May 23- Ryan Coogler/73rd Cannes Film Festical Ends

Happy 34th Birthday, Ryan Coogler! Born today in 1986 as Ryan Kyle Coogler, this African-American screenwriter, producer and film director won the top audience and grand jury awards in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 35th Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. 

  

This was for his the film of which he is known for writing and directing, being the 2013 American biographical drama/independent film 'Fruitvale Station'. 

  

The film debuted under its original title 'Fruitvale' where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film. This was Coogler's feature directorial debut.  

  

'Fruitvale Station' is based on the events leading to the death of twenty-two-year-old African-American Oscar Grant III. 

He was killed in 2009 by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale district station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in Oakland, California. 

  

It was also screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 66th Cannes Film Festival in May of that same year, where it won the award for Best First Film. The film was released two months later in theaters on July 12, 2013 

  

Two years later, Coogler wrote and directed the 2015 American sports/drama film 'Creed'. 

  

Both a spin-off and sequel in the Rocky film series, African-American actor and producer Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis "Donnie" Johnson Creed, Apollo Creed's son. This was alongside with Sylvester Stallone, reprising the role of Rocky Balboa.  

  

The film also features Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashād, Tony Bellew, and Graham McTavish. It reunites Jordan with 'Fruitvale Station' Coogler, as well as Wood Harris. 

  

Jordan had worked with Harris on HBO's American crime drama television series The Wire (2002–2008). 

  

However, Coogler is best known for co-writing and directing the 2018 American superhero action/fantasy film 'Black Panther. 

  

Later that same year, the American most assumed Coogler’s non-involvement had to do with the timing of the sequel, as it rubbed up against his schedule on 'Black Panther'.  

  

'Black Panther had been based off of the eponymous character created by American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer Stan Lee and American comic book artist, writer and editor Jack Kirby. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (cover-dated July 1966) in the Silver Age of Comic Books. 

  

On a budget of $200 million, 'Black Panther' grossed a staggering $1.347 billion at the box office! This also included the highest-grossing film by an African-American director.  

  

It eventually became the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, the third-highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018. 

  

The following year in early January 2019, 'Black Panther' received three nominations. This included two wins at the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three wins at the 24th Critics' Choice Awards from twelve nominations, among others. The last two events also took place in January. 

  

The following month, 'Black Panther' received numerous awards and nominations, with seven nominations at the 91st Academy Awards.  

  

However, the film won three Oscars. This included Best Production Design (Hannah Beachler, Jay R. Hart), Best Costume Design (Ruth E. Carter) and Best Original Music Score (Ludwig Göransson. This occurred at the 2019 Academy Awards in late February 2019. 

  

'Black Panther' is the also first superhero film to receive a Best Picture nomination, and the first MCU film to win an Oscar. 

Unfortunately, it was the last cameo appearance of Stan Lee in a Marvel feature. In 'Black Panther', Lee had a brief cameo appearance, credited as Thirsty Gambler.

  

A sequel, with Coogler returning to write and direct, will be released in May 2022. 

  

Coogler has been active from 2009–present. 

  

#borntodirect
#ryancoogler 

#BlackDirectorsMatter
#BlackPanthersMatter 

#WakandaForever 

@Marvel
@BlackPantherMovie

Today, the 73d Tribeca Film Festival officially comes to a close! 

Actually, it was officially supposed to be before it was cancelled due to coronavirus.

After all, how can an event end when it never actually began? 

Best of luck to the winner...next year? 

#coronavirussucks
#CANNES2020 

#CannesFilmFestival

@Cannes2020
@festivaldecannes