua | Southpaw

    F. Gary Gray | Straight Outta Compton

    Spike Lee | Chi-Raq

  • Barry Jenkins

    MOONLIGHT (2017)

    Nominees:

    Don Cheadle | Miles Ahead

    Antoine Fuqua |  The Magnificent Seven

    Nate Parker | The Birth of a Nation

    Denzel Washington | Fences

  • Jordan Peele

    GET OUT (2018)

    Nominees:

    Maggie Betts | Novitiate

    Reginald Hudlin | Marshall

    Malcolm D. Lee | Girls Trip

    Dee Rees | Mudbound

  • Ryan Coogler

    BLACK PANTHER (2019)

    Nominees:

    Barry Jenkins | If Beale Street Could Talk

    Steve McQueen | Widows

    Spike Lee | BlacKkKlansman

    Boots Riley | Sorry to Bother You

  • Jordan Peele

    US (2020)

    Nominees:

    Mati Diop | Atlantics

    Kasi Lemmons | Harriet

    Melina Matsoukas | Queen & Slim†

    Julius Onah | Luce

  • Regina King

    ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… (2021)

    Nominees:

    Radha Blank | The Forty-Year-Old Version

    Shaka King | Judas and the Black Messiah

    Spike Lee | Da 5 Bloods

    Channing Godfrey Peoples | Miss Juneteenth

  • Jeymes Samuel

    THE HARDER THEY FALL (2022)

    NOMINEES:

    Halle Berry | Bruised

    Nia DaCosta | Candyman

    Reinaldo Marcus Green | King Richard

    Rebecca Hall | Passing

  • Gina Prince-Bythewood

    THE WOMAN KING (2023)

    Nominees:

    Elegance Bratton | The Inspection

    Chinonye Chukwu | Till

    Ryan Coogler | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

    Jordan Peele | Nope

  • Cord Jefferson

    AMERICAN FICTION (2024)

    Nominees:

    Blitz Bazawule | The Color Purple

    Ava DuVernay | Origin

    Michael B. Jordan | Creed III

    A. V. Rockwell | A Thousand and One

  • TBD

    NOMINEES:
    Titus Kaphar | Exhibiting Forgiveness

    Zoë Kravitz | Blink Twice

    Steve McQueen | Blitz

    RaMell Ross | Nickel Boys

    Malcolm Washington | The Piano Lesson

Established: The category was introduced at the inaugural Black Reel Awards in 2000.

Outstanding Film Correlation: 14 of the Outstanding Director winners also directed films that won Outstanding Film, showing a strong alignment between the categories.

Most Nominated Director: Spike Lee holds the record with 11 nominations and 1 win.

Most Wins: Gina Prince-Bythewood leads with 3 wins, making her the most awarded director in the category.

Youngest Winner: Ryan Coogler became the youngest winner at 29 for Creed in 2016.

Oldest Winner: Thomas Carter won at 52 for Coach Carter in 2006.

Number of Women Nominated: 15 women directors have been nominated in the history of this category, with Gina Prince-Bythewood and Ava DuVernay earning multiple nominations.

First Woman Winner: Gina Prince-Bythewood won in 2001 for Love & Basketball, the first woman to win in the category.

First Duo Winner: Albert and Allen Hughes won for The Book of Eli in 2011, marking the first win by a directing team.

CATEGORY REEL FACTS

First Streaming Film Winner: Regina King won for One Night in Miami..., becoming the first to win for a streaming film in 2021.

Most Wins by a Man: Ryan Coogler, Steve McQueen, and Jordan Peele each have 2 wins.

International Recognition: Steve McQueen became the first Black British director to win, with Shame in 2012.

Genre Milestones: Black Panther was the first superhero film to win in this category, under Ryan Coogler in 2019.

Horror Film First: Jordan Peele’s Get Out was the first horror film to win in 2018.

Directorial Acting Nods: Denzel Washington directed himself to an acting nomination with Antwone Fisher in 2003.

Multiple Sequel Nominations: Malcolm D. Lee became the first to be nominated for directing both a film (The Best Man) and its sequel (The Best Man Holiday).

Cultural Icons Recognized: Films directed by legends like Ava DuVernay (Selma) and Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) highlight Black excellence in storytelling.