DIRECTOR KASI LEMMONS IS HONORED DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

Award-winning director Kasi Lemmons was honored by GreenLight Women in Los Angeles during Black History Month for her upcoming feature film, Harriet, the story of aboliGonist and poliGcal acGvist Harriet Tubman. Focus Features is releasing the film later this year. It was a perfect Ge-in with the 2019 Black History Month theme of “Black MigraGons and Social Changes”.

The celebraGon was an elegant champagne brunch held on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at the London Hotel West Hollywood in Beverly Hills. About 50 guests, including aRorney Nina Shaw, etc enjoyed eggs benedict and mimosas before seRling in for the discussion about Lemmons’ experience making Harriet and the American experience of those with African-American descendants who migrated from the Deep South to an industrialized North.

Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped and, during the American Civil War, led others to freedom in the northern states through a network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

The panel was moderated by Kimberly Ogletree, Chair of the Greenlight Women’s Diversity AcGon Group. “We are very proud to honor Kasi Lemmons,” said Ogletree. “She is a leader who shines a light on our mission to uncover unconscious bias against women and women of color in today’s society. Kasi Lemmons is an inspiraGon and a beacon light for all.”

An actor and a director, Lemmons has appeared in such acclaimed films as Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs and Spike Lee’s School Daze. Her first feature film as a writer-director, Eve’s Bayou, became the highest grossing independent film of 1997. It won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and First-Time Director Award from the NaGonal Board of Review.

In December 2018, Lemmons received one of the film industry’s highest honors when Eve’s Bayou was selected as one of 25 American films chosen annually for inducGon into the NaGonal Film Registry of the Library of Congress because of their cultural, historic and aestheGc importance to the naGon’s film heritage.

Other Gtles chosen for the 30th anniversary of the Film Registry include Brokeback Mountain, Jurassic Park and My Fair Lady. Lemmons is only the third African-American woman to be inducted into the Registry.