7.0
Movie
Directing
Stanley Nelson
- Born
- (age 71)
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
- Credits
- 59 titles
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).
Signature work
Known For
7.0
Movie
7.1
Movie
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
6.8
Movie
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
7.0
Movie
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
7.5
TV
30 for 30
6.5
TV
American Experience
6.8
Movie
Attica
6.3
Movie
We Want the Funk!
7.5
Movie
Freedom Riders
8.1
Movie
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
7.0
Movie
Disco's Revenge
7.2
Movie
Freedom Summer
7.0
Movie
The Murder of Emmett Till
6.6
Movie
Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre
5.6
Movie
Vick
4.7
Movie
Becoming Frederick Douglass
6.0
Movie
Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom
6.7
Movie
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
Acting credits 3
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hollywood Black TV | Self (4 ep) |
| 2004 | A Place of Our Own Film | Self - Narrator (voice) |
| 1996 | The Daily Show TV | Self (1 ep) |
Crew credits 57
| Year | Title | Job |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Color of Cola Film | Director, Executive Producer |
| 2026 | American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | Lani B. Supreme: Legacy Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | Cindy Tran: From Here to Here Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | Sun Ra: Do the Impossible Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | The Inquisitor Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | Free for All: The Public Library Film | Executive Producer |
| 2025 | Critical Condition: Health in Black America Film | Director |
| 2025 | We Want the Funk! Film | Director, Author |
| 2024 | San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood Film | Director |
| 2024 | Sister Úna Lived a Good Death Film | Executive Producer |
| 2024 | Disco's Revenge Film | Executive Producer |
| 2023 | Bulls and Saints Film | Executive Producer |
| 2023 | Sound of the Police Film | Producer, Director |
| 2023 | Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney Film | Executive Producer |
| 2023 | Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology Film | Executive Producer |
| 2023 | Sydney G. James: How We See Us Film | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | Becoming Frederick Douglass Film | Director, Producer, Executive Producer |
| 2022 | After Jackie Film | Producer |
| 2022 | Hazing Film | Executive Producer |
| 2021 | Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom Film | Director |
| 2021 | Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day Film | Executive Producer |
| 2021 | Attica Film | Director, Writer, Producer |
| 2021 | Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre Film | Director |
| 2021 | Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy Film | Director |
| 2020 | Black Panthers TV | Director (2 ep) |
| 2020 | Vick Film | Director |
| 2019 | Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Film | Director, Producer |
| 2019 | BOSS: The Black Experience in Business Film | Producer, Director |
| 2018 | The Story of Access Film | Director |
| 2018 | Black Memorabilia Film | Script Supervisor |
| 2017 | American Carnage Film | Executive Producer |
| 2017 | Gavin Grimm vs. Film | Executive Producer |
| 2017 | Picket Line Film | Executive Producer |
| 2017 | Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities Film | Director, Screenplay, Producer |
| 2015 | Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band Film | Executive Producer |
| 2015 | The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution Film | Director, Producer, Writer |
| 2014 | Freedom Summer Film | Writer, Director |
| 2012 | Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas Film | Director |
| 2012 | Jesse Owens Film | Writer, Producer |
| 2010 | Freedom Riders Film | Writer, Director, Producer |
| 2009 | 30 for 30 TV | Director (2 ep) |
| 2009 | We Shall Remain TV | Director (1 ep) |
| 2008 | Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans Film | Executive Producer |
| 2006 | Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple Film | Director |
| 2004 | A Place of Our Own Film | Writer, Director, Producer |
| 2004 | Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise Film | Director |
| 2003 | The Murder of Emmett Till Film | Director |
| 2001 | Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind Film | Director |
| 1999 | The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords Film | Producer, Director, Writer |
| 1988 | American Experience TV | Writer, Producer (1 ep) |
| 1987 | Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker Film | Director, Editor, Producer, Researcher |
| 1985 | Frederick Douglass: An American Life Film | Sound Recordist |
| 1981 | Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide Film | Writer |
| 1976 | Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) Film | Sound, Assistant Editor |