Lisa Cortés
Lisa Cortés (right) in 2018
Born Lisa Cortés
(1960-12-24 ) December 24, 1960 (age 63) Alma mater Yale University Occupations Film director film producer Years active 2004–present
Lisa Cortés is an American producer and director of a number of film and television works, including Little Richard: I Am Everything in 2023.
Early life, education and early career
Cortés is a native of Milford, Connecticut and a graduate of Milford Academy . She attended Yale University , graduating with a degree in American Studies. Cortés began her career at Def Jam , later Rush Producers Management and then as an executive at Mercury Records .[ 1] [ 2] She is now the CEO of Cortés Filmworks .
Filmmaking
Cortés is an alumnus of New York Film Academy . She produced the feature films The Apollo , Little Apple , and Invisible Beauty , and worked with Lee Daniels to produce The Woodsman , Shadow Boxer, Tennessee, and Precious .[ 3]
Cortés co-directed a film about the work of Stacey Abrams in All In: The Fight for Democracy with Liz Garbus [ 4] ; The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion , and Little Richard: I Am Everything , with Dee Rees as Executive Producer,[ 5] a documentary which premiered at Sundance Film Festival . [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
In 2023, Cortés co-directed The Space Race: The Untold Story of the First Black Astronauts, featuring the stories of Guion Bluford , Ed Dwight and Charles Bolden .[ 10] The documentary was produced for National Geographic with Executive Producers Frank Marshall , Tony Rosenthal and former astronaut Leland Melvin and producers Keero Birla and Mark Monroe.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
Selected awards and recognitions
References
^ Jones, Okla (December 30, 2023). "Director Lisa Cortés Explores The Power Of Imagination Through Her Work" . Essence Magazine . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ "Lisa Cortés" . 30th Anniversary Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame . 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ "Lisa Cortés" . The History Makers . 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ Joyaux, Daniel (September 1, 2023). "His Presence Looms Large: Lisa Cortés on Little Richard: I Am Everything" . Roger Ebert . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ Chan, Tim (November 11, 2023). "The New Little Richard Documentary Hits Streaming Services: Here's Where to Watch 'I Am Everything' Online". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 16, 2024.
^ Penrice, Ronda Racha (April 21, 2023). " 'LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING' DIRECTOR LISA CORTÉS BRINGS NEW DEPTH TO THE ICON" . Ebony Magazine . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ Abele, Robert (November 30, 2023). " 'Spirit, rhythm and swagger' highlight Little Richard documentary" . The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ France, Lisa Respers (September 3, 2023). " 'Little Richard' filmmaker found a lesson in the late singer's spirited rock and roll life" . CNN . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ Nawaz, Amna (July 1, 2023). "Lisa Cortés on her film exploring Little Richard's legendary rock'n'roll legacy" . PBS . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ FINNERTY, KATHARINE (March 10, 2024). "National Geographic storytellers talk about breaking in to a male-dominated industry at SXSW" . Spectrum News . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ "The Space Race: About the film" . National Geographic documentary films . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ COYLE, JAKE (February 9, 2024). "Ed Dwight was to be the first Black astronaut. At 90, he's finally getting his due" . The Associated Press . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ Smith, David (February 20, 2024). " 'No one had done it before him': the groundbreaking stories of Black astronauts" . The Guardian . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ Lowry, Brian (February 12, 2024). " 'The Space Race' brings an out-of-this-world perspective to Black History Month" . CNN . Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
^ "Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special" (PDF) . Television Academy Awards . 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2024 .
External links