Movies
TV Shows
People

Michèle Stephenson

Known For
Directing

Known Credits
2

Gender
Female

Birthday
Birthday not available

Place of Birth

Michèle Stephenson

Biography

Michèle Stephenson is an American documentary filmmaker, artist, and author who pulls from her Panamanian and Haitian roots, and experience as a human rights attorney to tell compelling, deeply personal stories that are created by, for, and about communities of color.

With spouse Joe Brewster, Stephenson founded the Rada Film Group. While raising a family in Brooklyn, New York, they directed and produced documentary and fiction films. In 2008, they directed Slaying Goliath, a documentary that follows 10 days in the life of their son's fifth grade basketball team in Harlem, New York, as they experienced a culture clash at a national tournament in suburban Florida. Brewster and Stephenson also produced and directed Faces of Change, which follows five activists on five continents fighting racism in their communities.

In 1999, Brewster and Stephenson set out to document the experiences of their son and his best friend at the time both boys entered kindergarten at a private Manhattan prep school up until their upcoming high school graduation in 2012 in the documentary film, American Promise. Their goal was to closely examine the coming of age and school experiences of two middle class African American boys at The Dalton School, a predominantly white prep school, in the context of the persistent U.S. achievement gap. American Promise was broadcast on POV in 2013. Brewster and Stephenson are Sundance Institute Fellows, Tribeca All Access Fellows, and the recipients of the Tribeca Gucci Fund for Documentary Film for the 13-year longitudinal documentary. American Promise is the centerpiece of a transmedia engagement campaign that will use the mobile web and interactive technology to help propel young men of color to success.

Known For

Production

2025Sons of Detroit...Executive Producer
2024The Age of Water...Producer
2023Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project...Producer
2023Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games...Producer
2021The Changing Same - Episode 1: The Dilemma...Producer
2020Stateless...Producer
2019Drawn to the Mat...Producer
2018The Changing Same...Producer
2016A Mother's Dream...Producer
2015A Conversation with Black Women on Race...Producer
2015A Conversation with White People on Race...Producer
2015A Conversation About Growing Up Black...Producer
2013American Promise...Producer
2010Coming Home: The Dry Storm...Producer
2008Slaying Goliath...Producer
2006Faces of Change...Producer
2003The Killing Zone...Producer
1995The Keeper...Associate Producer
Freddie Gray Documentary...Producer
Paul Robeson Documentary...Producer

Directing

2025True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power...Director
2023Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project...Director
2023Black Life: Untold Stories...Director
2023Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games...Director
2021For Our Girls...Director
2021Elena...Director
2021Decolonizing Mental Health...Director
2021The Changing Same - Episode 1: The Dilemma...Director
2020Stateless...Director
2019Drawn to the Mat...Director
2018The Changing Same...Director
2016A Mother's Dream...Director
2015A Conversation with Black Women on Race...Director
2015A Conversation With Latinos on Race...Director
2015A Conversation With Asian-Americans on Race...Director
2015A Conversation with White People on Race...Director
2013American Promise...Director
2010Coming Home: The Dry Storm...Director
2008Slaying Goliath...Director
2006Faces of Change...Director
Paul Robeson Documentary...Director

Writing

2023Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project...Writer
2021Elena...Writer
2020Stateless...Writer
2018The Changing Same...Writer
2008Slaying Goliath...Writer
Paul Robeson Documentary...Writer

Camera

2020Stateless...Additional Camera

Sound

2020Stateless...Production Sound Mixer

Art

2020Stateless...Storyboard Artist

Crew

2020Stateless...Translator

Acting

2023Subjectas Self
2013American Promiseas Self