Gina Prince-Bythewood is riding high on the success of “The Woman King,” her critically acclaimed, box office-topping historical epic about an all female-unit of warriors. The writer, director, and producer will receive the Filmmaker Tribute at this year’s Gotham Awards, set to take place November 28. A press release announced the news.
Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, stated, “Gina Prince-Bythewood is a visionary filmmaker and a champion of Black narratives, particularly stories that center around Black women. She has brilliantly tackled painful moments in our nation’s history, thorny philosophical debates, and love stories. From the beloved and burnished classic ‘Love & Basketball’ to the pinnacle success of this year’s ‘The Woman King,’ Gina is a true inspiration and it is a distinct honor to name her the recipient of this year’s Filmmaker Tribute.”
“The Woman King” hit theaters in September. Starring Viola Davis and Lashana Lynch, the critically acclaimed pic is set in the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. It marks Prince-Bythewood’s follow-up to 2020’s smash success “The Old Guard,” a story about immortal mercenaries led by Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne. Prince-Bythewood’s other films include”Beyond the Lights,” “Love & Basketball,” and “The Secret Life of Bees.”
It was recently announced that Prince-Bythewood will receive the ACE (American Cinema Editors) Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award.
Gotham Award nominations were announced a couple of weeks back. Charlotte Wells’ feature debut, “Aftersun,” a portrait of a pre-teen girl’s vacation with her father, is the sole woman-directed title up for Best Feature.
