If you’ve seen any Kasi Lemmons film, you know she deeply explores the human experience, making us see ourselves and the world a little differently. But her directing is only one way that she’s shaped the landscape of Black cinema.
Lemmons’ first feature, Eve’s Bayou, is considered one of the essential works of the 1990s and in 2017 was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. Her second film, The Caveman's Valentine starring Samuel L. Jackson, opened the 2002 Sundance Film Festival; and her third, Talk to Me starring Don Cheadle, earned the 2008 NAACP Image Award for outstanding directing.
She went on to direct Black Nativity and Harriet — the latter a two-time Oscar nominee, including Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo — before penning her first libretto, Fire Shut Up In My Bones, which was composed by Terence Blanchard and opened The Metropolitan Opera’s 2021-22 season. It was the first opera by an African-American composer and librettist ever performed at The Met, and went on to win a Grammy for Best Opera Recording.
Her most recent feature directing effort was Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, which opened during the 2022 holiday season and was No. 1 on Netflix during its debut weekend. For much of her later career, she’s also served as an arts professor in the Graduate Film Department at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
This Saturday, Nov. 14, the acclaimed director, actor, writer, educator and much more is being honored with the 2026 Michael Schultz Award from Milwaukee Film. Named after the prolific director, producer and Milwaukee native, the honor recognizes distinguished Black filmmakers “whose work embodies the artistic excellence, cultural impact and visionary spirit” Schultz was known for.
Lemmons joined me for this conversation to talk about the weekend ahead, which includes screenings of three of her standout films, and the many places her remarkable career has taken her.
2026 Michael Schultz Award schedule
- Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. — Screening ofCandyman
- Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. — Screening ofTalk to Me with director Q&A to follow
- Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. — Awards presentation, extended Q&A and screening ofEve’s Bayou
