Neema Barnette

Directing

Neema Barnette

Born 1949-12-14 · New York City, New York, USA

Neema Barnette (born December 14, 1949) is an American film director. She was the first African-American woman to direct a primetime sitcom and also the first African-American woman to get a three-picture deal with Sony. Barnette has won several awards, including a Peabody Award, an Emmy Award, a Sundance Film Festival Award, the Sojourner Truth Award at Cannes, and two NAACP Image Awards. She has directed over fifty hours of network television, ten made-for-TV movies, and four feature films. Barnette also serves as executive producer for Black History Mini Docs, a series of videos that are ninety seconds or less featuring the stories of notable African-Americans throughout history. Her work primarily focuses on challenging the stereotypes of Black people that are depicted in entertainment. In 1990, she founded Harlem Girl Productions. She is an active American Film Institute alumni and was selected as one of ten artists to judge its 2002 Best Film Awards. Additionally, she is part of the Directors Guild of America's African American Steering Committee, a member of the Black Filmmakers Foundation, and serves as an annual judge for the Pan African Film Festival. She occasionally teaches various film courses, both virtually and at universities in California. Together with her husband, Barnette also owns Reel Rebel Productions and runs Live Theatre Gang, a theater and performance company for young adults.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Civil Brand poster
7.0

Forced to work under slave-like conditions in a "prison for profit" program, the inmates of a mostly-African-American female prison, Whitehead Correctional, try to take over the institution.

Civil Brand

2002

Civil Brand poster
7.0

Forced to work under slave-like conditions in a "prison for profit" program, the inmates of a mostly-African-American female prison, Whitehead Correctional, try to take over the institution.

Civil Brand

2002

Super Sweet 16: The Movie poster
5.6

Two best friends try to outdo each other as their respective sweet 16 parties approach.

Super Sweet 16: The Movie

2007

All You've Got poster
6.2

Three friends' love for volleyball is tested to the limit when their school burns to the ground and they are forced to join a rival school in order to win the national championship.

All You've Got

2006

Spirit Lost poster
3.0

John Chapman and his beautiful wife Willie have just moved into a seaside village on the North Carolina coast. But they quickly discover that their quaint new house already has a long-standing tenant. Built 200 years ago by a philandering sea captain, the house is residence to the spirit of Arabella, an abandoned lover with an insatiable, centuries-old lust and a viciously jealous nature. Spirit Lost welcomes you to the dark side of Ghost - an erotic tale of the supernatural.

Spirit Lost

1997

Sky Captain poster
8.0

Like many Black and Latino teenagers in his neighborhood, Gerald Hart finds adventure and relief from the pressure of poverty and disappointment by leaping from the roof of an abandoned building known throughout his community as the “Club House”. There, in spite of obvious dangers, he imitates Superman and finds happiness.. but the unhappy side of Gerald is gaining ground. He contemplates suicide and, thereby, encounters a strange spiritual phenomenon. “Sky Captain” showcases Reggae, Rap music and Breakdance. “Sky Captain” is original drama Written and Directed by Neema Barnette. Based on the impact of her observations as a former New York City school teacher.

Sky Captain

1985

Sky Captain poster
8.0

Like many Black and Latino teenagers in his neighborhood, Gerald Hart finds adventure and relief from the pressure of poverty and disappointment by leaping from the roof of an abandoned building known throughout his community as the “Club House”. There, in spite of obvious dangers, he imitates Superman and finds happiness.. but the unhappy side of Gerald is gaining ground. He contemplates suicide and, thereby, encounters a strange spiritual phenomenon. “Sky Captain” showcases Reggae, Rap music and Breakdance. “Sky Captain” is original drama Written and Directed by Neema Barnette. Based on the impact of her observations as a former New York City school teacher.

Sky Captain

1985

Scattered Dreams poster
5.5

It is about a loving couple which trying to make a living in 1951 Florida. When they are arrested, for a crime they didn't commit. The pair are given long jail terms and ripped from their children, so they begin a stunning fight for justice that has them facing the ruthless sheriff responsible for their incarceration.

Scattered Dreams

1993

Zora is My Name! poster
10.0

A celebration of the life of Zora Neale Hurston, who was born at the turn of the 20th Century and grew to be an important voice with her written portrayals of Black American life in the rural south of the 1930's and 40's, and the stories, songs and folklore that were her heritage and inspiration.

Zora is My Name!

1990

No artwork available
8.0

The true story of Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers (Charlayne Woodard) and her fight to combat Graves disease while becoming the fastest female sprinter in the world. From a setback in Seoul that nearly costs her the use of her feet to her excruciating battle with the crippling illness to victories in Barcelona and Atlanta, Gail proves she's got the heart of a champion in this inspirational original biography. Louis Gossett Jr., Jeffrey Sams, Tina Lifford, Robert Guillaume and Paula Kelly costar.

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

1996

No artwork available
NR

A troubled young man on the run from the law sets forth to help out three old sanctified spirits and a beautiful young woman to restore First Greater Saint New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church to its former glory and place in the heart of the black community.

Heaven Ain't Hard to Find

2010

Close to Danger poster
7.0

A college student (Rinna) typing a manuscript for a novelist (Estes) begins to realize he's planning to carry out the murder mystery in real life.

Close to Danger

1997

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day poster
4.1

The Ames' seem to have built the perfect life until their six year old daughter is kidnapped; over the course of seven days they begin to uncover secrets about their past that could rip their marriage and lives apart.

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day

2012

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day poster
4.1

The Ames' seem to have built the perfect life until their six year old daughter is kidnapped; over the course of seven days they begin to uncover secrets about their past that could rip their marriage and lives apart.

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day

2012

Sin and Redemption poster
6.0

Taking a short-cut home from work, high-schooler Billie Simms is raped. Not only does the incident cause an unwanted pregnancy that damages her college expectations, but it also outrages her smugly religious father who pressures her to give up the baby.

Sin and Redemption

1994

Better Off Dead. poster
4.8

A lawyer fights a losing battle against the courts to overturn the death sentence for a convicted female robber/murderer despite demands from the woman that her death sentence be carried out.

Better Off Dead.

1993

Different Worlds: An Interracial Love Story poster
5.5

Two teens from racially different background begin a relationship after witnessing the murder of a mutual friend.

Different Worlds: An Interracial Love Story

1992

Different Worlds: An Interracial Love Story poster
5.5

Two teens from racially different background begin a relationship after witnessing the murder of a mutual friend.

Different Worlds: An Interracial Love Story

1992