Michelle Materre (May 12, 1954 – March 11, 2022) was a pioneering distributor, educator, and producer committed to elevating underrepresented filmmakers. In 1992, she co-founded KJM3 Entertainment, a distribution company whose landmark achievement was the theatrical release of Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust (1991). This marked the first theatrical release of a feature film by a Black American woman and profoundly influenced Black independent cinema. In total, KJM3 distributed 23 films, including Raoul Peck's L'Homme Sur Les Quais/The Man by the Shore (1993) and Charles Burnett's The Glass Shield (1994). 

After KJM3, she launched Materre Media Consulting, working on numerous films including Elza (Mariette Monpierre, 2012), Black Women in Medicine (Crystal R. Emery, 2016), and Playing Frisbee in North Korea (Savanna Washington, 2018). She also co-produced documentary series like Matters of Race (2003). In 1999, Materre launched Creatively Speaking, a film series showcasing underrepresented filmmakers through curated critically acclaimed programs like “The Feminine Mystique,” “Discovery Weekend,” and “Tell It Like It Is: Black Independents in New York.” 

In addition, Materrewas a passionate educator and taught at The New School and other instutitions for over 20 years, focusing her courses on equitable representation in media and earning the “Distinguished Teaching Award” in 2005.

The Michelle Materre Collection documents Materre’s extensive work as a film curator, educator, and media consultant,as well as her passion for uplifting Black, Caribbean, and women-centered media. Highlights include: screeners, publicity materials, consulting files, and production documents from her work with independent filmmakers; materials related to the release and legacy of Daughters of the Dust; documentation, recordings, and promotional items from the Creatively Speaking film series; and photos, recordings, and ephemera from film festivals and events that she organized or attended.