Donnie Betts
Lecturer
- Film & Television
Email Address:donnie.betts@ucdenver.edu
Mailing Address:
- CU Anschutz
Education I
13070 East 19th Avenue
Fourth Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
Betts is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, theater director and podcast host. His documentary “Music is My Life, My Politics, My Mistress: The Story of Oscar Brown Jr.” won 11 Best Film or Audience Choice awards, aired on PBS Plus stations nationwide. The film was featured in IDA Doc Magazine and is part of the Black Film Archives at Indiana University now streaming on kwelitv. His film Dearfield: The Road Less Traveled,” was nominated for an Emmy. He won an Emmy for his film “My Voice” . betts was the youngest winning of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. donnie has created content for John Sayles. betts was part of the production team of Carol & Company for Carol Burnett, In Living Color and Dream On. He has written or directed multiple theater plays including The Mountain Top, receiving a Henry Award for Best Director. He is a founding member of two theater companies in Denver, City Stage Ensemble and Denver Black Arts Company. His audio drama series Destination Freedom Black Radio Days on Broadway Podcast Network has won numerous awards. Upcoming “Resisting” at look at the use of force in America by law enforcement. A producer of the award-winning documentary film, “The Holly” directed by Julian Rubinstein. He will direct August Wilson’s Gem of The Ocean in 2024. He was most recently in David Bryne’s Theatre of The Mind and has acted in over 50 productions including Broadway.
He attended Yale School of Drama.
Education, Licensure & Certifications
Metropolitan State University Denver
BS; Communications and African American History
Awards
Emmy, 15 Best Film Awards from Film Festivals, CBCA Lifetime Award, Governor's Award for Excellent in the Arts and many others.
Affiliations
SAG, AFTRA,Creative & Independent Producer Alliance – CIPA