Monday, September 7 2020: King’s film is not in competition, but it stands out as one of a handful of films directed by black women to have ever been recognised at the ongoing Venice Film Festival, and as thus entered the Oscar race.
For Regina King’s film to be playing at a festival such as Venice represents a significant moment that will undoubtedly inspire other filmmakers who have continued to struggle to find a powerful platform and recognition for their work.
At Venice, King – who made a move behind the camera after directing an episode of the T.V. drama This Is Us – said she was grateful to be part of the festival but was anxious for the film to do well commercially. “A woman will get a shot, and if she does not succeed, that shuts things down for years to come until an opportunity comes again for another woman to get that shot,” she said.
“So I am so grateful for our film to be a part of the festival, but I want it to perform well because there is so much talent out there and there are so many talented directors.”
Venice has celebrated black male filmmakers in the past: Spike Lee, Ousmane Sembène, John Singleton, Isaac Julien, Antoine Fuqua, John Akomfrah and Steve McQueen have all featured. Black female filmmakers have been included too but in far fewer numbers.
Dr Clive Nwonka, L.S.E. Fellow in film studies and author of the book Black Boys: the Aesthetics of British Urban Cinema, said he hopes that King’s inclusion can act as a wake-up call to the industry. “This moment should influence the entire white film industry: the Hollywood system, the Academy, the studios, the production companies, the distributors, the agents, the festival juries,” he said.
“They are the ones who should be looking at this moment and begin to unthink their assumptions and to value of black women filmmakers.”
King previously pledged to work only on projects with a 50/50 gender split, during her successful awards campaign for supporting actress for If Beale Street Could Talk, which saw her win at the Golden Globes and the Oscars.
