Biography
Charles Burnett is an American film director, producer, writer, editor, actor, photographer, and cinematographer. His most popular films include Killer of Sheep (1977), My Brother’s Wedding (1983), To Sleep with Anger (1990), The Glass Shield (1994), and Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation (2007). He has been involved in other types of motion pictures including shorts, documentaries, and a TV series. Considered by the Chicago Tribune as “one of America’s very best filmmakers”, and by the New York Times as “the nation’s least-known great filmmaker and most gifted black director”, Charles Burnett has had a long and diverse filmmaking career.
Directed 23
2020s
- 2020
Cinetracts '20
Director
2010s
- 2018
The Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution
Director
- 2010
42 One Dream Rush
Director
2000s
- 2009
Relative Stranger
Director
- 2007
Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation
Director
- 2003
Warming by the Devil's Fire
Director
The Blues
Director
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Director
- 2000
Finding Buck McHenry
Director
1990s
- 1999
The Annihilation of Fish
Director
Selma, Lord, Selma
Director
- 1998
The Wedding
Director
- 1997
The Final Insult
Director
- 1996
Nightjohn
Director
- 1995
When It Rains
Director
- 1994
- 1991
America Becoming
Director
- 1990
To Sleep with Anger
Director
1980s
- 1985
My Brother's Wedding
Director
1970s
- 1978
Killer of Sheep
Director
- 1973
The Horse
Director
1960s
- 1969
Several Friends
Director
Wrote 15
2020s
- 2020
Cinetracts '20
Story
2000s
- 2007
Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation
Writer
- 2003
Warming by the Devil's Fire
Writer
The Blues
Writer
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Writer
1990s
- 1997
The Final Insult
Writer
- 1995
When It Rains
Writer
- 1994
- 1991
America Becoming
Writer
- 1990
To Sleep with Anger
Writer
1980s
- 1985
My Brother's Wedding
Writer
- 1984
Bless Their Little Hearts
Writer
1970s
- 1978
Killer of Sheep
Writer
- 1973
The Horse
Writer
1960s
- 1969
Several Friends
Writer
Camera 14
1990s
- 1997
The Final Insult
Director of Photography
- 1993
Sa-I-Gu
Camera Operator
- 1991
America Becoming
Director of Photography
1980s
- 1989
Guests of Hotel Astoria
Director of Photography
From Rags to Reality
Director of Photography
- 1986
Crocodile Conspiracy
Director of Photography
- 1985
My Brother's Wedding
Director of Photography
- 1984
Bless Their Little Hearts
Director of Photography
- 1982
A Different Image
Director of Photography
- 1980
The Pocketbook
Director of Photography
1970s
- 1979
Bush Mama
Director of Photography
Your Children Come Back to You
Director of Photography
- 1978
Killer of Sheep
Director of Photography
- 1975
Welcome Home Brother Charles
Camera Operator
Edited 5
1980s
- 1982
Illusions
Editor
1970s
- 1979
Your Children Come Back to You
Editor
- 1978
Killer of Sheep
Editor
- 1973
The Horse
Editor
1960s
- 1969
Several Friends
Editor
Produced 4
1980s
- 1985
My Brother's Wedding
Producer
1970s
- 1978
Killer of Sheep
Producer
- 1973
The Horse
Producer
1960s
- 1969
Several Friends
Producer
Acted in 1
2000s
- 2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Lucinda
Appearances9
2020s
- 2024
- 2022
Charles Burnett : Le rebelle silencieux de Watts
Self
2010s
- 2019
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Self
- 2017
We Blew It
Self
- 2016
Spirits of Rebellion: Black Cinema at UCLA
Himself
- 2014
Dreams Are Colder Than Death
Self
- 2011
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self · 1 episode
These Amazing Shadows
Self