Nia DaCosta: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=OctoberAugust 20212024}}

| name = Nia DaCosta

| image = Nia =DaCosta.png

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|8}}

| birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], U.S.

| education = {{unbulleted list|

| occupation = {{Flatlist|

| years_active = 2009–present

'''Nia DaCosta''' (born November 8, 1989) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. She made her feature film debut as a writer and director for her crime thriller film ''[[Little Woods]]'' (2018). NiaDaCosta garnered wide acclaim for winning the [[Nora Ephron Prize]] for Female Filmmakers at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]].<ref name=":0"/> DaCosta became the first black female director to debut at No. 1 at the U.S. box office, for the weekend opening of her horror mystery film ''[[Candyman (2021 film)|Candyman]]'' (2021).<ref name="CandymanNo1">{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=‘Candyman’: Nia DaCosta Becomes First Black Female Filmmaker To Open Pic To No. 1 At Domestic B.O. |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/candyman-nia-dacosta-box-office-record-first-black-female-filmmaker-1234824013/ |website=Deadline |access-date=5 July 5, 2024}}</ref> She was the first black woman to direct a [[Marvel Comics]] film, ''[[The Marvels]]'' (2023),<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/captain-marvel-2-nia-dacosta-director-1234726975/|title='Captain Marvel 2' Lands Nia DaCosta as Director|first1=Adam B.|last1=Vary|date=August 6, 2020|work=Variety|access-date=August 7, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806030325/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/captain-marvel-2-nia-dacosta-director-1234726975/|url-status=live}}</ref> which set records for being the largest [[box-office bomb]] of all time andbecame the highest-grossing film directed by a black woman but also a [[box-office bomb]].<ref name="Marvels ForbesRecords">{{Cite magazine |last=Murray |first=Conor |date=December 4, 2023 |title=All The Records (Good And Bad) Set By 'The Marvels,' Marvel's Lowest-Grossing Film |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/04/all-the-records-good-and-bad-set-by-the-marvels-marvels-lowest-grossing-film/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205002223/https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/04/all-the-records-good-and-bad-set-by-the-marvels-marvels-lowest-grossing-film/ |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |access-date=December 12, 2023 |magazine=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref name="Marvels Bomb" /> She is currently in production on an adaptation of ''[[Hedda Gabler]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://audioboom.com/posts/8277466-trance-with-nia-dacosta/|title=' Trance with Nia DaCosta'|date=April 9, 2023|website=Audioboom|access-date=April 9, 2023|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409140839/https://audioboom.com/posts/8277466-trance-with-nia-dacosta/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Nia DaCosta was born on November 8, 1989, in [[Brooklyn]] and raised in [[Harlem]]. Her mother, Charmaine DaCosta, emigrated from [[Jamaica]] and was a founding vocalist of the American musical group [[Worl-A-Girl]].<ref name="mom">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/26/candyman-director-nia-dacosta-this-should-be-happening-for-more-people-like-me|title=Grad to Hollywood Director on the Rise|last=Rose|first=Steve|date=August 26, 2021|website=Guardian|access-date=November 14, 2023|archive-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826141743/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/26/candyman-director-nia-dacosta-this-should-be-happening-for-more-people-like-me|url-status=live}}</ref> DaCosta's original aspiration was to become a poet. When she was 16 years old, DaCosta took an A.P. English class, where she was exposed to the work of [[Joseph Conrad]] upon reading his book ''[[Heart of Darkness]]''. DaCosta became obsessed with films after watching ''[[Apocalypse Now]]'', which led her to study cinema from the [[New Hollywood]] era, finding inspiration in directors such as [[Francis Ford Coppola]], [[Sidney Lumet]], [[Martin Scorsese]], and [[Steven Spielberg]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/little-woods-nia-dacosta-tessa-thompson-neon-120205946s2s/|title=How Nia DaCosta Went From Wide-Eyed NYU Film Grad to Hollywood Director on the Rise|last=Obenson|first=Tambay|date=April 18, 2019|website=IndieWire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008033434/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/little-woods-nia-dacosta-tessa-thompson-neon-1202059462/|archive-date=October 8, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Citing Scorsese in particular as her primary influence, DaCosta enrolled at the [[New York University Tisch School of the Arts]] before graduating in 2011.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-August 26, 2021|title=Candyman director Nia DaCosta: 'It is shocking the way people have talked to me'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/26/candyman-director-nia-dacosta-this-should-be-happening-for-more-people-like-me|access-date=December 6, 2021-12-06|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=December 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206075205/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/26/candyman-director-nia-dacosta-this-should-be-happening-for-more-people-like-me|url-status=live}}</ref> There, she met Scorsese while working as a television production assistant.<ref name=":0"/> She received her graduate degree in [[London]] from the [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=High Profile Alumni |url=https://www.cssd.ac.uk/alumni/our-alumni/high-profile-alumni |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |language=en |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015084534/http://www.cssd.ac.uk/alumni/distinguished-alumni?page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After finishing school, DaCosta began working as a television production assistant, where she worked with filmmakers such as [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]], and [[Steven Soderbergh]].<ref name=":0"/> DaCosta worked as a crew member on productions like ''Shark Loves the Amazon'' (2011), ''I Love the 1880s'' (2012) and ''[[Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life|Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-September 19, 2023 |title=Nia DaCosta, Barrier-Breaking Director of The Marvels, on Navigating the Blockbuster Machine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/09/nia-dacosta-on-navigating-the-blockbuster-machine |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107005444/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/09/nia-dacosta-on-navigating-the-blockbuster-machine |url-status=live }}</ref> After working as a crew member on sets, she began writing short films like ''Livelihood'' (2014) and ''Celeste'' (2014).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=2020-212020–21 Lecture Series : Nia DaCosta |url=https://www.pratt.edu/events/2020-21-lecture-series-nia-dacosta/ |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=Pratt Institute |language=en-us |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106202408/https://www.pratt.edu/events/2020-21-lecture-series-nia-dacosta/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lexi Kirsch -– Celeste |url=https://lexikirsch.com/celeste-short-film |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=lexikirsch.com |language=en-US |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106200906/https://lexikirsch.com/celeste-short-film |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon DaCosta wrote the script for ''[[Little Woods]].'' It was one of the 12 projects chosen for the 2015 [[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]] Screenwriters and Directors Labs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/sundance-institute-announces-12-projects-for-2015-january-screenwriters-lab|title=Sundance Institute Announces 12 Projects for 2015 January Screenwriters Lab|last=|first=|date=September 16, 2014|website=Sundance Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023214359/https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/sundance-institute-announces-12-projects-for-2015-january-screenwriters-lab|archive-date=October 23, 2019|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> There she became friends with [[Tessa Thompson]], who was later cast in the role of Ollie.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-April 19, 2019|title=Tessa Thompson and 'Little Woods' director Nia DaCosta are breaking down Hollywood barriers|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-little-woods-tessa-thompson-nia-dacosta-20190419-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2021-12-06|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=December 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206050439/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-little-woods-tessa-thompson-nia-dacosta-20190419-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She funded a short film version of what would eventually become her first feature film released through [[Neon (company)|Neon]] and [[Kickstarter]] with the help of 72 backers, who eventually raised $5,100.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1451542035/little-woods-by-nia-dacosta|title=Little Woods by Nia DaCosta|last=DaCosta|first=Nia|date=December 17, 2014|website=Kickstarter|access-date=}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=This is a blacklisted link.|date=November 2023}} After finishing ''Little Woods'', DaCosta directed two episodes of the third season of the crime-drama ''[[Top Boy]]''.<ref name=":2" /> DaCosta became a co-creator, alongside [[Aron Eli Coleite]], when she worked on an 8-episode [[web series]] called ''Ghost Tape'' (2020).<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2020-12-06 |title=Ghost Tape — QCODE |url=https://qcodemedia.com/ghost-tape |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=QCODE Media |language=en-US}}</ref> Afterwards DaCosta fulfilled a dream of hers when she began working with [[Jordan Peele]], who later became her mentor, while working on the [[Candyman (2021 film)|Candyman]] (2021) film.<ref name="auto" />

The film premiered at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]] in 2018, and was awarded the [[Nora Ephron]] award for "excellence in storytelling by a female writer or director".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tribeca-announces-nora-ephron-award-440516|title=Tribeca Announces Nora Ephron Award|last=Schillaci|first=Sophie|date=April 16, 2013|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023214358/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tribeca-announces-nora-ephron-award-440516|archive-date=October 23, 2019|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's distribution rights were bought by [[Neon (distributor)|Neon]] and was released in theaters in the [[United States]] on April 19, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/little-woods-tessa-thompson-lily-james-nia-dacosta-neon-1202410650/|title=Neon Acquires Nia DaCosta's 'Little Woods' After Tribeca Bow|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=June 14, 2018|website=Deadline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024035645/https://deadline.com/2018/06/little-woods-tessa-thompson-lily-james-nia-dacosta-neon-1202410650/|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Little Woods'' (2018) production took place in the winter of 2017 and 2018. They shot the film in [[North Dakota]] and [[Austin, Texas]]. Filming occurred over January and February when the weather was 'extreme.' DaCosta further remarked on the production aspect of the film, "It's very difficult for a woman to just pop up in the studio system. But I think the same systemic issues that affect how much work women get to make is also inside the indie space. While there are more women working, we definitely get less money".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-April 19, 2019 |title=Tessa Thompson and ‘Little Woods’ director Nia DaCosta are breaking down Hollywood barriers |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-little-woods-tessa-thompson-nia-dacosta-20190419-story.html |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206050439/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-little-woods-tessa-thompson-nia-dacosta-20190419-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> DaCosta cites [[Debra Granik]]'s ''[[Winter's Bone]]'' and [[Courtney Hunt]]'s ''[[Frozen River]]'' were sources of inspiration for DaCosta's script.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filminquiry.com/tribeca-review-little-woods/|title=Tribeca Review & Interviews: LITTLE WOODS: A Confident Debut|last=Strouse|first=Kristy|date=May 4, 2018|website=Film Inquiry|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024035658/https://www.filminquiry.com/tribeca-review-little-woods/|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2018 interview, DaCosta stated the importance to her of telling stories of "women who are active" rather than passive figures in movies led by men.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coffin |first1=Lesley |title=Nora Ephron winner Nia DaCosta talks 'Little Woods' |url=http://ff2media.com/blog/2018/04/29/nora-ephron-winner-nia-dacosta-on-little-woods/ |website=FF2 Media |publisher= |date=April 29, 2018 |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903094327/https://ff2media.com/blog/2018/04/29/nora-ephron-winner-nia-dacosta-on-little-woods/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with Inverse, she explained her inspiration for the film, "I need to explore this, and I want to tell a story about this because it's important."<ref>{{Cite web |title='The Marvels' director Nia DaCosta, interviewed by Roxane Gay |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/nia-dacosta-roxane-gay-interview |access-date=2023-04-April 25, 2023 |website=Inverse |date=October 19, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425170337/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/nia-dacosta-roxane-gay-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

DaCosta was chosen to helm what was described as a [[Spiritual successor|spiritual sequel]] to the original [[Candyman (1992 film)|''Candyman'']] (1992) in 2018. The film returned to the [[Chicago]] neighborhood of the first film.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/candyman-reboot-nia-dacosta-jordan-peele-1203037897/|title=Jordan Peele-Produced 'Candyman' Reboot Taps Director Nia DaCosta|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=November 27, 2018|website=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128000327/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/candyman-reboot-nia-dacosta-jordan-peele-1203037897/|archive-date=November 28, 2018|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was produced by [[Jordan Peele]] through [[Monkeypaw Productions]], with Peele citing the original as "a landmark film for Black representation in the horror genre".<ref name=":1" /> DaCosta explains that for ''Candyman'', it was much easier to tell the story because the people to experience these issues are the ones sharing the story.<ref>{{Citation |title=Nia DaCosta: Crafting Cinematic Tension |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USNQks2BJ5w |access-date=2023-04-April 25, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425164841/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USNQks2BJ5w |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Yahya Abdul-Mateen II]] starred in the film, with [[Tony Todd]] returning as the film's [[Candyman (character)|titular villain]], and [[Teyonah Parris]], and [[Nathan Stewart-Jarrett]] co-starring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/candyman-yahya-abdul-mateen-tony-todd/|title='Candyman' Director Confirms Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Not Replacing Tony Todd|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|date=March 25, 2019|website=Collider|language=en-US|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010080940/https://collider.com/candyman-yahya-abdul-mateen-tony-todd/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=April 3, 2020-04-03 |title=Jordan Peele-Produced ‘Candyman’ Heads To Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/candyman-release-date-change-jordan-peele-opening-september-1202900130/ |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403190021/https://deadline.com/2020/04/candyman-release-date-change-jordan-peele-opening-september-1202900130/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Production began in the spring of 2019, and wrapped the following September.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10156310586906968&id=45586511967&substory_index=0|title=CANDYMAN|last=Abdul-Mateen|first=Yahya II|date=September 25, 2019|website=Facebook|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411051935/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10156310586906968&id=45586511967&substory_index=0|archive-date=April 11, 2023|access-date=|url-status=live}}</ref> The original teaser trailer was released on June 17, 2021. [[Universal Pictures]] released the film theatrically on August 27, 2021, and received positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=William |title=Nia DaCosta's Candyman delayed until August 27, 2021 |date=September 12, 2020 |url=https://news.avclub.com/nia-dacostas-candyman-delayed-until-2021-1845036132 |website=A.V. Club |access-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022085432/https://news.avclub.com/nia-dacostas-candyman-delayed-until-2021-1845036132 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/candyman-release-date-delayed-2021-1234733147/|title=Nia DaCosta's 'Candyman' Release Delayed to 2021|website=Variety|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|date=September 11, 2020|access-date=September 11, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929171806/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/candyman-release-date-delayed-2021-1234733147/|url-status=live}}</ref> DacostaDaCosta was intent on not depicting the everyday horrors committed against black people. Her priority was to inflict psychological terror and steer clear of current event depictions. ''Candyman'' (2021) was set to be released during the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Steve |last2date=@steverose7August 26, |date=2021-08-26 |title=Candyman director Nia DaCosta: ‘It is shocking the way people have talked to me’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/26/candyman-director-nia-dacosta-this-should-be-happening-for-more-people-like-me |access-date=January 6, 2024-01-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826141743/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/26/candyman-director-nia-dacosta-this-should-be-happening-for-more-people-like-me |url-status=live }}</ref> While working on the ''Top Boy'' series in [[London]] she learned that she was on Peele's shortlist to direct the film, and she became the first African-American female director to have a film debut at the top of the box office.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nia DaCosta becomes first Black woman director to debut film at top of box office with "Candyman"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nia-dacosta-candyman-first-black-woman-director-debut-film-top-box-office/|access-date=December 6, 2021-12-06|website=CBS News|date=September 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=December 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206050439/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nia-dacosta-candyman-first-black-woman-director-debut-film-top-box-office/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2020, DaCosta was hired to direct the upcoming [[Marvel Studios]] film ''[[The Marvels]]'', the sequel to ''[[Captain Marvel (film)|Captain Marvel]]'' (2019),<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-captain-marvel-2-director-nia-dacosta-opens-up-new-possibilities-1306313|title=The New Possibilities for 'Captain Marvel 2'|first=Richard|last=Newby|date=August 6, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 7, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807171452/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-captain-marvel-2-director-nia-dacosta-opens-up-new-possibilities-1306313|url-status=live}}</ref> after having initially approached them with a ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' / ''[[X-Men]]'' crossover movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/marvels-nia-dacosta-fantastic-4-xmen-crossover-pitch/|title=The Marvels Director First Pitched A Fantastic 4 & X-Men Crossover|website=Screen Rant|last=Allen|first=Sian|date=September 14, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2021|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914165652/https://screenrant.com/marvels-nia-dacosta-fantastic-4-xmen-crossover-pitch/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was released on November 10, 2023.<ref name="2022DisneyDates">{{cite news |last=Couch |first=Adam |title='Free Guy', 'Thor 4' and 'Lightyear' Get Release Dates Amid New Disney Plan |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/free-guy-thor-4-and-lightyear-get-release-dates-amid-new-disney-plan |date=December 11, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230135342/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/free-guy-thor-4-and-lightyear-get-release-dates-amid-new-disney-plan |url-status=live }}</ref> She is the fourth woman to direct a Marvel film behind [[Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck|Anna Boden]], [[Cate Shortland]], and [[Chloé Zhao]]. She is the youngest director and first African American woman to have directed a Marvel film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2020-08-06 |title=Nia DaCosta Will Become First-Ever Black Woman to Direct a Marvel Movie |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/news/nia-dacosta-becomes-first-ever-black-woman-to-direct-marvel-movie.html |access-date=2023-04-April 25, 2023 |website=Okayplayer |language=en-US |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429191911/https://www.okayplayer.com/news/nia-dacosta-becomes-first-ever-black-woman-to-direct-marvel-movie.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film debuted to $46.1 &nbsp;million, topping the box office and marking the best opening figure ever for a black female director, but also marked the lowest opening weekend total ever for an [[Marvel Cinematic Universe|MCU]] film.<ref name="D'Alessandro-opening">{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=November 11, 2023 |title='The Marvels' Meltdown: Disney MCU Seeing Lowest B.O. Opening Ever At $47M+ — What Went Wrong |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/box-office-the-marvels-1235599363/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111020430/https://deadline.com/2023/11/box-office-the-marvels-1235599363/ |archive-date=November 11, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |quote=The Marvels scored the best opening for a movie by a Black female director, the title helmed by Nia DaCosta.}}</ref><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Barsanti |first=Sam |date=November 12, 2023 |title=The Marvels opens at the top of the weekend box office |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-marvels-opens-at-the-top-of-the-weekend-box-office-1851015677 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113010035/https://www.avclub.com/the-marvels-opens-at-the-top-of-the-weekend-box-office-1851015677 |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=November 13, 2023 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en}}</ref> It is the first [[box-office bomb]] and the lowest-grossing film of the MCU franchise,<ref name="Marvels Bomb">Attributed to multiple references:

DaCosta was the first black female director to debut a film at number one at the American box office, for ''Candyman''.<ref name="CandymanNo1" /> Her first film, ''Little Woods,'' received the [[Nora Ephron Prize]] at the [[Tribeca Festival|Tribeca Film Festival]] for "excellence in storytelling by a female writer or director."<ref name=":0" /> The film also won Best Narrative Feature and Best Director at the [[Fargo Film Festival]] 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-March 19, 2019 |title=Fargo Film Festival kicks off with full slate of screenings |url=https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/fargo-film-festival-kicks-off-with-full-slate-of-screenings |access-date=2023-01-January 26, 2023 |website=InForum |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126141348/https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/fargo-film-festival-kicks-off-with-full-slate-of-screenings |url-status=live }}</ref> She also received nominations for her film ''Candyman'' for "Most Anticipated Film for the Rest of 2021" at the [[Hollywood Critics Association|2021 Hollywood Critics Association]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The 2021 Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Midseason Awards Nominations |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-hollywood-critics-association-hca-midseason-awards-nominations/ |access-date=December 6, 2021-12-06 |website=Next Best Picture |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715191644/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-hollywood-critics-association-hca-midseason-awards-nominations |url-status=live }}</ref> and won the awards for "Directors to Watch", and "Best Horror Film" respectively.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Oganesyan |first=Natalie |date=2021-02-February 27, 2021 |title=Variety's 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards Delves into Art of Moviemaking |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/varietys-10-directors-to-watch-creative-impact-awards-1234916853/ |access-date=December 6, 2021-12-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206050438/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/varietys-10-directors-to-watch-creative-impact-awards-1234916853/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=The 2021 Sunset Circle Awards (SCA) Winners |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-sunset-circle-awards-sca-winners/ |access-date=December 6, 2021-12-06 |website=Next Best Picture |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002153439/https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-sunset-circle-awards-sca-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With her directorial work in ''Candyman'', DaCosta received her first nomination at the [[53rd NAACP Image Awards]] for [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Angelique|date=2022-01-January 18, 2022|title=NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Jennifer Hudson, Lil Nas X, H.E.R., 'The Harder They Fall,' 'Insecure' Lead|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/naacp-image-award-nominations-1235155877/|access-date=February 8, 2022-02-08|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en-US|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118181000/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/naacp-image-award-nominations-1235155877/|url-status=live}}</ref> and at the [[Black Reel Awards of 2022|Black Reel and Awards]] for [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Director|Outstanding Director]] and [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original|Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original.]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fraley|first=Jason|date=2021-12-December 16, 2021|title='The Harder They Fall' leads Black Reel Awards with record 20 nominations|url=https://wtop.com/entertainment/2021/12/the-harder-they-fall-leads-black-reel-awards-with-record-20-nominations/|access-date=February 8, 2022-02-08|website=WTOP News|language=en|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307084123/https://wtop.com/entertainment/2021/12/the-harder-they-fall-leads-black-reel-awards-with-record-20-nominations/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|rowspan="2"|TBA

|''{{pending film|[[Hedda (upcoming film)|Hedda]]''}}

* ''[[Avengers: Quantum Encounter]]'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Libbey |first=Dirk |date=July 1, 2022-07-01 |title='The Marvels' Director Actually Teamed Up With Brie Larson For A Disney Project Ahead Of Her MCU Debut |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/the-marvels-director-actually-teamed-up-with-brie-larson-for-a-disney-project-ahead-of-her-mcu-debut |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=CinemaBlend |language=en |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112224647/https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/the-marvels-director-actually-teamed-up-with-brie-larson-for-a-disney-project-ahead-of-her-mcu-debut |url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{Official website|http://www.niadacosta.com/}}

* {{IMDb name|id=4804442}}

[[Category:21st-century American people of Jamaican descentscreenwriters]]

[[Category:Tisch21st-century SchoolAmerican ofwomen the Arts alumniwriters]]

[[Category:FilmAfrican-American directors from New York (state)screenwriters]]

[[Category:African-AmericanFilm womendirectors screenwritersfrom New York (state)]]