Nia DaCosta

Biography

Nia DaCosta is an American film director and screenwriter known for her bold storytelling, social awareness, and cinematic craftsmanship. She was born on November 8, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Growing up in a creative and culturally diverse environment, DaCosta developed a strong appreciation for film and literature from a young age.

She attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied film and television. During her time there, she was mentored by acclaimed filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, who deeply influenced her approach to visual storytelling and character-driven narratives.

Career

Nia DaCosta began her career working as an assistant and researcher on film and television projects before writing and directing her own short films. Her breakout came with her feature directorial debut, “Little Woods” (2018) — a modern Western starring Tessa Thompson and Lily James. The film was praised for its nuanced portrayal of sisterhood, poverty, and survival in rural America and won the Tribeca Film Festival’s Nora Ephron Prize for outstanding storytelling.

Her success with Little Woods led to her being chosen to direct “Candyman” (2021), a spiritual sequel to the 1992 horror classic. Produced by Jordan Peele, the film was both a critical and commercial success, earning praise for its visually striking style and intelligent exploration of race, trauma, and urban mythology. With Candyman, DaCosta made history as the first Black woman to direct a film that debuted at number one at the U.S. box office.

In 2023, she directed “The Marvels”, a major entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani. Her involvement in the project made her the youngest filmmaker ever to direct a Marvel Studios film, marking another milestone in her fast-rising career.