Dee Rees
Biography
Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Dee Rees attended Florida A&M University before earning an MFA in directing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Her 2007 short film Pariah became the foundation for her acclaimed 2011 feature of the same name.
Pariah follows a young Black lesbian woman navigating sexuality, family, friendship, and self-discovery. Drawing from aspects of Rees's own coming-out experience, the film established her as an important voice in independent American cinema and brought greater visibility to Black lesbian experiences on screen.
Rees continued to explore complex stories of identity, race, gender, and history through projects including the HBO television film Bessie, the historical drama Mudbound, and the political thriller The Last Thing He Wanted. She has also directed television projects including When We Rise, Empire, and Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams. Mudbound received four Academy Award nominations, including a nomination for Rees for Best Adapted Screenplay.
BQW Impact
Dee Rees holds an important place in Black queer film history through her creation of stories that center Black women, sexuality, family, race, and self-definition. Pariah is particularly significant to BQW cultural representation because it places a young Black lesbian woman's coming-of-age experience at the center of a feature film.
Rees has also expanded the visibility of Black queer women as filmmakers and storytellers. Her work demonstrates how directing and screenwriting can create space for Black queer experiences while engaging broader questions of race, gender, history, identity, and belonging.
Notable Works
Pariah (2011)
Semi-autobiographical feature following a Black lesbian teenager as she navigates sexuality, gender expression, family, and self-discovery.
Bessie (2015)
HBO biographical film about blues singer Bessie Smith, starring Queen Latifah.
When We Rise (2017)
Television miniseries chronicling the history of LGBTQ+ rights activism in San Francisco.
Mudbound (2017)
Historical drama examining two families, racial inequality, and the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta.
The Last Thing He Wanted (2020)
Political thriller directed by Rees and adapted from Joan Didion's novel.
Learn More
Institutional biography covering her education, career, and major directing projects.
Conversation about Pariah, its creation, and its significance as a lesbian film.
Rees discusses her debut feature and the ideas behind the film.
Professional artist profile documenting her creative practice and career.
Industry interview examining Rees's filmmaking career and approach to Pariah.