The Watermelon Woman [SEP] director
The Watermelon Woman
The Watermelon Woman is a 1996 romantic comedy-drama film written, directed, and edited by Cheryl Dunye. It stars Dunye as Cheryl, young black lesbian working a day job in a video store while trying to make a film about a black actress from the 1930s known for playing the stereotypical "mammy" roles relegated to black actresses during the period. It was the first feature film directed by a black lesbian.
Background.
In 1993 Dunye was doing research for a class on black film
Outstanding narrative feature - "The Watermelon Woman"
- 1996: Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for Best feature film - "The Watermelon Woman"
- 1996: Audience Award Créteil International Women's Film Festival
- 1996: Audience Award; Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
- 1997: Biennial Anonymous Was A Woman Award; Whitney Museum of American Art
- 2000: Best Director Award; Girlfriends (magazine)
- 2001: Audience Award at LA Outfest
- 2001: Audience Award