Bloomington, IN — The Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA), the only repository in the world solely dedicated to collecting, preserving, and making accessible pieces of Black film history, announces events celebrating its acquisition of a substantial special collection documenting the life and legacy of film distributor, consultant, and educator Michelle Materre (1954-2022).
In 1992, Michelle Materre co-founded KJM3 Entertainment, a landmark company that released Julie Dash’s “Daughters of the Dust" (1991), the first theatrically distributed feature film directed by a Black American woman. Additionally, KJM3 was pivotal in distributing the early work of Raoul Peck, the Oscar-nominated director of “I Am Not Your Negro” (2016). Materre was a bedrock of the Black independent film scene for over 30 years, launching the acclaimed Creatively Speaking film series showcasing work by underrepresented creators and acting as a consultant and producer for countless emerging filmmakers.
Donated to the BFCA in 2024 by her friends and family, the Michelle Materre Collection spotlights the film pioneer’s legacy of uplifting Black, Caribbean, and women-centered media. Highlights include: screeners, publicity materials, consulting files, and production documents from Materre’s work with filmmakers; materials related to the release of “Daughters of the Dust”; and documentation and recordings from Creatively Speaking programs, film festivals, and other events that Materre either organized or attended. Consisting of over 20,000 paper documents, 500 videos and discs, 4 film reels, and 6,000 digital files, the Materre Collection is now open to researchers and the general public. Explore the collection’s public finding aid and contact bfca@iu.edu to access the collection.
“The BFCA team and I are incredibly honored and humbled to have received the Michelle Materre Collection and appreciate the Black Philanthropy Circle’s generous support to bring this celebration to fruition,” said Novotny Lawrence, director of the BFCA and associate professor of cinema and media studies at The Media School. “Materre was among the most prolific players in the film industry, who helped elevate the works of Black filmmakers and directors, writers, and performers from other historically marginalized groups. Our exciting programming, overseeing her collection, and making the materials accessible to scholars, cinema fans, and the public are our way to show the tremendous effect she had on people and the film industry and to elevate her legacy.”
Pioneering filmmaker Julie Dash will return to Indiana University for the first time since her 2016 visit for the 25th anniversary restoration of "Daughters of the Dust.” A prominent member of the “L.A. Rebellion” group of 1970s UCLA film students who worked to challenge and expand the range of Black screen representations, Dash has also earned acclaim for her short films “Diary of an African Nun” (1977) and “Illusions” (1982). Since the 1990s, she has amassed myriad television credits, directing the biopic starring Angela Bassett, “The Rosa Parks Story” (2002) and episodes of Ava DuVernay’s series “Queen Sugar,” which airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
During her visit, Dash will screen and discuss her work and Michelle Materre’s influence on her career. This visit and programming are made possible by a generous grant from IU Affinity Giving’s Black Philanthropy Circle.
Programming will begin with a ribbon-cutting and reception for the Michelle Materre Collection, hosted at the Black Film Center & Archive (Wells Library 044) at 4:30 p.m. on September 25th. A new exhibition centering Michelle Materre and highlighting materials from the collection will be unveiled as part of the festivities. Students, faculty, and community members are invited to enjoy refreshments, a BFCA tour featuring new collection items, and an opportunity to engage with Julie Dash. No RSVP is required.
A special panel conversation featuring Julie Dash and other colleagues who worked with Michelle Materre will be held for IU students at 12:00 p.m. on September 26th at the Black Film Center & Archive (Wells Library 044).
Following a dinner reception at 5:00 p.m., there will be a screening of “Daughters of the Dust” at the IU Cinema at 7:00 p.m. on September 26th. Named one of the most significant films of the past 30 years by Indiewire, Julie Dash’s landmark feature follows the generational splits among a community of Gullah (or Geechee) people, descendants of enslaved Africans who had settled in an island off South Carolina, and their decision to migrate to the U.S. mainland in the early 1900s. A Q&A with Julie Dash, moderated by BFCA director Dr. Novotny Lawrence, will follow the film. The event is free, but tickets are required.
To learn more about the series and other activities the archive has planned for the 2025-26 academic year, visit the Black Film Center & Archive website and sign up for its monthly newsletter.