Pariah's Dee Rees and Adepero Oduye Honored at The Hollywood Reporter's Nex Gen Class of 2011 Event VIDEO

Pariah’s writer / director Dee Rees and star Adepero Oduye have made The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Class of 2011.

Rees originally wrote Pariah as a feature but turned it into a short for her thesis at NYU, which ended up making the film fest rounds and garnering critical acclaim. The feature-length lesbian-themed film that tells the story of Alike, a teen girl living in Brooklyn trying to discover herself and her sexuality amidst homophobia and a volatile home life, will open for a limited run in theaters on Christmas Day. As a side note, be sure to hit the movie theaters and support lesbian filmmaking over the holidays!

Oduye, Pariah’s star in both the short and the feature, turns in a raw, stripped down performance in which she is virtually unrecognizable.

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with her on the red carpet of the Next Gen Class of 2011 event, where Oduye offered sound advice to young people trying to make it in the entertainment business.

“Stay yourself. What makes you unique is what will make you stand out… So be you,” the actress said, also calling Pariah a “dream project” for an actor.

Congrats to both Rees and Oduye. Here’s Oduye on the red carpet.

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