**Nia DaCosta** (born November 8, 1989) is an American filmmaker who has quickly established herself as a groundbreaking voice in contemporary cinema.
Her breakthrough came with her first feature film, *Little Woods* (2018), a crime thriller that earned her the Nora Ephron Prize for Female Filmmakers at the Tribeca Film Festival. The following year, she directed two episodes of the British thriller series *Top Boy*, further building her reputation.
DaCosta made history in 2021 when her horror film *Candyman* opened at No. 1 at the U.S. box office, making her the first Black female director to achieve that milestone. She broke new ground again with *The Marvels* (2023), becoming the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Comics film. Although the movie underperformed commercially, it still became the highest-grossing film ever directed by a Black woman.
Through her work, DaCosta has carved out a distinctive place in Hollywood, consistently pushing boundaries and opening doors for underrepresented filmmakers.
Her breakthrough came with her first feature film, *Little Woods* (2018), a crime thriller that earned her the Nora Ephron Prize for Female Filmmakers at the Tribeca Film Festival. The following year, she directed two episodes of the British thriller series *Top Boy*, further building her reputation.
DaCosta made history in 2021 when her horror film *Candyman* opened at No. 1 at the U.S. box office, making her the first Black female director to achieve that milestone. She broke new ground again with *The Marvels* (2023), becoming the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Comics film. Although the movie underperformed commercially, it still became the highest-grossing film ever directed by a Black woman.
Through her work, DaCosta has carved out a distinctive place in Hollywood, consistently pushing boundaries and opening doors for underrepresented filmmakers.
