{"id":3767,"date":"2019-02-04T18:44:46","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T18:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/?p=3767"},"modified":"2019-02-19T22:00:09","modified_gmt":"2019-02-19T22:00:09","slug":"black-history-now-chinonye-chukwu-becomes-the-first-black-woman-to-win-biggest-prize-at-sundance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/black-history-now-chinonye-chukwu-becomes-the-first-black-woman-to-win-biggest-prize-at-sundance\/","title":{"rendered":"#BlackHistoryNow: Chinonye Chukwu Becomes The First Black Woman To Win Biggest Prize At Sundance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In honor of Black History Month, we\u2019re bringing attention to the Black trailblazers who are making history today. <\/b><\/p>\n

Most recently, Nigerian-American filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu took home the Grand Jury Prize for her drama film <\/b>Clemency<\/i><\/b> at Sundance, which makes her the first Black woman to ever win the festival\u2019s most prestigious honor. <\/b>Clemency<\/i><\/b> marks Chukwu\u2019s second feature film, following after her 2012 drama <\/b>alaskaLand<\/i><\/b>. <\/b><\/p>\n

The critically acclaimed film stars Alfre Woodard, who plays a warden at a maximum security prison, struggling with the emotional weight of carrying out death row executions for years. \u201cAs she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill,\u201d reads <\/b>Clemency\u2019s <\/i><\/b>official synopsis. <\/b><\/p>\n

Chukwu, who also penned the storyline for the film, intends on raising awareness to the issues and controversies surrounding mass incarceration and the death penalty. <\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen everybody was saying \u2018No\u2019 this story does not have an audience, you, Sundance and the people who have seen this film have proven that there is an audience for this film, and I thank you,\u201d Chukwu said in a statement to <\/b>Deadline<\/b><\/a>. <\/b><\/p>\n

She added, \u201cI wrote this because I wanted audiences, I wanted us, I wanted myself to connect with the ecosystem of humanity\u2019s connected to incarceration, so we as a society can stop defining people by their worst possible acts, that we can end mass incarceration, and dismantle the mass prison industrial complex, and root our societies in true justice and mercy and freedom, which is all tied to our joy inside, that nobody can ever incarcerate or execute.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

The Award-winning filmmaker joins a list of essential directors who have previously won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, including Ryan Coogler, Desiree Akhavan, and Damien Chazelle. <\/b><\/p>\n

For future projects, Chukwu has\u00a0<\/b>announced<\/b><\/a> that she will be directing a drama based on the life Elaine Brown, the only female leader of the Black Panther Party. \u201cI am beyond thrilled and deeply honored to be bringing Elaine Brown\u2019s story to the screen. Power to the people,\u201d she wrote on <\/b>Twitter<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Clemency<\/em> stars Richard Schiff, Alfre Woodard, Danielle Brooks, Aldis Hodge, Wendell Pierce, and Richard Gunn. No release date has been set, as Clemency<\/em> is currently seeking U.S. distribution.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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