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A. V. Rockwell

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A. V. Rockwell
Rockwell in 2023
Born
Queens, New York City, U.S.
EducationNew York University
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active2016–present
Notable workA Thousand and One
AwardsSundance Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic (2023); Guggenheim Fellowship (2017)

A. V. Rockwell (born Alina Victoria Rockwell[1]) is an American film director. In 2023, she made her directorial feature film debut with the film A Thousand and One, which gave her a Gotham Award, a Black Reel Award, an Independent Spirit Award, a Director's Guild nomination, and nominations at the NAACP Image Awards.[2]

Early life and education

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Rockwell was born and raised in Queens, New York, to parents from Jamaica.[2] She attended high school at Brooklyn Technical High School[3] and attended film school at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.[4] One of her early inspirations to pursue film came from studying European cinema while studying in Paris.[5]

Career

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One of Rockwell's early works was the series Open City Mixtape, which followed young people's stories in New York City, and was shot in black-and-white. Subsequently, Rockwell worked with Alicia Keys on the music-focused music short film The Gospel for Keys' sixth studio album, Here.[6][7] The work gave her a silver Clio Awards.[8]

In 2018, Rockwell released her short film Feathers,[9] which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.[10] For Feathers, Rockwell was named the grand-prize winner of the Tribeca Film Institute and CHANEL’s Through Her Lens grant; the film was selected as part of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and was then acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures for their Searchlight Shorts collection.[11][12]

Rockwell (right) and actress Teyana Taylor promote A Thousand and One. The film received universal acclaim.[13]

In 2023, Rockwell made her feature debut with A Thousand and One, starring Teyana Taylor and set in Harlem, New York, between 1994 and 2005.[14] The film debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival,[15] where it won the Grand Jury Prize.[16] She has cited Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee as influences, as well as the films Goodfellas, Crooklyn, Do the Right Thing, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Z, The Battle of Algiers, and Seven Beauties.[17]

Over her career, Rockwell has been named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film, was a 2018 Young Guns award winner,[11] and has received fellowships from the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute and the John S. Guggenheim Foundation.[18] She won the Breakthrough Director Award at the 2023 Gotham Awards for her work in her feature film directorial debut A Thousand and One.[19]

Filmography

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Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2016 The Gospel Yes Yes No Short film
2018 Feathers Yes Yes Yes Short film
2023 A Thousand and One Yes Yes Executive Feature directorial debut

Accolades

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Association Year Work Category Result Ref.
African-American Film Critics Association 2024 A Thousand and One Best Independent Feature Won [20]
Astra Film Awards 2024 A Thousand and One Best First Feature Nominated [21]
Austin Film Critics Association 2023 A Thousand and One Best First Film Nominated [22]
Black Film Critics Circle 2023 Herself Rising Star Award Won [23]
Black Reel Awards 2024 A Thousand and One Outstanding Independent Film Won [24]
Outstanding Director Nominated
Outstanding Emerging Director Nominated
Outstanding Screenplay Nominated
Outstanding First Screenplay Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association 2023 A Thousand and One Breakthrough Filmmaker Nominated [25]
Clio Awards 2017 Alicia Keys: The Gospel Music - Film Long Form: Music Marketing silver [8]
Directors Guild of America Awards 2024 A Thousand and One Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film Nominated [26]
Florida Film Critics Circle 2023 A Thousand and One Best First Film Runner-up [27]
Gotham Independent Film Awards 2023 A Thousand and One Best Feature Nominated [28]
Breakthrough Director Won
Hamptons International Film Festival 2018 Feathers Best Narrative Short Nominated [29]
Independent Spirit Awards 2024 A Thousand and One Best First Feature Won [30]
NAACP Image Awards 2024 A Thousand and One Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Nominated [31]
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Nominated
Online Film Critics Society 2024 A Thousand and One Best Debut Feature Nominated [32]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2023 A Thousand and One Best First Feature (Director) Nominated [33]
Sundance Film Festival 2019 Feathers Short Film Grand Jury Prize Nominated
2023 A Thousand and One Grand Jury Prize — U.S. Dramatic Won [34]
Toronto International Film Festival 2019 Feathers Short Cuts Award Nominated [35]
Tribeca Festival 2016 Alicia Keys: The Gospel Best Narrative Short Nominated [36]

References

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  1. ^ Staff, Shadow and Act. "Get to Know A.V. Rockwell: Filmmaker Tells S&A About Dark Elements of Her 'Open City Mixtape' Shorts". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ^ a b Dargis, Manohla (March 30, 2023). "'A Thousand and One' Review: A New York Love Story". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Antrim, Taylor (March 31, 2023). "'A Thousand and One' Director A.V. Rockwell on Her Heartbreaking New Film". Vogue. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Six Films that Inspire A.V. Rockwell '12". tisch.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  5. ^ Anderson, Tre’vell (September 9, 2018). "A.V. Rockwell on her short film 'Feathers' and why 'the land of the free' isn't free for all". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Oretsky, Meghan (2017-02-23). "A.V. Rockwell celebrates NYC's many colors in black and white". Vimeo Blog. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  7. ^ Petrarca, Emilia (October 28, 2016). "A.V. Rockwell, Young Filmmaker and Alicia Keys Collaborator, Just Won an $80,000 Prize from Chanel". W Magazine. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Clio Music Winners - A.V. Rockwell". Clio Awards. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Alexander, Sonya (31 March 2023). "Telling a Multi-Layered Urban Drama: A.V. Rockwell Discusses Her First Feature 'A Thousand and One'". Script University. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  10. ^ "SCREENINGS". FEATHERS | A SHORT FILM BY A.V. ROCKWELL. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  11. ^ a b "A.V. Rockwell". Free The Bid. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  12. ^ McNary, Dave (2019-03-19). "Film News Roundup: Fox Searchlight Launches Searchlight Shorts". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  13. ^ "A Thousand and One". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "How A.V. Rockwell's A Thousand and One Pays Homage to A Forgotten NYC and Its Most Vulnerable Citizens". Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  15. ^ Sciences, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and. "A.V. Rockwell on Writing a Love Letter to Black Women With 'A Thousand and One' (Exclusive)". A.frame. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  16. ^ Sciences, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and. "All the Winners of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Awards". A.frame. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  17. ^ "A.V. Rockwell breaks down her Sundance winner 'A Thousand and One,' now in theaters". WTOP News. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  18. ^ McNary, Dave (2020-12-02). "Focus Features Backs A.V. Rockwell's Directorial Debut 'A Thousand and One'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  19. ^ Pedersen, Jill Goldsmith, Erik; Goldsmith, Jill; Pedersen, Erik (2023-11-28). "Gotham Awards: 'Past Lives' Wins Best Feature – Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-11-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Zee, Michaela (February 21, 2024). "African American Film Critics Association Awards: 'American Fiction,' 'The Color Purple' and 'Origin' Nab Top Honors". Variety. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  21. ^ Feinberg, Scott (January 7, 2023). "Astra Film Awards: 'Barbie' Wins Eight Awards, Including Best Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  22. ^ Whittaker, Richard (January 10, 2024). "Austin Film Critics Association Calls 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Top Film of 2023". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 20, 2023). "Black Film Critics Circle Winners: 'American Fiction' Takes Home Top Honors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  24. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' and 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  25. ^ Jevens, Darel (December 12, 2023). "Chicago critics name 'Killers of the Flower Moon' the year's Best Film". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  26. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 10, 2024). "DGA Awards Film Nominations: Gerwig, Nolan, Scorsese, Lanthimos & Payne". Deadline. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  27. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  28. ^ Davis, Clayton; Lang, Brent (October 24, 2023). "Gotham Awards Nominations: All of Us Strangers Leads with Four Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  29. ^ Evans, Greg (September 17, 2018). "Hamptons Fest Sets 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?', 'The Favourite' As Centerpieces; Full Line-Up Announced". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  30. ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (December 5, 2023). "Spirit Awards 2024 Nominations List: 'Past Lives', 'May December', 'American Fiction' Lead with 5 Noms Each". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  31. ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  32. ^ "OFCS Presents: 27th Annual Nominations for 2023" (Press release). Online Film Critics Society. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  33. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 19, 2023). "The 2023 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  34. ^ "2023 Sundance Film Festival Announces Lineup of 99 Feature Films - sundance.org". 2022-12-07. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  35. ^ "TIFF Announces Midnight Madness and Documentary Slates, Including 'Halloween' and 'Fahrenheit 11/9' World Premieres". IndieWire. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  36. ^ "Tribeca 2016 Announces Lineups for Competition Programs (US Narrative, International Narrative, World Documentary) & Viewpoints". Tribeca Festival. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
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