Top-Rated Speakers Bureau and Entertainment Booking Agency for Corporate Meetings and Business Events. Book an AAE Speaker Today.
Top-Rated Speakers Bureau and Entertainment Booking Agency for Corporate Meetings and Business Events. Book an AAE Speaker Today.
Click to Open Search Bar

Dee Rees

Award-Winning Writer & Director Known for "Pariah"

REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Dee Rees Biography

An alumna of New York University’s graduate film program and a 2008 Sundance Screenwriting and Directing Lab Fellow, Dee Rees is a writer-director who has made a significant impact on American and LGBT cinema. Her first full-length film, a documentary titled Eventual Salvation, aired on the Sundance Channel in 2009. Her subsequent feature film, Pariah, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, exploring complex themes of religion, politics, and socioeconomic class within a Black family. Pariah was honored with the Festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition “Excellence in Cinematography” Award (Bradford Young) and picked up by Focus Features. The film was awarded the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards, the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director, and the Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Award at the NAACP Image Awards, among others.

Before embarking on the production of the full-feature film, Rees initially took the first act of the Pariah script and directed it as a short film for her graduate thesis film project at NYU. In 2007, the short film played at 40 film festivals around the world, winning numerous accolades, including the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Rees first met Spike Lee at NYU as a professor, and he quickly became an active mentor to her. She served as an intern on Spike’s films Inside Man and When the Levees Broke and Spike was an Executive Producer on the feature version of Pariah.

In 2015, Rees directed the critically acclaimed film Bessie, starring Queen Latifah as the iconic singer, Bessie Smith. The film won four Primetime Emmy Awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. Rees' writing and directing brilliance earned her nominations for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing. Following Bessie's success, Rees wrote and directed the film Mudbound in 2017, which told the story of two families in the Mississippi Delta in the 1940s. Mudbound was bought for $12.5 million by Netflix, marking the highest purchase of the Sundance Film Festival that year. The film's screenplay, co-written by Rees and Virgil Williams, led to Rees becoming the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Rees continued her successful career by directing the film The Last Thing He Wanted in 2020, based on the novel by Joan Didion, starring Anne Hathaway and Willem Dafoe. She also directed her TV episodes for "Empire" and "When We Rise," alongside episodes of "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams." Currently, Rees is set to write and direct the MGM feature film adaptation of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and is directing multiple episodes of the Apple TV+ war miniseries "Masters of the Air." In June 2021, she was announced as the first African-American woman to direct a Criterion film. Additionally, she's been developing her upcoming film, The Kyd's Exquisite Follies, a musical fantasy about a young musician in search of stardom.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Rees is strongly influenced by her own experiences as a Black lesbian filmmaker. Her work often explores themes of sexuality and the experiences of Black women. Rees is currently based in New York, married to the poet and writer Sarah M. Broom.

Videos
News
FAQs
  • How do I book Dee Rees to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dee Rees for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dee Rees, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dee Rees or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Dee Rees

    Speaking fees for Dee Rees, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dee Rees are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dee Rees, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Dee Rees speak about?

    Dee Rees is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Arts & Humanities, LGBTQ, Producers and Directors.
  • Where does Dee Rees travel from?

    Dee Rees generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Dee Rees’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Dee Rees for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dee Rees for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dee Rees or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Check Availability

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

Users also viewed these speakers:

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Award-Winning Writer & Director Known for "Pariah"

Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
Speaking Fee:

Dee Rees Biography

An alumna of New York University’s graduate film program and a 2008 Sundance Screenwriting and Directing Lab Fellow, Dee Rees is a writer-director who has made a significant impact on American and LGBT cinema. Her first full-length film, a documentary titled Eventual Salvation, aired on the Sundance Channel in 2009. Her subsequent feature film, Pariah, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, exploring complex themes of religion, politics, and socioeconomic class within a Black family. Pariah was honored with the Festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition “Excellence in Cinematography” Award (Bradford Young) and picked up by Focus Features. The film was awarded the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards, the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director, and the Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Award at the NAACP Image Awards, among others.

Before embarking on the production of the full-feature film, Rees initially took the first act of the Pariah script and directed it as a short film for her graduate thesis film project at NYU. In 2007, the short film played at 40 film festivals around the world, winning numerous accolades, including the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Rees first met Spike Lee at NYU as a professor, and he quickly became an active mentor to her. She served as an intern on Spike’s films Inside Man and When the Levees Broke and Spike was an Executive Producer on the feature version of Pariah.

In 2015, Rees directed the critically acclaimed film Bessie, starring Queen Latifah as the iconic singer, Bessie Smith. The film won four Primetime Emmy Awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. Rees' writing and directing brilliance earned her nominations for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing. Following Bessie's success, Rees wrote and directed the film Mudbound in 2017, which told the story of two families in the Mississippi Delta in the 1940s. Mudbound was bought for $12.5 million by Netflix, marking the highest purchase of the Sundance Film Festival that year. The film's screenplay, co-written by Rees and Virgil Williams, led to Rees becoming the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Rees continued her successful career by directing the film The Last Thing He Wanted in 2020, based on the novel by Joan Didion, starring Anne Hathaway and Willem Dafoe. She also directed her TV episodes for "Empire" and "When We Rise," alongside episodes of "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams." Currently, Rees is set to write and direct the MGM feature film adaptation of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and is directing multiple episodes of the Apple TV+ war miniseries "Masters of the Air." In June 2021, she was announced as the first African-American woman to direct a Criterion film. Additionally, she's been developing her upcoming film, The Kyd's Exquisite Follies, a musical fantasy about a young musician in search of stardom.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Rees is strongly influenced by her own experiences as a Black lesbian filmmaker. Her work often explores themes of sexuality and the experiences of Black women. Rees is currently based in New York, married to the poet and writer Sarah M. Broom.

Dee Rees Videos

  • Celebrating Pride Month with ‘Pariah’ director Dee Rees
    Dee Rees is being named the first African American female director to have a film in the prestigious Criterion Collection, which includes some of the...
  • Dee Rees - Examining Empathy and Trauma in “Mudbound” | The Daily Show
    Dee Rees discusses her film "Mudbound," which examines World War II veterans returning home, and weighs in on the difference between representation...
  • Dee Rees | BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series
    Dee Rees, writer + director of Mudbound, talks being flexible with your script and getting your writing on to the screen.

Speaker Lists Featuring Dee Rees

FAQs on booking Dee Rees

  • How do I book Dee Rees to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dee Rees for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dee Rees, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dee Rees or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Dee Rees

    Speaking fees for Dee Rees, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dee Rees are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dee Rees, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Dee Rees speak about?

    Dee Rees is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Arts & Humanities, LGBTQ, Producers and Directors.
  • Where does Dee Rees travel from?

    Dee Rees generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Dee Rees’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Dee Rees for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dee Rees for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dee Rees or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Dee Rees is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Dee Rees for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Dee Rees generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee, Julie Dash, Janelle Monáe and Amandla Stenberg. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dee Rees for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Dee Rees Speaker Videos

  • Celebrating Pride Month with ‘Pariah’ director Dee Rees
    Dee Rees is being named the first African American female director to have a film in the prestigious Criterion Collection, which includes some of the greatest movies from around the world.
    Dee Rees - Examining Empathy and Trauma in “Mudbound” | The Daily Show
    Dee Rees discusses her film "Mudbound," which examines World War II veterans returning home, and weighs in on the difference between representation and tokenism.
  • Dee Rees | BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series
    Dee Rees, writer + director of Mudbound, talks being flexible with your script and getting your writing on to the screen.
    Dee Rees MUDBOUND keynote | 2017 Film Independent Forum
    Filmmaker Dee Rees discusses her work and career (including the upcoming MUDBOUND) with Film Independent President Josh Welsh at the 2017 Film Independent Forum at the Directors Guild of America in...

Dee Rees News

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Speakers Similar to Dee Rees

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP