Six Years After a Reckoning, Criterion Puts ‘Cinematic Blackness’ in Focus
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Ashley Clark, appointed as Criterion Collection's first curatorial director, is playing a key role in diversifying the prestigious film catalog, particularly increasing representation of Black filmmakers.
- Historically, only four African American directors were included among the 461 directors in the Criterion Collection as of 2020, highlighting past "blind spots" acknowledged by Criterion president Peter Becker.
- Since 2020, Criterion has introduced a curated "Black Lives" section in its online store featuring 99 DVD titles, ranging from recent documentaries like Garrett Bradley’s "Time" to classics such as Charles Burnett’s "Killer of Sheep."
- The Criterion Channel's streaming offerings vary due to rights agreements, and while data on streaming titles is limited, there has been a noticeable increase in Black film representation over the past six years.
- The company is committed to ongoing institutional changes to broaden its film selection and fulfill its responsibility to showcase diverse voices in cinema.
