About

Known credits:
44
Birthday:
N/A
Place of birth:
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Website:
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Michèle Stephenson

Overview

Michèle Stephenson is an American documentary filmmaker, artist, and author who pulls from her Panamanian and Haitian roots, and experience as a human rights attorney to tell compelling, deeply personal stories that are created by, for, and about communities of color.

With spouse Joe Brewster, Stephenson founded the Rada Film Group. While raising a family in Brooklyn, New York, they directed and produced documentary and fiction films. In 2008, they directed Slaying Goliath, a documentary that follows 10 days in the life of their son's fifth grade basketball team in Harlem, New York, as they experienced a culture clash at a national tournament in suburban Florida. Brewster and Stephenson also produced and directed Faces of Change, which follows five activists on five continents fighting racism in their communities.

In 1999, Brewster and Stephenson set out to document the experiences of their son and his best friend at the time both boys entered kindergarten at a private Manhattan prep school up until their upcoming high school graduation in 2012 in the documentary film, American Promise. Their goal was to closely examine the coming of age and school experiences of two middle class African American boys at The Dalton School, a predominantly white prep school, in the context of the persistent U.S. achievement gap. American Promise was broadcast on POV in 2013. Brewster and Stephenson are Sundance Institute Fellows, Tribeca All Access Fellows, and the recipients of the Tribeca Gucci Fund for Documentary Film for the 13-year longitudinal documentary. American Promise is the centerpiece of a transmedia engagement campaign that will use the mobile web and interactive technology to help propel young men of color to success.

Known for

Acting
2023 Subject Actor Self 59
Average
2013 American Promise Actor Self 59
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Directing
2023 Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project Directing Director 59
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2023 Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games Directing Director N/A
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2021 For Our Girls Directing Director N/A
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2021 Elena Directing Director N/A
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2021 Decolonizing Mental Health Directing Director N/A
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2021 The Changing Same - Episode 1: The Dilemma Directing Director N/A
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2020 Stateless Directing Director 58
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2019 Drawn to the Mat Directing Director N/A
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2018 The Changing Same Directing Director N/A
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2016 A Mother's Dream Directing Director N/A
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2015 A Conversation with Black Women on Race Directing Director N/A
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2015 A Conversation with White People on Race Directing Director N/A
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2013 American Promise Directing Director 59
Average
2010 Coming Home: The Dry Storm Directing Director N/A
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2008 Slaying Goliath Directing Director N/A
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2006 Faces of Change Directing Director N/A
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Writing
2023 Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project Writing Writer 59
Average
2020 Stateless Writing Writer 58
Average
2018 The Changing Same Writing Writer N/A
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2008 Slaying Goliath Writing Writer N/A
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Production
2024 The Age of Water Production Producer N/A
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2023 Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project Production Producer 59
Average
2023 Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games Production Producer N/A
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2021 The Changing Same - Episode 1: The Dilemma Production Producer N/A
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2020 Stateless Production Producer 58
Average
2019 Drawn to the Mat Production Producer N/A
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2018 The Changing Same Production Producer N/A
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2016 A Mother's Dream Production Producer N/A
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2015 A Conversation with Black Women on Race Production Producer N/A
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2015 A Conversation with White People on Race Production Producer N/A
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2015 A Conversation About Growing Up Black Production Producer N/A
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2013 American Promise Production Producer 59
Average
2010 Coming Home: The Dry Storm Production Producer N/A
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2008 Slaying Goliath Production Producer N/A
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2006 Faces of Change Production Producer N/A
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2003 The Killing Zone Production Producer 59
Average
1995 The Keeper Production Associate Producer 58
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Freddie Gray Documentary Production Producer N/A
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Sound
2020 Stateless Sound Production Sound Mixer 58
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Art
2020 Stateless Art Storyboard Artist 58
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Camera
2020 Stateless Camera Additional Camera 58
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Crew
2020 Stateless Crew Translator 58
Average