What is "Hollywood?" The glitz and glamour of the silver screen, the dream factory where make-believe becomes a reality?

More than that, however, Hollywood is a place where movie directors can make a name for themselves - and sometimes change the entire course of cinema.

In celebration of Black History Month, we would like to take a moment to celebrate some of the most iconic black movie directors who have changed the film industry.

Black movie directors have been making waves in the film industry for decades. From paving the way for black films and filmmakers to tell untold stories to redefining cinematic norms, these directors have left an indelible mark on Hollywood.

There have been many iconic black movie directors who have changed the film industry. These directors have made a significant impact with their work, and they continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers. Here are just a few of the most influential black movie directors who deserve your admiration.

William Greaves

Greaves is an American filmmaker, television producer, and writer. He has produced over 190 films and T.V. programs since the late 1940s. His 1967 film "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One" is considered to be a landmark in documentary cinema.

Spike Lee

Lee is a filmmaker, actor, producer, author, and educator who has directed more than 30 movies since 1986. Many of his films focus on issues affecting African Americans, including racism, urban crime, and poverty. He has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Emmy Awards, and Cannes Grand Prix. 

Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele's directorial debut, horror film "Get Out," was nominated for four Oscars, including best picture, best director, best actor, and best screenplay. Peele's "Get Out" took home the prize for Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 2017.

Kathleen Collins

Kathleen Collins was the first black woman to write, produce and direct a feature-length movie. She is known for her movies "Losing Ground" and "Frame of Mind." 

F Gary Gray

Gray is known for his work on "Friday," "Set It Off," and "The Negotiator." In 2015, Gray directed the blockbuster hit "Straight Outta Compton," which tells the story of the gangsta rap group, N.W.A. This was only his eighth feature film. With a production budget of $50 million, "Straight Outta Compton" made over $200 million at the box office and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Julie Dash

Julie Dash is a critically acclaimed director who has made movies that focus on the African-American experience. Her 1991 film "Daughters of the Dust" was the first feature film by an African American woman to be released theatrically in the United States. The film tells the story of three generations of Gullah women who are struggling to keep their traditional African-American culture alive.

John Singleton

John Singleton is a critically acclaimed director who became the first African American to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director in 1991 for his film "Boyz n the Hood." The movie tells the story of young men growing up in South Central Los Angeles and deals with issues such as gang violence and poverty.

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry is a director, actor, and producer who has made movies that focus on African-American life and experiences. His films have been both critical and commercial successes, with some of his most famous works being "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," "Madea Goes to Jail," and "Why Did I Get Married?".

Barry Jenkins

Barry Jenkins is a director who has made two critically acclaimed films, both of which deal with the African-American experience. His first film, "Moonlight," tells the story of a young man growing up in Miami and deals with issues such as sexuality and masculinity. His second film, "If Beale Street Could Talk," is based on the novel of the same name by James Baldwin and tells the story of a pregnant woman trying to clear her husband's name from false accusations of rape.

Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay is a director and producer who has made films that focus on the African-American experience. In 2012, she became the first black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for her film "Middle of Nowhere." Her 2014 film "Selma" tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.

Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks is a director, producer, and writer who has made movies that focus on the African-American experience. He is best known for his 1971 film "Shaft," which was the first blaxploitation movie ever made. The movie tells the story of John Shaft, a private detective who investigates a crime boss in Harlem.

Marlon Riggs

Marlon Riggs was a director, producer, and writer. His most famous work is his 1988 documentary film" Ethnic Notions," which explores the history of racist depictions of black people in America. 

Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler is an American film director and screenwriter. He made his feature-length directing debut with "Fruitvale Station" (2013), based on the events leading up to the death of Oscar Grant. He also directed the Marvel film "Black Panther," which is the highest-grossing film of all time by an African-American director.

Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles is known as the father of blaxploitation movies. He wrote, directed, and starred in the movie "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" in 1971, which was a major success. The movie was controversial due to its explicit scenes of sex and violence, but it paved the way for other black filmmakers to make more daring films.

Roger Ross Williams

Roger Ross Williams is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He made his feature directing debut with the documentary "Music by Prudence," which won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen is an English film director and producer. He won an Academy Award for Best Picture for producing "12 Years a Slave" in 2013. McQueen is the first black filmmaker to have received the award.

Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels is an American film director, screenwriter, and television producer. He directed the films "Precious," "The Butler" and "Empire." For his work on "Precious," Daniels was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.

Conclusion

These directors have not only left their mark on the film industry, but they have also helped to change the landscape of Hollywood. They continue to inspire other filmmakers and movie lovers alike with their unique storytelling techniques and stellar films.