Sam Pollard profile photo

Sam Pollard

Directing
80 years oldHarlem, New York, USA

Biography

Samuel D. Pollard (born 20 April, 1945; Harlem) is an American documentary director, producer and editor. His films have garnered numerous awards such as Peabodys, Emmys, and an Academy Award nomination. In 2020, the International Documentary Association gave him a career achievement award. Spike Lee, whose films Pollard has edited and produced, described him as being "a master filmmaker." Henry Louis Gates Jr. characterizes his work in this way: "When I think about his documentaries, they add up to a corpus — a way of telling African-American history in its various dimensions."

Personal Details

Born
April 20, 1945
Gender
Male
Place of Birth
Harlem, New York, USA
Known For
Directing

Also Known As

Samuel D. Pollard
Samuel Pollard

Movies (42)

Natchez

Natchez

Executive Producer (Production)

2026

The Perfect Neighbor
6.8

The Perfect Neighbor

Executive Producer (Production)

2025

I Was Born This Way

I Was Born This Way

Director (Directing)

2025

Keeper

Keeper

Executive Producer (Production)

2024

Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys
3.7

Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys

Director (Directing)

2024

Black Table
6.0

Black Table

Executive Producer (Production)

2024

South to Black Power
3.5

South to Black Power

Director (Directing)

2023

Carlos
7.0

Carlos

Producer (Production)

2023

LIFT
6.0

LIFT

Executive Producer (Production)

2023

The Harvest: Integrating Mississippi's Schools
8.0

The Harvest: Integrating Mississippi's Schools

Director (Directing)

2023

The League
6.5

The League

Director (Directing)

2023

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Producer (Production)

2023

Subject
6.5

Subject

as Self

2023

Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power
1.5

Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power

Director (Directing)

2022

The Picture Taker

The Picture Taker

Editorial Consultant (Editing)

2022

Rise and Rebuild: A Tale of Three Cities

Rise and Rebuild: A Tale of Three Cities

Director (Directing)

2022

Outta the Muck

Outta the Muck

Executive Producer (Production)

2022

Citizen Ashe
4.2

Citizen Ashe

Director (Directing)

2021

Hold Your Fire
7.0

Hold Your Fire

Consulting Producer (Production)

2021

A Crime on the Bayou
6.0

A Crime on the Bayou

Consulting Producer (Production)

2021

Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are)
4.0

Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are)

Executive Producer (Production)

2021

Black Art: In the Absence of Light
6.9

Black Art: In the Absence of Light

Director (Directing)

2021

MLK/FBI
6.9

MLK/FBI

Director (Directing)

2020

D. Wade: Life Unexpected
7.3

D. Wade: Life Unexpected

Producer (Production)

2020

Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance

Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance

Consulting Producer (Production)

2020

Mr. SOUL!
7.0

Mr. SOUL!

Director (Directing)

2018

Wrestle
8.5

Wrestle

Consulting Producer (Production)

2018

Maynard
5.2

Maynard

Director (Directing)

2017

Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
6.9

Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me

Director (Directing)

2017

Acorn and the Firestorm
5.0

Acorn and the Firestorm

Producer (Production)

2017

The Talk: Race in America
8.0

The Talk: Race in America

Director (Directing)

2017

Two Trains Runnin'
7.2

Two Trains Runnin'

Director (Directing)

2016

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand

Director (Directing)

2015

Style Wars In The Cutting Room

Style Wars In The Cutting Room

as Himself / Editor of Style Wars

2014

Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women
6.5

Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women

Executive Producer (Production)

2014

Remote Area Medical
6.8

Remote Area Medical

Editor (Editing)

2013

Venus and Serena
6.1

Venus and Serena

Editor (Editing)

2012

Joe Papp in Five Acts
4.5

Joe Papp in Five Acts

Editor (Editing)

2012

Slavery by Another Name
7.2

Slavery by Another Name

Director (Directing)

2012

Gerrymandering
4.3

Gerrymandering

Editor (Editing)

2010

Mr. Soul: Ellis Haizlip and the Birth of Black Power TV

Mr. Soul: Ellis Haizlip and the Birth of Black Power TV

Director (Directing)

2010

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama
6.8

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

Editor (Editing)

2009

TV Shows (8)