In 1994, Dianne Houston directed the short film “Tuesday Morning Ride,” which starred Ruby Dee and Bill Cobbs, which was nominated for the Best Live Action Short Oscar in 1995.
Houston is the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Oscar for directing work.
However, she lost out to Christine Lahti, an actress who made her directorial debut with the 1995 short film “Lieberman in Love.”
About Dianne Houston
Dianne Houston (born July 22, 1954 in Washington, D.C.) is African-American film director, producer and screenwriter.
Her first plays were produced in 1977. In 1990, she wrote for Brewster Place, a show produced by Harpo Productions head, Oprah Winfrey, who became a supporter and financial backer.
She has directed for TV series, including NYPD Blue and Crossing Jordan, while continuing in film work. As a screenwriter, she worked on Take the Lead among other projects.