About me
Cheryl Dunye is a Liberian-American filmmaker, director, and producer based in Oakland whose work explores Black queer identity, history, and cultural memory. Her narratives are peppered with deconstructive elements such as characters addressing the camera and making ironic references to the production itself. These devices, along with her appearing in her films “as herself,” blur the lines between fiction and real life—a film genre she defines as “Dunyementary.” Emerging as part of the 1990s “queer new wave,” she is well known for her groundbreaking feature The Watermelon Woman (1996), which received the Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Dunye has created numerous independent films and directed episodes for major television series including Queen Sugar, Dear White People, Bridgerton, Lovecraft Country, and most recently, The Hunting Wives. Through her production company, Jingletown Films, she develops projects that center underrepresented voices and stories. She is currently developing the feature-length version of her 2014 award-winning short, Black is Blue.
