Allen Hughes

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Emmy Nominated & Peabody Award-Winning Filmmaker
Director and Producer of FX's 'Dear Mama'
Founder of Defiant Ones Media Group

Award-winning filmmaker Allen Hughes is an accomplished storyteller, whose work explores the American Dream through the lens of pop culture, its intersection with politics, and the global impact of the hip-hop artform. At twenty, Hughes and his twin brother catapulted into the entertainment industry as the creators & directors of Menace II Society. Hughes and his brother are behind the films Dead Presidents, From Hell, The Book of Eli, and the documentary American Pimp. Hughes is the creative architect behind the critically acclaimed four-part HBO documentary series The Defiant Ones, the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. The series was nominated for five Emmys, a Peabody Award, and won the Grammy Award for Best Music Film, the IDA Documentary Award for Best Limited Series, and the NAACP Image Award.

Hughes is the director and executive producer of FX’s Emmy-nominated Dear Mama, the first definitive, comprehensive five-part documentary series on the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur. The series encompasses his relationship with his mother, Afeni Shakur – a celebrated activist – and was produced with the full cooperation of Shakur’s estate, including access to all his music and poetry. Hughes is also the executive producer of Netflix’s Arnold, the three-part documentary series which chronicles Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey from the countryside of Austria to the highest echelons of the American dream. The series is produced by Hughes’ production company Defiant Ones Media Group. A documentarian with his attention on the movements and cultural moments that have shaped history, Hughes shares his insights in captivating moderated conversations about the intersection of creativity, art, politics, and culture.

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Topics: Talks & Conversations with Allen Hughes >>

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'Dear Mama' producers on Tupac Shakur and his activist mom Afeni Shakur | ABCNL

Director Allen Hughes Talks FX’s ‘Dear Mama’ Tupac Shakur Docuseries w/ Rich Eisen | Full Interview

Allen Hughes soul-searched before directing 2Pac 'Dear Mama' docuseries | Associated Press

Talks & Conversations with Allen Hughes

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In Conversation with Acclaimed Filmmaker Allen Hughes

Acclaimed filmmaker Allen Hughes is known for projects including HBO’s The Defiant Ones, the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, and FX’s Dear Mama, the first definitive docu-series on the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur. Hughes explores the American Dream through the lens of pop culture, its inters ...

Acclaimed filmmaker Allen Hughes is known for projects including HBO’s The Defiant Ones, the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, and FX’s Dear Mama, the first definitive docu-series on the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur. Hughes explores the American Dream through the lens of pop culture, its intersection with politics, and the global impact of the hip-hop artform, and shares his insights in this inspiring and creative moderated conversation.

Press & Media

“It’s Going to Take Hip-Hop to Save Us”: Allen Hughes on Menace II Society, Tupac, and Racism - Yahoo Entertainment

‘Dear Mama’ Director Allen Hughes on Tupac Shakur’s Legacy: “He Lived More in a Day Than Most in a Year” - The Hollywood Reporter

How Director Allen Hughes Captured (and Combined) Tupac and Afeni Shakur’s Legacies for ‘Dear Mama’ [video] - Variety

From the Trump era’s BLM revival to the Black Panthers trial: Allen Hughes & Melber on civil rights - MSNBC

Ideas for the Meeting Planner

Biography

Award-winning filmmaker Allen Hughes’ major leap into the entertainment industry came with his and twin brother Albert’s jolting debut as the 20 year-old creators/directors of Menace II Society. His other films with Albert include Dead Presidents, From Hell, The Book of Eli and the documentary American Pimp. Hughes’ most recent project was the critically acclaimed four-part HBO documentary series The Defiant Ones, the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. The series was nominated for five Emmys®, a Peabody® Award, and won the Grammy Award for Best Music Film, the IDA Documentary Award for Best Limited Series, and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special. The series was also nominated for the NAACP for Outstanding Documentary (Television), a Critics’ Choice Documentary Award, and an ACE Eddie Award.

Hughes is the director and executive producer of FX’s Dear Mama, the first definitive, comprehensive five-part documentary series on the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur and his mother Afeni Shakur, who was an activist, with the full cooperation of his estate, including access to all of his music and poetry. The series debut scored FX’s most watched premiere for an unscripted series ever, and currently holds a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. Dear Mama recently received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program.

Hughes is also the executive producer of Netflix’s Arnold, the three-part documentary series which chronicles Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey from the countryside of Austria to the highest echelons of the American dream. The series is produced by Hughes’ production company Defiant Ones Media Group.