Stanley Nelson
Directing
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).
Known for
Directing29
movieWe Want the Funk!
2025
Director
movieSound of the Police
2023
Director
movieAttica
2021
Director
tvBlack Panthers
2020
Director
movieVick
2020
Director
movieThe Story of Access
2018
Director
movieBlack Memorabilia
2018
Script Supervisor
movieFreedom Summer
2014
Director
movieFreedom Riders
2010
Director
tv30 for 30
2009
Director
tvWe Shall Remain
2009
Director
movieA Place of Our Own
2004
Director
Production34
movieAmerican Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
2026
Executive Producer
Lani B. Supreme: Legacy
2025
Executive Producer
movieBecoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect
2025
Executive Producer
movieTrue North: Canadian Myths and Black Power
2025
Executive Producer
movieSun Ra: Do the Impossible
2025
Executive Producer
movieThe Inquisitor
2025
Executive Producer
movieFree for All: The Public Library
2025
Executive Producer
movieSister Úna Lived a Good Death
2024
Executive Producer
movieDisco's Revenge
2024
Executive Producer
movieBulls and Saints
2023
Executive Producer
movieSound of the Police
2023
Producer
movieBirthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney
2023
Executive Producer
movieSydney G. James: How We See Us
2023
Executive Producer
movieJonathan Thunder: Good Mythology
2023
Executive Producer
movieBecoming Frederick Douglass
2022
Executive Producer, Producer
movieAfter Jackie
2022
Producer
movieHazing
2022
Executive Producer
movieLynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day
2021
Executive Producer
movieAttica
2021
Producer
movieAmerican Carnage
2017
Executive Producer
movieGavin Grimm vs.
2017
Executive Producer
moviePicket Line
2017
Executive Producer
movieMary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
2015
Executive Producer
movieJesse Owens
2012
Producer
movieFreedom Riders
2010
Producer
movieFaubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans
2008
Executive Producer
movieA Place of Our Own
2004
Producer
tvAmerican Experience
1988
Producer
movieTwo Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker
1987
Researcher, Producer
Writing10
movieAttica
2021
Writer
movieFreedom Summer
2014
Writer
movieJesse Owens
2012
Writer
movieFreedom Riders
2010
Writer
