Spike Lee is a writer-director, actor, producer, author and philanthropist who has revolutionized the role of Black talent in cinema. Widely regarded as today’s premier African-American filmmaker, Lee is a forerunner in the “do it yourself” school of independent film. His previous film, She Hate Me, was independently financed and released in 2004. Recent critical and box office successes have included such films as 25th Hour, The Original Kings of Comedy, Bamboozled and Summer of Sam. Lee’s films Girl 6, Get on the Bus, Do the Right Thing and Clockers display his ability to showcase a series of outspoken and provocative socio-political critiques that challenge cultural assumptions, not only about race, but also class and gender identity.

His debut film, the independently produced comedy She’s Gotta Have It, earned him the Prix de Jeunesse Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1986 and set him at the forefront of the Black New Wave in American Cinema. His second feature, the very profitable School Daze, helped to launch the careers of several young Black actors. Lee’s timely 1989 film, Do the Right Thing, garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture and Director awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Lee’s Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues, Clockers, and Crooklyn were also critically well received. His epic drama Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington, received two Academy Award nominations.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Brooklyn, Lee returned to the south to attend Morehouse College. After graduation, he returned to Brooklyn to continue his education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in Manhattan, where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in film production. He founded 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, based in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, where he has resided since childhood.

Lee is involved in documentaries and sports programs. He completed the Emmy - and Oscar -nominated documentary 4 Little Girls for HBO and received an Emmy Award for his piece on Georgetown’s John Thompson for HBO/Real Sports.

Additionally, Lee has authored six books on the making of his films. The fifth book, Five for Five, served as a pictorial reflection of his first five features. He then followed up with Best Seat in the House, authored with Ralph Wiley. Lee co-authored a children’s book entitled Please, Baby, Please with his wife Tonya Lewis Lee, and most recently authored a retrospective book about his film career entitled That’s My Story and I’m Sticking To It.

Ever moving into new areas, Spike Lee has combined his extensive creative experience into yet another venture: partnering with DDB Needham, he created Spike DDB, a full-service advertising agency.

Director

• Untitled Inside Man Sequel (2008)
• Selling Time (2007)
• M.O.N.Y. (2007) (TV)
• "Shark" (1 episode, 2006)
• "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006) (mini) TV Series
• Inside Man (2006)
• All the Invisible Children (2005)
• Jesus Children of America (2005)
• "Miracle's Boys" (2005) (mini) TV Series
• Sucker Free City (2004) (TV)
• She Hate Me (2004)
• 25th Hour (2002)
• Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002)
• Jim Brown: All American (2002) (TV)
• Come Rain or Come Shine (2001)
• The Concert for New York City (2001) (TV)
• A Huey P. Newton Story (2001) (TV)
• The Making of 'Bamboozled' (2001) (V)
• Bamboozled (2000)
• The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
• And Ya Don't Stop: Hip Hop's Greatest Videos, Vol. 1 (2000)
• Summer of Sam (1999)
• Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo (1999) (TV)
• Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia (1998) (TV)
• Freak (1998) (TV)
• He Got Game (1998)
• 4 Little Girls (1997)
• Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II (1997) (V)
• Get on the Bus (1996)
• Girl 6 (1996)
• Lumière et compagnie (1995)
• Clockers (1995)
• Crooklyn (1994)
• Malcolm X (1992)
• Jungle Fever (1991)
• Mo' Better Blues (1990)
• Do the Right Thing (1989)
• School Daze (1988)
• She's Gotta Have It (1986)
• Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983)
• Sarah (1981)
• The Answer (1980)
• Last Hustle in Brooklyn (1977)

Awards

• MTV Movie Award Silver Bucket of Excellence "Do the Right Thing" 2006
• Cesar Award Honorary Career Achievement 2002
• Las Vegas Film Critics William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award 2002
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Documentary "Four Little Girls" 1997
• Golden Satellite Best Documentary "Four Little Girls" 1997
• Chicago Film Critics Association Best Picture "Malcolm X" 1992
• IFP Gotham Award Filmmaker 1992
• Chicago Film Critics Association Best Picture "Do the Right Thing" 1990
• Chicago Film Critics Association Best Director "Do the Right Thing" 1990
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Film "Do the Right Thing" 1989
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Director "Do the Right Thing" 1989
• Cannes Film Festival Best New Director "She's Gotta Have It" 1986
• Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature "She's Gotta Have It" 1986
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association New Generation "She's Gotta Have It" 1986
• Student Academy Award "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" 1980