Nichelle Nichols documentary Woman in Motion headed to Cannes virtual market

Nichelle Nichols in Woman in Motion

Woman in Motion, the documentary featuring Star Trek actor Nichelle Nichols, is about to go global. If you missed our coverage of the film’s announcement last October, the documentary, which had been making the rounds on the festival circuit since late last year, will now be heading to the Cannes virtual market in June of 2020.

Most of us know Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, the groundbreaking role which placed an African American woman in a position of authority on television screens in a time when women and minorities had few, if any, prominent roles on television. It was a role which would go on to inspire and encourage many fans to pursue their dreams, including Star Trek’s own Whoopi Goldberg, who has often cited Nichols as a source of great inspiration.  

The impact Nichols made wasn’t lost on her. In 1977, Nichols embarked on a four month recruiting campaign for NASA, drawing in more than 8,000 applicants from all backgrounds.  She continued to work with NASA well into the 1980s, helping to bring about the first African American, Latino and Asian astronauts, both men and women. She also inspired the first African American NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden. There is no doubt that she has had a profound influence, broadening cultural equality for the greater good.

That sounds kind of like Star Trek, doesn’t it? Nichelle Nichols’ activism and efforts exemplify the best of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a Star Trek future, one of cooperation, tolerance and inclusion.

Astronauts, activists, artists, scientists and several fellow Star Trek colleagues appear in Woman in Motion.  These include Walter Koenig, George Takei, Michael Dorn, Rod Roddenberry, as well as Original Series writers David Gerrold and the late Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana. For more information on the Woman in Motion documentary, visit womaninmotionmovie.com.