Ava DuVernay

Ava was born on August 24, 1972 in Long Beach, California. She had an interest in rhyming and hip-hop and enrolled at UCLA. In the 90’s, Ava worked in film publicity before she started DuVernay Agency. The agency focused on movie marketing for African American audiences.

She was inspired to start making her own films while she was on the set of Collateral. She started by releasing short films like Saturday Night Life in 2006. She also released a documentary about alternative hip hop artist called This is the Life in 2008. She released another documentary in 2010 on BET called My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women in Hip Hop. Her debut film as director and screenwriter was I Will Follow.

Ava co-founded African American Film Festival Releasing Movement, this group focused on support of releasing and distribution on black indie movies. Her second film, Middle of Nowhere, earned her the director’s prize at Sundance and was the first black woman to do it!

She directed an episode of Scandal and released a documentary about Venus William called “Venus vs.” The film DuVernay would get notice for was put on hold because she directed The Butler. But after the film, Ava had a film called Selma that would release in 2014. The film talked about African American voting rights being secured in 1964. With this film, DuVernay was nominated and became the first African American woman to receive a Golden Globe nomination. Selma also was nominated for best picture and Original song at the Oscars. Although many wondered why the film was nominated in more categories.

Ava’s more recent project like the 2016 documentary 13TH which was about the American criminal justice system, mass incarceration and race. This film was released on Netflix and also received an Oscar nomination in the documentary feature category.

Ava proved that black women can produce and direct movies that they feel passionate enough about. She taught us if you have enough faith, you can win an Golden Globe!!