Directing

Deborah Riley Draper

Known for

Directing

Credits

12 titles

Known for

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage poster
NR

An athlete, artist, and activist, Romare Bearden defied boundaries placed on Black men of his generation. He partied with James Baldwin in Paris, composed hit songs, and channeled his memories into powerful collages celebrating Black life that changed contemporary art. He challenged social injustice and broke down barriers in art, culminating in a vibrant artistic legacy that inspires and empowers artists, dancers, and musicians.

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage

2026

OnBoard poster
NR

OnBoard is a brilliant chronicle of the rise of Black women on America's boards and the evolution of board diversity from Patricia Roberts Harris in 1971 to the present day, as seen through the eyes of a group of fearless women organized during the Summer of 2020 to create change. Merline Saintil, a former Tech COO and Robin Washington, a former CFO, were well-known in the boardrooms of America. During an ordinary phone call between the two women, something extraordinary happened– the movement to create an organization to expand the opportunity and exposure of Black women who can impact America's boards. Black Women on Boards, the now global organization of 200+ members, was conceived at that moment.

OnBoard

2023

No artwork available
NR

A mother and honorary discharged army medic refuses to let a wrongful conviction become the final word on her life and ends up being pulled into the privileged but strained world of a former judge and his family.

Don't Go Gentle

—

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution poster
NR

In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles, made a statement of its own - a fashion statement. The legendary event pitting the five lions of French couture Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin with five American designers Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass created a cross-stitch of change across fashion, race, business and catwalks. When African American models Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn, Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, Barbara Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Romana Saunders and Amina Warsuma boarded the plane to Paris, they had no idea they would help change the course of fashion and pull off its biggest coup. Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution tells this story

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

2012

Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority poster
NR

"Twenty Pearls" tells a powerful story of sisterhood. In 1908, nine Black women enrolled at Howard University made one decision that would change the course of history. These college students created Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

2021

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice poster
7.0

In 1936, 18 African American athletes dubbed the "black auxiliary" by Hitler defied Nazi Aryan Supremacy and Jim Crow Racism to win hearts and medals at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. The world remembers Jesse Owens. But, Olympic Pride American Prejudice shows how all 18 are a seminal precursor to the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice

2016

Behind the camera

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage poster
NR

An athlete, artist, and activist, Romare Bearden defied boundaries placed on Black men of his generation. He partied with James Baldwin in Paris, composed hit songs, and channeled his memories into powerful collages celebrating Black life that changed contemporary art. He challenged social injustice and broke down barriers in art, culminating in a vibrant artistic legacy that inspires and empowers artists, dancers, and musicians.

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage

2026

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage poster
NR

An athlete, artist, and activist, Romare Bearden defied boundaries placed on Black men of his generation. He partied with James Baldwin in Paris, composed hit songs, and channeled his memories into powerful collages celebrating Black life that changed contemporary art. He challenged social injustice and broke down barriers in art, culminating in a vibrant artistic legacy that inspires and empowers artists, dancers, and musicians.

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage

2026

OnBoard poster
NR

OnBoard is a brilliant chronicle of the rise of Black women on America's boards and the evolution of board diversity from Patricia Roberts Harris in 1971 to the present day, as seen through the eyes of a group of fearless women organized during the Summer of 2020 to create change. Merline Saintil, a former Tech COO and Robin Washington, a former CFO, were well-known in the boardrooms of America. During an ordinary phone call between the two women, something extraordinary happened– the movement to create an organization to expand the opportunity and exposure of Black women who can impact America's boards. Black Women on Boards, the now global organization of 200+ members, was conceived at that moment.

OnBoard

2023

OnBoard poster
NR

OnBoard is a brilliant chronicle of the rise of Black women on America's boards and the evolution of board diversity from Patricia Roberts Harris in 1971 to the present day, as seen through the eyes of a group of fearless women organized during the Summer of 2020 to create change. Merline Saintil, a former Tech COO and Robin Washington, a former CFO, were well-known in the boardrooms of America. During an ordinary phone call between the two women, something extraordinary happened– the movement to create an organization to expand the opportunity and exposure of Black women who can impact America's boards. Black Women on Boards, the now global organization of 200+ members, was conceived at that moment.

OnBoard

2023

No artwork available
NR

A mother and honorary discharged army medic refuses to let a wrongful conviction become the final word on her life and ends up being pulled into the privileged but strained world of a former judge and his family.

Don't Go Gentle

—

No artwork available
NR

A mother and honorary discharged army medic refuses to let a wrongful conviction become the final word on her life and ends up being pulled into the privileged but strained world of a former judge and his family.

Don't Go Gentle

—

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution poster
NR

In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles, made a statement of its own - a fashion statement. The legendary event pitting the five lions of French couture Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin with five American designers Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass created a cross-stitch of change across fashion, race, business and catwalks. When African American models Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn, Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, Barbara Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Romana Saunders and Amina Warsuma boarded the plane to Paris, they had no idea they would help change the course of fashion and pull off its biggest coup. Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution tells this story

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

2012

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution poster
NR

In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles, made a statement of its own - a fashion statement. The legendary event pitting the five lions of French couture Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin with five American designers Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass created a cross-stitch of change across fashion, race, business and catwalks. When African American models Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn, Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, Barbara Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Romana Saunders and Amina Warsuma boarded the plane to Paris, they had no idea they would help change the course of fashion and pull off its biggest coup. Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution tells this story

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

2012

Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority poster
NR

"Twenty Pearls" tells a powerful story of sisterhood. In 1908, nine Black women enrolled at Howard University made one decision that would change the course of history. These college students created Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

2021

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice poster
7.0

In 1936, 18 African American athletes dubbed the "black auxiliary" by Hitler defied Nazi Aryan Supremacy and Jim Crow Racism to win hearts and medals at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. The world remembers Jesse Owens. But, Olympic Pride American Prejudice shows how all 18 are a seminal precursor to the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice

2016

13 Days in Ferguson poster
NR

This powerful documentary takes a deep dive into the protests, riots, and the aftermath following the tragic police shooting of a young Black man in 2014. The events in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked a national conversation about race, policing, and justice, making this film timely and significant.

13 Days in Ferguson

2024

Ratified poster
NR

Ratified is a feature documentary about the 100-year struggle for constitutional gender equality, an inspiring story of a multi-racial, multi-generational, bi-partisan effort to make Virginia the 38th and final state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Ratified

2024