Jamaa Fanaka

Trailblazer of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, director Jamaa Fanaka was born in 1942 in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. Fanaka, active from 1974 until his death in 2012, predominantly worked in the genres of drama and action, with his most renowned films including "Penitentiary," "Street Wars," and "Welcome Home Brother Charles." Despite not garnering major film festival awards, his films are respected for their gritty, authentic portrayal of African American life and for challenging Hollywood’s racial and social norms. Jamaa Fanaka was a man of immense dedication and passion, who used his unique voice to tell the often-ignored stories of his community with a raw, unfettered honesty.