Charles Burnett is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer, considered a key figure of the L.A. Rebellion movement. His work is distinguished by its exploration of life and family dynamics within the African-American community, narrated in a style that blends neorealism and lyricism. His UCLA thesis film, *Killer of Sheep* (1978), is universally recognized as a masterpiece of independent cinema and has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. His other significant works include *My Brother's Wedding* (1983), the family drama *To Sleep with Anger* (1990) starring Danny Glover, and *The Glass Shield* (1994). Despite distribution challenges, his impact on cinema has been celebrated with prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 1988 and an Honorary Academy Award (Governors Award) in 2017, a testament to his profound and lasting contribution to American cinema.