Interview: Director Jamila Wignot on ‘Ailey’ and the responsibility of taking on such an iconic figure

Jamila Wignot is no stranger to the world of documentaries. She’s an award-winning filmmaker best known for her work on The African Americans and Many Rivers To Cross. Her work, including ITVS Town Hall and for Triangle Fire, has earned the Peabody, Emmy, and NAACP award.

Her latest project, Ailey, which had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, is a documentary that chronicles the life of iconic dancer, instructor and choreographer Alvin Ailey. Ailey was born out of the realization that American Masters had yet to do a documentary on this legendary figure and what complicated matters is that no other biographies existed about him either. Wignot sought to change that by showing the impact he had in launching what is now a legendary dance company and outlining his impact on generations of other artists.

We were lucky enough to sit down with Wignot and discuss her film and what she hopes audiences take from watching it.

Ailey is currently in theaters from NEON.