Sundance 2023 Women Directors: Meet Michèle Stephenson – “Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project”

Michèle Stephenson is a filmmaker, artist, and author who pulls from her Haitian and Panamanian roots to think radically about storytelling and disrupt the imaginary in non-fiction spaces. She tells emotionally-driven personal stories of resistance and identity that center the lived experiences of communities of color in the Americas and the Black diaspora. Grounded in a Black Atlantic lens, Stephenson tells stories that intentionally reimagine and provoke thought about how we engage with and dismantle the internalized impact of systemic oppression. Her feature documentary “American Promise” was nominated for three Emmys and won the Jury Prize at Sundance. Her work “Stateless” was nominated for a Canadian Academy Award for