Spike Lee
Birth Name:
Shelton Jackson Lee
Birth Place:
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Profession
Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Soundtrack, Editor, Camera department, Assistant director
Fast Facts
- Received the 2018 Palm Springs International Film Festival Career Achievement Award
- Attended Morehouse College
- Received his master's degree in fine arts from New York University, where he has served as a professor
- Often puts the actor and camera on dollies pushed through the scene to achieve a floating or gliding affect
- Was one of the first filmmakers who took a do-it-yourself approach, altering the status quo of independent cinema and the expectations for African American actors
- Authored the children's book "Please, Baby, Please․"
- Directed several commercials featuring NBA legend Michael Jordan
Awards
- 1983Ernest Artaria AwardWinner
- 1983Merit Award - Dramatic:Winner
- 1984Audience AwardWinner
- 1986Award of the Youth - Foreign Film:Winner
- 1986Golden CameraNominated
- 1986New Generation AwardWinner
- 1987Independent Spirit Award - Best First Feature:Winner
- 1988Image Award - Outstanding Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1989Top 10 Film Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1989Palme d'OrNominated
- 1989Image Award - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1989LAFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1989LAFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1989NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1990Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:Nominated
- 1990CFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1990Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1990Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1990NSFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1990Golden LionNominated
- 1990Filmcritica "Bastone Bianco" Award - Special MentionWinner
- 1991Palme d'OrNominated
- 1991Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special MentionWinner
- 1992ACCA - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
- 1992ACCA - Best Director:Nominated
- 1992ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 1992CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1993Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 1993CFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1993CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1993USC Scripter AwardNominated
- 1995Golden LionNominated
- 1997Golden Berlin Bear - Best Film:Nominated
- 1997Special MentionWinner
- 1997CINE Golden Eagle - Documentary:Winner
- 1998Oscar - Best Documentary, Features:Nominated
- 1998Black Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1998IDA Award - Feature Documentaries:Nominated
- 1998OFTA Film Award - Best Documentary Picture:Nominated
- 1998Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Non-Fiction Special:Nominated
- 1998Golden Satellite Award - Best Motion Picture, Documentary:Winner
- 1998Stinker Award - Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!):Nominated
- 1999Black Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 1999Black Film Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1999SACD Prize - Directors' Fortnight:Nominated
- 1999C.I.C.A.E. AwardNominated
- 1999Stinker Award - Worst Supporting Actor:Nominated
- 1999Golden Spike - Best Film:Nominated
- 2000Black Reel - Best Film:Nominated
- 2000Black Reel - Theatrical - Best Director:Nominated
- 2001Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 2001Black Reel - Theatrical - Best Director:Nominated
- 2001Black Reel - Best Film:Winner
- 2001Black Reel - Best Film:Nominated
- 2001Black Reel - Theatrical - Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted):Nominated
- 2001Independent Spirit Award - Best First Feature:Nominated
- 2002Black Reel - Network/Cable - Best Director:Nominated
- 2002Black Reel - Network/Cable - Best Film:Nominated
- 2002Un Certain Regard AwardNominated
- 2003Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 2003Black Reel - Theatrical - Best Director:Nominated
- 2003Black Reel - Best Film:Nominated
- 2004IOMA - Best Director (Miglior regia):Nominated
- 2004WFCC Award - Hall of Shame:Winner
- 2005BET Comedy Award - Outstanding Writing for a Theatrical Film:Nominated
- 2005BET Comedy Award - Outstanding Directing for a Theatrical Film:Nominated
- 2005Black Reel - Best Director:Nominated
- 2005Black Reel - Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted:Nominated
- 2005Gold Hugo - Best Short Film:Nominated
- 2006Black Movie Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2006Black Reel - Best Director - Television:Nominated
- 2006Black Reel - Best Director - Television:Nominated
- 2006Silver Bucket of Excellence AwardWinner
- 2006FIPRESCI Prize - Parallel Sections:Winner
- 2006Venice Horizons Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2006Venice Horizons Documentary AwardWinner
- 2006Human Rights Film Network AwardWinner
- 2007Black Reel - Best Director:Winner
- 2007Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie - Comedy or Drama:Winner
- 2007IOMA - Best Director (Miglior regia):Nominated
- 2007Primetime Emmy - Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking:Winner
- 2007Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming:Winner
- 2008Black Reel - Best Director:Nominated
- 2008Black Reel - Best Film:Nominated
- 2009Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television):Nominated
- 2010Felix - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2010Felix - Best Director:Winner
- 2010Black Reel - Best Documentary:Nominated
- 2011Black Reel - Best Television Documentary:Winner
- 2011IDA Award - Best Limited Series:Nominated
- 2012Biografilm AwardWinner
- 2012Future Film Festival Digital AwardWinner
- 2013Black Reel - Best Director:Nominated
- 2013Black Reel - Best Documentary:Nominated
- 2013Black Reel - Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted:Nominated
- 2014Hollywood Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014Black Reel - Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series:Winner
- 2016Black Reel - Outstanding Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2016Black Reel - Outstanding Director, Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2016Black Reel - Outstanding Original or Adapted Screenplay, Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2017Black Reel - Outstanding TV Documentary or Special:Nominated
- 2018Felix - Best Documentary:Winner
- 2018AAFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 2018Palme d'OrNominated
- 2018Grand Prize of the Jury - Grand Prize of the Jury:Winner
- 2018Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special MentionWinner
- 2018Capri Adapted Screenplay AwardWinner
- 2018CFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018DFWFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018DFCC - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018DFCC - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018FFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018Golden Schmoes - Best Screenplay of the Year:Nominated
- 2018Golden Schmoes - Best Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2018GWNYFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018GWNYFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018IGN Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2018The Lia Van Leer AwardNominated
- 2018KCFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2018Audience AwardWinner
- 2018Variety Piazza Grande AwardNominated
- 2018LAOFCS Award - Best Male Director:Winner
- 2018LAOFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018NFCS Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2018NTFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018OFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2018OAFFC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018PCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2018PCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2018SFFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2018SFFCC Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Winner
- 2018Audience Award - City of Donostia Audience Award:Nominated
- 2018SEFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2018SLFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2018SLFCA Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2018Sydney Film Prize - Best Film:Nominated
- 2018WAFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019AACTA International Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019AACTA International Award - Best Direction:Nominated
- 2019Movies for Grownups Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2019Oscar - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2019Oscar - Best Achievement in Directing:Nominated
- 2019Oscar - Best Motion Picture of the Year:Nominated
- 2019EDA Award - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019EDA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019Silver Condor - Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera):Nominated
- 2019AFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019ACCA - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2019ACCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019ACCA - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019BAFTA Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2019BAFTA Film Award - Best Screenplay (Adapted):Winner
- 2019David Lean Award for DirectionNominated
- 2019Black Reel - Outstanding Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019Black Reel - Outstanding Director:Nominated
- 2019CIFCC Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2019Impact AwardWinner
- 2019CIFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2019CinEuphoria - Top Ten of the Year - International Competition:Winner
- 2019CinEuphoria - Best Director - International Competition:Nominated
- 2019CinEuphoria - Best Film - International Competition:Winner
- 2019Cinema Brazil Grand Prize - Best Foreign-Language Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro):Winner
- 2019COFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2019COFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019Critics Choice Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019DFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2019DFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:Nominated
- 2019Dorian Award - Director of the Year:Nominated
- 2019GAFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2019GAFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019Gold Derby Film Award - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2019Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay:Winner
- 2019Gold Derby Film Award - Director:Nominated
- 2019Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2019Guldbagge - Best Foreign Film (Bästa utländska film):Nominated
- 2019HFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019HFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film):Nominated
- 2019Image Award - Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film):Nominated
- 2019IDA Award - Best Music Documentary:Nominated
- 2019INOCA - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019Jupiter Award - Best International Film:Winner
- 2019LEJA Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2019LEJA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019LEJA Award - Best Achievement in Directing:Nominated
- 2019MCFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019MCFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019NCFCA Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019NCFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019OFTA Film Award - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 2019OFTA Film Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019OFTA Film Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2019OFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019OFCS Award - Best Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2019PGA Award - Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:Nominated
- 2019Career Achievement AwardWinner
- 2019Premio Guarani - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
- 2019Satellite Award - Best Screenplay, Adapted:Nominated
- 2019Satellite Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2019WGA Award (Screen) - Adapted Screenplay:Nominated
- 2020CFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2020CFCA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2020Independent Spirit Award - Best First Feature:Nominated
- 2020Gold Derby Film Award - Adapted Screenplay of the Decade:Nominated
- 2020GWNYFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2020HCA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Winner
- 2020HCA Award - Best Male Director:Winner
- 2020IFJA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2020ICP Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021Movies for Grownups Award - Best Screenwriter:Nominated
- 2021Movies for Grownups Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021Black Reel - Outstanding Director:Nominated
- 2021Black Reel - Outstanding Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2021CIC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2021CIC Award - Best Studio Film:Winner
- 2021CinEuphoria - Best Documentary - International Competition:Nominated
- 2021Critics Choice Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021DFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials:Nominated
- 2021DFCA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021DFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021HFCS Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2021HFCS Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021HCA Award - Best Male Director:Nominated
- 2021MNFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021MNFCA Award - Best Picture:Nominated
- 2021MNFCA Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021MCFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021MCFCA Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 2021NBR Award - Best Director:Winner
- 2021NCFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021NCFCA Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021OFCS Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2021OFCS Award - Best Original Screenplay:Nominated
- 2021Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special:Nominated
- 2021Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded):Nominated
- 2021SLFCA Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2022Cinema Eye Honors Award - Outstanding Broadcast Film:Nominated
- 2022Grammy - Best Music Film:Nominated
- 2022Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture):Nominated
- 2025Best Producer - Best Producer:Winner
- 2026Movies for Grownups Award - Best Director:Nominated
- 2026Black Reel - Outstanding Director:Nominated
- 2026Black Reel - Outstanding Documentary:Winner
- 2026Gotham TV Award - Breakthrough Nonfiction Series:Winner
- 2026News and Documentary Emmy - Outstanding Direction - Documentary:Nominated
- 2026News and Documentary Emmy - Outstanding Social Issue Documentary:Nominated