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{{short description|American filmmaker (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ava DuVernay
| image = Ava DuVernay 2018.jpg
| image_size = 220
| caption = DuVernay in 2018
| birth_name = Ava Marie DuVernay
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|08|24}}
| birth_place = [[Long Beach, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[University of California, Los Angeles]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation = {{hlist|Director|producer|screenwriter|film publicist}}
}}

'''Ava Marie DuVernay''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|dj|uː|v|ər|ˈ|n|eɪ}};<ref>{{cite news|last=Mekado|first=Murphy|date=January 22, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/100000003464541/anatomy-of-a-scene-selma.html|title=Anatomy of a Scene {{!}} 'Selma'|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref> born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. She is a recipient of two [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]s, two [[NAACP Image Awards|NAACP Image Award]]s, a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Film Award]], and a [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA TV Award]], as well as a nominee for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] and [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]]. In 2011, she founded her independent distribution company [[ARRAY]]. After making her directoral debut, ''[[I Will Follow (film)|I Will Follow]]'' (2010), DuVernay won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the [[2012 Sundance Film Festival]] for her second feature film ''[[Middle of Nowhere (2012 film)|Middle of Nowhere]]'',<ref name=HuffPo-MoN-2012>{{cite news|first1=Gene|last1=Demby|title=Sundance 2012: Ava DuVernay Becomes First Black Woman To Win Best Director Prize For ''Middle Of Nowhere''|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/ava-duvernay-sundance_n_1241286.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=January 30, 2012}}</ref> becoming the first black woman to win the award.<ref name=LATimes-MoN-2012>{{cite news|first1=Mindy|last1=Farabee|title=Ava DuVernay no longer in 'Middle of Nowhere'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2012-dec-20-la-et-mn-middle-of-nowhere-ava-duvernay-20121220-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 20, 2012}}</ref>

For her work on ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]'' (2014), a biopic about [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], DuVernay became the first African-American woman to be nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director]]; the film went on to be nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]].<ref name=HReporter-SelmaGG-2014>{{cite news|last1=Ford|first1=Rebecca|title=Golden Globes: 'Selma's' Ava DuVernay Becomes First Black Woman to Receive Director Nomination|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-selmas-ava-duvernay-756511|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 11, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Guardian-Selma-2014>{{cite news|last1=Suskind|first1=Alex|title=How Ava DuVernay struck a chord with Selma|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/17/ava-duvernay-film-director-selma|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=December 17, 2014}}</ref> Her other film credits include the [[Academy Award for Best Documentary|Academy Award]]-nominated [[Netflix]] documentary ''[[13th (film)|13th]]'' (2016) and the Disney fantasy film ''[[A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film)|A Wrinkle in Time]]'' (2018), the latter making her the first African-American woman to direct a film with a budget of $100 million. In 2023, she directed the biographical film ''[[Origin (film)|Origin]]'' based on [[Isabel Wilkerson]]'s book ''[[Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents]]'' (2020).

DuVernay's television credits include the [[Oprah Winfrey Network|OWN]] drama series ''[[Queen Sugar]]'' (2016) and two [[Netflix]] drama limited series: ''[[When They See Us]]'' (2019), based on the 1989 [[Central Park jogger case]] and ''[[Colin in Black & White]]'' (2021), based on the teenage years of [[National Football League|NFL]] player [[Colin Kaepernick]]. In 2017, DuVernay was included on the annual [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]] list of the most influential people in the world.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The 100 Most Influential People in the World|url=https://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/|date=2017|access-date=September 23, 2020|magazine=Time|language=en-us}}</ref> In 2020, she was elected to the [[Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences]] board of governors as part of the directors branch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/academy-board-of-governors-ava-duvernay-whoopi-goldberg-1202236624/|title= New Academy Board of Governors Includes Ava DuVernay, Whoopi Goldberg, and Wynn P. Thomas|website= [[IndieWire]]|first=Anne|last=Thompson|date= June 10, 2020|access-date= June 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/ava-duvernay-six-elected-film-academy-board-first-time-1297858|title= Ava DuVernay Among Six Elected to Film Academy Board for First Time|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Scott|last=Feinberg|date= June 10, 2020|access-date= June 21, 2020}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Ava Marie DuVernay was born on August 24, 1972, in [[Long Beach, California]]. She was raised by her mother, Darlene ([[née]] Sexton), an educator, and her stepfather, Murray Maye.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/ava-duvernay|title=Ava DuVernay|access-date=September 22, 2016|date=May 24, 2016|work=Biography.com}}</ref> The surname of her biological father, Joseph Marcel DuVernay III, originates with [[Louisiana Creole people|Louisiana Creole]] ancestry.<ref name=fdr1>Stated on ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', [[PBS]], October 24, 2017.</ref> She grew up in [[Lynwood, California]]. She has four siblings.

During her summer vacations, she would travel to the childhood home of her stepfather, which was not far from [[Selma, Alabama]].<ref name=60Minutes-Selma-2015>{{cite news|last1=Simon|first1=Bob|title=Where 'Selma' Meets Hollywood|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/selma-ava-duvernay-60-minutes/|work=[[60 Minutes]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=February 8, 2015|format=TV interview/segment}}</ref> DuVernay said that these summers influenced the making of ''Selma,'' as her father had witnessed the 1965 [[Selma to Montgomery marches]].<ref name=RStone-Selma-2015>{{cite magazine|last1=Edwards|first1=Gavin|title=We Shall Overcome: Ava DuVernay on Making 'Selma'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/ava-duvernay-on-making-selma-20150105|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>

Raised [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], in 1990 DuVernay graduated from [[St. Joseph High School (Lakewood, California)|Saint Joseph High School]] in [[Lakewood, California|Lakewood]].<ref name=StJosephsHighSchool-2015>{{cite web|title=SJ Alumna Receives A Golden Globe Nomination|url=https://www.sj-jester.org/apps/news/article/425495|work=[[St. Joseph High School (Lakewood, California)|St. Joseph's High School]]|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306072408/http://www.sj-jester.org/apps/news/article/425495|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ava DuVernay is Triumphant (Transcript) |url=https://www.ted.com/podcasts/worklife/ava-duvernay-is-triumphant-transcript |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=www.ted.com |language=en}}</ref> At the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA), she was a double BA major in [[English literature]] and [[African-American studies]]. DuVernay is an honorary member of [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] sorority.<ref name=Biography-Profile-2018>{{cite web|title=Ava DuVernay Biography: Documentarian, Screenwriter, Director (1972–)|url=https://www.biography.com/people/ava-duvernay|date=February 27, 2018|work=[[Biography (TV series)|Biography]]}}</ref><ref name=UCLAMag-MoN-2012>{{cite news|first1=Bekah|last1=Wright|title=Direct Actio|url=http://magazine.ucla.edu/depts/style/direct-action/|work=UCLA Magazine|publisher=[[University of California, Los Angeles]]|date=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name=TheCut-Conversation-2016>{{cite news|last1=Traister|first1=Rebecca|title=In Conversation: Ava DuVernay|url=https://www.thecut.com/2016/09/ava-duvernay-the-13th-queen-sugar-c-v-r.html|work=The Cut|publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=September 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Agoralumiere-SaturdayNight-2006>{{cite web|last1=Miles|first1=Ellene V.|title=Agoralumiere Film Series: Saturday Night by Ava DuVernay (USA)|url=http://www.agoralumiere.org/FILMS/SATURDAY.htm|work=Agoralumiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2006|date=2006|format=Press release|access-date=February 4, 2018|archive-date=February 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204182412/http://www.agoralumiere.org/FILMS/SATURDAY.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2021, DuVernay was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Fine Arts]] degree from [[Yale University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ava DuVernay {{!}} Yale 2021 |url=https://yale2021.yale.edu/honorary-degrees/ava-duvernay |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=yale2021.yale.edu}}</ref>

==Career==
=== 1991–2008: Early work ===
DuVernay reportedly did not pick up a camera until she was 32.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Connley|first=Courtney|date=March 10, 2018|title=How a career change at 32 led Ava DuVernay to become the first black woman to direct a $100 million film|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/09/a-career-change-at-32-led-ava-duvernay-to-directing-blockbusters.html|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> DuVernay's first interest was journalism, a choice influenced by an internship with [[CBS News]]. She was assigned to help cover the [[O.J. Simpson murder trial]].<ref name=UCLAMag-MoN-2012/> DuVernay became disillusioned with journalism, however, and decided to move into public relations, working as a junior publicist at [[20th Century Fox]], [[Savoy Pictures]], and a few other PR agencies. She opened her own public relations firm, The DuVernay Agency, also known as DVAPR, in 1999.<ref name=Vulture-Selma-Interview-2014>{{cite news|last1=Yuan|first1=Jada|title=With Her MLK Drama Selma, Ava DuVernay Is Directing History|url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/12/ava-duvernay-on-the-long-road-to-selma.html|work=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]]|date=December 2, 2014|language=en}}</ref>

Through DVAPR she provided marketing and PR services to the entertainment and lifestyle industry, working on campaigns for movies and television shows, such as ''[[Lumumba (film)|Lumumba]]'', ''[[Spy Kids (film)|Spy Kids]]'', ''[[Shrek 2]]'', ''[[The Terminal]]'', ''[[Collateral (film)|Collateral]]'', and ''[[Dreamgirls (film)|Dreamgirls]]''.<ref name=Biography-Profile-2018 /><ref name=UCLAMag-MoN-2012 /><ref name=Agoralumiere-SaturdayNight-2006 /><ref name=CNN-MoN-2012>{{cite news|first1=Alicia W.|last1=Stewart|title=Filmmaker Ava DuVernay uses a lens of legacy|url=http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/25/filmmaker-ava-duvernay-uses-a-lens-of-legacy/|work=[[CNN]]|date=October 25, 2012|format=Includes video and transcript|access-date=November 25, 2014|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107173737/http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/25/filmmaker-ava-duvernay-uses-a-lens-of-legacy/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes-MoN-2012>{{cite news|last1=Rickey|first1=Carrie|title=She's a Graduate of an Unusual Film School|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/movies/ava-duvernay-and-middle-of-nowhere.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name=Filmmaker-MoN-Interview-2012>{{cite news|first1=Nekisa|last1=Cooper|title=Love on the Outside|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/57145-love-on-the-outside/|work=[[Filmmaker (magazine)|Filmmaker]]|date=November 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name=Source-Profile-2016>{{cite news|first1=Da'ryl|last1=Victoria|title=Breaking Barriers: Ava DuVernay Directs Things Her Way|url=http://thesource.com/2016/03/23/breaking-barriers-ava-duvernay-directs-things-her-way/|work=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|date=March 23, 2016}}</ref>

Other ventures launched by DuVernay include Urban Beauty Collective, a promotional network that began in 2003 and had more than 10,000 African-American beauty salons and barbershops in 16 U.S. cities, expanded to 20 in 2008. They were mailed a free monthly ''[[Access Hollywood]]''-style promotion program called UBC-TV,<ref name=LATimes-UCBTV-2003>{{cite news|last1=Pollard-Terry|first1=Gayle|title=Style videos could start a new wave of good hair days|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-05-et-pollard5-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 5, 2003}}</ref><ref name=Billboard-UBCTV-2003>{{cite magazine|last1=Mitchell|first1=Gail|title=Firms Create Novel Marketing Twists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0REEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 1, 2003}}</ref> the African-American blog hub Urban Thought Collective in 2008, Urban Eye, a two-minute long weekday celebrity and entertainment news show distributed to radio stations,<ref name=DVAHQ-2018>{{cite web|title=DVA Media + Marketing|url=http://www.dvahq.com/home.html|access-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref> and [https://hellobeautiful.com/ HelloBeautiful], a digital platform for [[millennial]] [[women of color]].<ref name=InteractiveOne-HelloBeautiful-2013>{{cite news|title=HelloBeautiful.com Premieres Interludes Live! With Superstar John Legend On TV One Saturday Sep 14th @ 10 PM|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hellobeautifulcom-premieres-interludes-live-with-superstar-john-legend-on-tv-one-saturday-sep-14th--10-pm-223670451.html|work=[[Interactive One]]|date=September 13, 2013|format=Press release}}</ref>

In 2005, over the Christmas holiday, DuVernay decided to take $6,000 and make her first film, a short called ''Saturday Night Life''.<ref name=Agoralumiere-SaturdayNight-2006 /><ref name="Filmmaker-MoN-2012">{{cite news|url=http://filmmakermagazine.com/37878-middle-of-nowhere-writer-director-ava-duvernay/|title=Middle of Nowhere – Writer/Director Ava DuVernay|work=[[Filmmaker (magazine)|Filmmaker]]|date=January 20, 2012}}</ref> Based on her mother's experiences,<ref name=Agoralumiere-SaturdayNight-2006 /> the 12-minute film was about an uplifting trip by a struggling single mother ([[Melissa De Sousa]]) and her three kids to a local Los Angeles discount grocery store. The film toured the festival circuit and was broadcast on February 6, 2007, as part of [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]'s ''Black Filmmaker Showcase''.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

DuVernay next explored making documentaries, because they can be done on a smaller budget than fiction films, and she could learn the trade while doing so.<ref name=Interview-MoN-2012>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Emma|title=In the Middle of Somewhere with Ava DuVernay and Emayatzy Corinealdi|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/ava-duvernay-emayatzy-corinealdi/|work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]|date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> In 2007, she directed the short ''Compton in C Minor,'' for which she "challenged herself to capture [[Compton, California|Compton]] in only two hours and present whatever she found." The following year, she made her feature directorial debut with the [[alternative hip hop]] documentary ''[[This Is the Life (2008 film)|This Is the Life]],'' a history of LA's [[Good Life Cafe]]'s arts movement, in which she participated as part of the duo [[Figures of Speech]]. ''This is the Life'' won audience awards at the ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto, the Los Angeles Pan-African Film Festival, the Hollywood Black Film Festival, and the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival in Seattle.<ref name=Martin2014/>

=== 2010–2013: Film debut and breakthrough ===
[[File:DuVernaySanFranFilmFest.jpg|left|thumb|276x276px|DuVernay at the 2010 [[AFI Film Festival]]]]
In 2010, DuVernay directed three TV documentaries. The first, two-hour concert film ''TV One Night Only: Live from the Essence Music Festival'', was a mix of live performances and behind-the-scenes vignettes. It aired August 28, 2010, on [[TV One (U.S. TV network)|TV One]] and showcases the U.S.'s largest annual African-American entertainment gathering, the [[Essence Music Festival]]. In 2010 it was held July 2–4 in [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philasun.com/entertainment/tv-one-features-specials-of-the-2010-essence-music-festival-washington-watch-and-life-after-aug-29-30/|title=TV One features specials of the 2010 Essence Music Festival, Washington Watch and Life After, Aug. 29-30|work=The Philadelphia Sunday Sun|date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> Two days later, [[BET]] premiered its first original music documentary, ''My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop'', a 41-minute long history of female hip hop artists.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129530573|title=Female Emcees Say 'My Mic Sounds Nice'|work=[[NPR]]|date=August 30, 2010}}</ref> On [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] 2010, TV One showed DuVernay's 44-minute documentary special ''Essence Presents: Faith Through the Storm'', about two Black sisters who reclaimed their lives after personal devastation during Hurricane Katrina. "It was done for a client, for ''[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]''. They wanted to talk about how faith helped them through, that was very important to them. So it is interspersed with gospel music, images of Katrina, their home and family."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.intrepidmedia.com/column.asp?id=4201|title=An Interview with Ava DuVernay|work=Intrepid Media|first=Jason|last=Gilmore|date=November 12, 2010|access-date=February 4, 2018|archive-date=February 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124244/http://www.intrepidmedia.com/column.asp?id=4201|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''' ''I Will Follow''''' 
{{main|I Will Follow (film)}}
In 2011, DuVernay's first narrative feature film, ''[[I Will Follow (film)|I Will Follow]]'', a drama starring [[Salli Richardson-Whitfield]], was released theatrically. DuVernay's aunt Denise Sexton was the inspiration for the film.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} In an interview, DuVernay talked about how her real life experiences differed from the film: "I was a caregiver for my aunt, Denise Sexton, in the last year and a half of her life. She was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She was a fighter and was active in her treatment to the end, which was different than the character in the film who wants to fight in a different way."<ref name=Martin2014/> The film cost DuVernay $50,000 and was made in 14 days.<ref name="NYTimes-MoN-2012" /> [[Roger Ebert]] called it "one of the best films I've seen about coming to terms with the death of a loved one."<ref name="Ebert-IWF-Review-2012">{{cite news|last1=Ebert|first1=Roger|title=I Will Follow (2010). Genres: Drama. Roger's Office: I Will Follow|url=http://www.ebertpresents.com/movies/i-will-follow/videos/78|work=[[Ebert Presents: At the Movies]]|date=2012|format=Video includes transcript|access-date=July 15, 2018|archive-date=March 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317180105/http://www.ebertpresents.com/movies/i-will-follow/videos/78|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Ebert-IWF-Review-2011">{{cite news|last1=Ebert|first1=Roger|title=I Will Follow|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/i-will-follow-2011|work=[[RogerEbert.com]]|date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> ''I Will Follow'' was an official selection of [[AFI Fest]], [[Pan-African Film Festival]], Urbanworld and [[Chicago International Film Festival]].

It wasn't until after ''[[I Will Follow (film)|I Will Follow]]'' that DuVernay fully left her job in publicity. DuVernay stated: "I knew that as a Black woman in this industry, I wouldn't have people knocking down my door to give me money for my projects, so I was happy to make them on the side while working my day job."<ref name=":2" />

''' ''Middle of Nowhere'' '''
{{main|Middle of Nowhere (2012 film)}}

In the summer of 2011, DuVernay began production on her second narrative feature film, ''[[Middle of Nowhere (2012 film)|Middle of Nowhere]]'', from a script she had written in 2003 but was unable to finance.<ref name="Filmmaker-MoN-2012" /> The film drew from her own experiences growing up in Compton and Inglewood.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=June 19, 2012|title=On Location: 'Middle of Nowhere' finds love in South-Central L.A.|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2012-jun-19-la-et-ct-onlocation-20120619-story.html|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> The story focuses on the wife of an incarcerated man who is serving a 10-year sentence. She drops out of medical school in order to have more time and emotional energy to give to her incarcerated spouse. The film explores how the families of the incarcerated are also victims of the system and shows how commonly this burden of incarceration falls upon women of color. In an interview with the ''LA Times'', DuVernay touched on her inspiration for the film, "The idea of looking at the victims of incarceration – the mothers, sisters and daughters -- really came out of knowing women who were going through it."<ref name=":3" />

The film had its world premiere on January 20 at the [[2012 Sundance Film Festival]], where it played in U.S. dramatic competition.<ref name="HReporter-MoN-Sundance-2012">{{cite news|last1=Fernandez|first1=Jay A.|title=Sundance Preview: Competition Drama 'Middle of Nowhere'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/sundance-preview-competition-drama-middle-280261|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 10, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124118/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/sundance-preview-competition-drama-middle-280261|archive-date=February 4, 2018|url-status = dead}}</ref> It garnered the U.S. Directing Award: Dramatic for DuVernay. She was the first African-American woman to win the prize. DuVernay also won the [[28th Independent Spirit Awards|2012]] [[Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award]] for her work on the film.<ref name="Essence-MoN-ISAward-2013">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Celia L.|title=Ava DuVernay Wins Independent Spirit Award for 'Middle of Nowhere'|url=https://www.essence.com/2013/02/24/ava-duvernay-wins-independent-spirit-award-middle-nowhere|work=[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]|date=February 24, 2013}}</ref>

DuVernay was commissioned by the [[Smithsonian]]'s [[National Museum of African American History and Culture]] to create a film about [[African-American history]]. Her ''August 28: A Day in the Life of a People'' explores six historical events that happened on the same date, August 28, in different years. It debuted at the museum's opening on September 24, 2016. The 22-minute film stars [[Lupita Nyong'o]], [[Don Cheadle]], [[Regina King]], [[David Oyelowo]], [[Angela Bassett]], [[Michael Ealy]], [[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]], [[André Holland]] and [[Glynn Turman]]. Events depicted include [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]'s [[royal assent]] to the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|UK Slavery Abolition Act]] in 1833, the 1955 lynching of 14-year-old [[Emmett Till]] in [[Mississippi]], the release of [[Motown]]'s first number-one song, "[[Please Mr. Postman]]" by [[The Marvellettes]], Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 ''[[I Have a Dream]]'' speech, the landfall of [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005, and the night Senator [[Barack Obama]] accepted the Democratic nomination for president at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]].<ref name=Essence-NMAAHC-2016>{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Rachaell|title=Why Is August 28 So Special To Black People? Ava DuVernay Reveals All In New NMAAHC Film|url=http://www.essence.com/2016/09/22/ava-duvernay-premiere-nmaahc|work=[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]|date=September 22, 2016}}</ref>

Michael T. Martin says, "DuVernay is among the vanguard of a new generation of Black filmmakers who are the busily undeterred catalyst for what may very well be a Black film renaissance in the making."<ref name=Martin2014/> He further speaks of DuVernay's mission and "call to action" which constitutes a strategy "to further and foster the Black cinematic image in an organized and consistent way, and to not have to defer and ask permission to traffic our films: to be self-determining."<ref name=Martin2014/>

The "DuVernay test" is the racial equivalent of the [[Bechdel test]] (for women in movies), as first suggested by ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' writers Nadia and Leila Latif<ref>{{cite news|last=Latif|first=Nadia|title=How to fix Hollywood's race problem
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/18/hollywoods-race-problem-film-industry-actors-of-colour|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 18, 2016}}</ref> and then by ''[[The New York Times]]'' film critic [[Manohla Dargis]] in January 2016, asking whether "blacks and other minorities have fully realized lives rather than serve as scenery in white stories."<ref>{{cite news|last=Dargis|first=Manohla|title=Sundance Fights Tide With Films Like 'The Birth of a Nation'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/movies/sundance-fights-tide-with-films-like-the-birth-of-a-nation.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> It aims to point out the lack of people of color in [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] movies, through a measure of their importance to a particular movie or the lack of a gratuitous link to white actors.<ref name=2016-02-01_TC>{{cite news|url=https://www.thecut.com/2016/02/could-this-be-the-bechdel-test-for-race.html|title=Could This Be the Bechdel Test for Race|last=Evans|first=Dayna|date=February 1, 2016|work=The Cut|publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]}}</ref>

In 2013, DuVernay partnered with [[Miu Miu]] as part of their ''[[Women's Tales]]'' film series.<ref name=MiuMiu-Door-2014>{{cite web|title="The Door" by Ava DuVernay: Women's Tales #5|url=http://www.miumiu.com/en/women_tales/5/film|work=[[Miu Miu]]|date=2014}}</ref> Her short film ''The Door'' starred actress [[Gabrielle Union]] and reunited DuVernay with her ''[[Middle of Nowhere (2012 film)|Middle of Nowhere]]'' star [[Emayatzy Corinealdi]]. The film premiered online in February 2013<ref name=Interview-Door-2013>{{cite news|last1=Small|first1=Rachel|title=Ava DuVernay Brings Us Through the Door|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/ava-duvernay-brings-us-through-the-door|work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]|date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> and was presented at the ''Venice Days'' sidebar of the [[70th Venice International Film Festival]] in August.<ref name=HuffPo-Door-2013>{{cite news|last1=Rothe|first1=E. Nina|title=Best of Venice 70: 'Miu Miu Women's Tales' – The Door and Le Donne della Vucciri|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/e-nina-rothe/best-of-venice-70-miu-miu_b_3842140.html|work=[[Huffington Post]]|date=August 30, 2013}}</ref> Also in August 2013, DuVernay released, through [[Vimeo]],<ref name=SayYes-2013>{{Vimeo|71992175|DuVernay <nowiki>|</nowiki> Say Yes}}, uploaded August 8, 2013.</ref> a second branded short film entitled ''Say Yes''.<ref name=Ebony-SayYes-2013>{{cite news|title=Fashion Fair presents Say Yes by Ava DuVernay|url=http://www.ebony.com/style/fashion-fair-presents-say-yes-by-ava-duvernay-987|work=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|date=August 16, 2013}}</ref> The film was sponsored by cosmetic brand [[Ebony Fashion Fair|Fashion Fair]] and starred [[Kali Hawk]] and [[Lance Gross]] with [[Julie Dash]], [[Victoria Mahoney]], [[Lorraine Toussaint]] and [[Issa Rae]] appearing as extras. [[ESPN]] commissioned DuVernay to produce and direct ''Venus Vs.'', a documentary on [[Venus Williams]]'s fight for equal prize money. This was to be included in their film series ''[[Nine for IX]]'', which aired on July 2, 2013.<ref name=ESPN-IX-2013>{{cite news|url=http://espn.go.com/espnw/nine-for-ix/8948839/nine-ix-film-summary-director-venus-vs|title=Nine for IX: 'Venus Vs.'|work=[[ESPN]]|date=June 26, 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527074437/http://espn.go.com/espnw/nine-for-ix/8948839/nine-ix-film-summary-director-venus-vs|archive-date=May 27, 2013}}</ref> DuVernay also directed the [[John Legend]] episode of the performance-and-interview series ''HelloBeautiful Interludes Live'', which was shown September 14, 2013, on TV One as the series' broadcast premiere.<ref name=InteractiveOne-HelloBeautiful-2013 /> She also directed the eighth episode of the third season of the [[political thriller]] [[television series]] ''[[Scandal (TV series)|Scandal]]''. The episode, titled "[[Vermont is For Lovers, Too]]", premiered on November 21, 2013, on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref name="Indiewire-Scandal-2013">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/ava-duvernay-will-direct-an-episode-of-scandal-next-season|title=Ava DuVernay Will Direct An Episode Of 'Scandal' Next Season|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=July 12, 2013|first=Tambay A.|last=Obenson|access-date=July 19, 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221052324/http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/ava-duvernay-will-direct-an-episode-of-scandal-next-season|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''' ''Selma'' ''' 
{{Main|Selma (film)}}
[[File:Ava DuVernay 2015.jpg|thumb|263x263px|DuVernay in 2015]]
DuVernay directed ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]'', a $20 million budget dramatic film<ref name=Martin2014/> about [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], and the [[Selma to Montgomery marches|1965 Selma to Montgomery march]] for voting rights.<ref name="Indiewire-Selma-2013">{{cite news|last1=Obenson|first1=Tambay|title=Huge! Ava DuVernay Tapped By Brad Pitt's Plan B To Take Over Lee Daniels' 'Selma'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/huge-ava-duvernay-tapped-by-brad-pitts-plan-b-to-take-over-lee-daniels-selma|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=July 11, 2013}}</ref> The movie, produced by [[Plan B Entertainment]], was released on December 25, 2014, to critical acclaim.<ref name=Indiewire-Selma-2014>{{cite news|first1=Kevin|last1=Jagernauth|title=Ava DuVernay's 'Selma' Enters Oscar Race, Sets Christmas Day Release|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/ava-duvernays-selma-enters-oscar-race-sets-christmas-day-release-20140620|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=June 20, 2014}}</ref> DuVernay in an interview at Indiana University stated that ''Selma'' would be "the first major feature film in theaters that has anything to do with King's essential character"<ref name=Martin2014/> making it a historical landmark in the history of biopics. She made uncredited re-writes of most of the original screenplay by Paul Webb in order to emphasize King and the people of Selma as central figures.<ref name=WashPost-Selma-2014>{{cite news|last1=Hornaday|first1=Ann|title=DuVernay, David Oyelowo on breaking Martin Luther King Jr. out of myth and into life|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/ava-duvernay-david-oyelowo-on-breaking-martin-luther-king-jr-out-of-myth-and-into-life/2014/12/25/0caceefc-8b71-11e4-a085-34e9b9f09a58_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 26, 2014}}</ref><ref name=NewYorker-Selma-2014>{{cite magazine|last1=Brody|first1=Richard|title=The Crucial Lessons of Democracy in "Selma"|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/crucial-lessons-democracy-selma|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=December 29, 2014}}</ref> In an October 2020 interview on ''[[The Carlos Watson Show]]'', DuVernay claimed that she, not Webb, was the principal writer, saying that the biggest mistake of her career was allowing Webb "to take credit for writing ''Selma'' when I wrote it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ava DuVernay: "Justice and Storytelling Go Hand in Hand" - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUyVOX6vFPo|access-date=2021-01-26|website=www.youtube.com| date=October 30, 2020 }}</ref> In response to criticism by some historians and media sources who accused her of irresponsibly rewriting history to portray her own agenda, DuVernay said that the film is "not a documentary. I'm not a historian. I'm a storyteller."<ref name=Reuters-Selma-2015>{{cite news|last1=Milliken|first1=Mary|title='Selma' director makes history before awards are bestowed|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/film-selma-duvernay-idUSL1N0UK2C920150106|work=[[Reuters]]|date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>

The film was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]], but not [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], at the 2014 [[Academy Awards]]. The lack of diversity among the Oscar nominations for 2014 was the subject of much press,<ref name=Grantland-Selma-2015>{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Mark|title=How 'Selma' Got Smeared: On historical drama and its malcontents|url=http://grantland.com/features/selma-oscars-academy-awards-historical-accuracy-controversy/|work=[[Grantland]]|date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> especially on [[Twitter]].<ref name=DemocracyNow-OscarSnub-2015>{{cite news|last1=Goodman|first1=Amy|last2=DuVernay|first2=Ava|title=Selma Director Ava DuVernay on Hollywood's Lack of Diversity, Oscar Snub and #OscarsSoWhite Hashtag|url=https://www.democracynow.org/2015/1/27/selma_director_ava_duvernay_on_hollywoods|work=[[Democracy Now!]]|date=January 27, 2015|format=Video interview includes transcript}}</ref> This film was the only one directed by a [[person of color]] that was nominated for the [[87th Academy Awards]]. The award for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] went to "[[Glory (Common and John Legend song)|Glory]]" from ''Selma''.<ref name=ABCNews-Oscars-2015>{{cite news|title=List of 87th Academy Award Winners|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/partial-list-oscar-winners-29149735|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=LatinPost-Oscars-2015>{{cite news|last1=Ontiveros|first1=Roberto|title=Oscars 2015: A Look at Biggest Latino Oscar Winners of the Past|url=https://www.latinpost.com/articles/39035/20150222/http-admin-latinpost-com-pages-publish-publish-form-php-se-mb-no-138-getstring-se-mb-no-3d138-26amp-3b.htm|work=LatinPost|date=February 22, 2015}}</ref> DuVernay said that she had not expected to be nominated as director, so the omission did not really bother her, but she was disappointed that actor [[David Oyelowo]], who portrayed King, was not nominated as Best Actor. She said that the obstacles to people of color being represented in the Academy Awards were systemic.<ref name=DemocracyNow-OscarSnub-2015 />

After ''Selma'', DuVernay was approached by executives to direct Marvel's first film about a superhero of color, [[Black Panther (film)|''Black Panther'']], but she passed. In an interview with ''Essence'' DuVernay provided insight on why she passed on the project: "I think I'll just say we had different ideas about what the story would be. Marvel has a certain way of doing things and I think they're fantastic and a lot of people love what they do. I loved that they reached out to me."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=EXCLUSIVE: Ava DuVernay Won't Be Directing 'Black Panther' Movie|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/exclusive-ava-duvernay-not-directing-black-panther-movie/|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=Essence|date=October 27, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> She also expressed her support for the project moving forward, "I love the character of Black Panther, the nation of Wakanda and all that that could be visually. I wish them well and will be first in line to see it."<ref name=":4" />

In 2015, [[Apple Music]] and their ad agency Translation hired DuVernay to helm a series of three commercials starring [[Mary J. Blige]], [[Taraji P. Henson]] and [[Kerry Washington]]. The first ad, ''Chapter 1'', premiered during [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s [[67th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy broadcast]] on September 20, 2015.<ref name=AdAge-EmmysAppleAd-2015>{{cite news|last1=Diaz|first1=Ann-Christine|title=How Apple Music's Star-Studded Emmys Ad Came Together|url=http://adage.com/article/advertising/apple-s-star-studded-emmy-s-ad/300463/|work=[[AdAge]]|date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> ''Chapter 2'' and ''Chapter 3'' debuted in November 2015 and February 2016, respectively.<ref name=CreativityOnline-2018>{{cite news|title=Ava DuVernay|url=http://creativity-online.com/credits/ava-duvernay/77188/1|work=[[Creativity (magazine)|Creativity]]|publisher=[[AdAge]]|date=2018}}</ref> In 2015, DuVernay executive produced and directed the [[CBS]] civil rights crime drama pilot ''For Justice'', starring [[Anika Noni Rose]].<ref name="HReporter-ForJustice-2015">{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|title='Selma's' Ava DuVernay 'For Justice'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/selmas-ava-duvernay-justice-772276|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref> It was not picked up for distribution.<ref name=":4" /> That same year, DuVernay announced she would be creating and executive producing the drama series ''[[Queen Sugar]]'', based on Natalie Baszile's [[Queen Sugar (novel)|novel]].<ref name=Deadline-QueenSugar-2015>{{cite news|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=Oprah Winfrey To Co-Star In & Co-Create With 'Selma' Filmmaker Ava DuVernay 'Queen Sugar' OWN Drama Series|url=https://deadline.com/2015/02/oprah-winfrey-selma-filmmaker-ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-own-drama-series-1201364863/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name=HReporter-QueenSugar-Oprah-2015>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Stacey|title='Selma' Director Ava DuVernay on 'Awkward and Weird' First Meeting With Oprah Winfrey|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/selma-director-ava-duvernay-awkward-774627|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> ''Queen Sugar'' premiered September 6, 2016, on [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)|Oprah Winfrey Network]] to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/queen_sugar/|title=Queen Sugar (2016 - 2017)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> DuVernay wrote four episodes and directed two. On August 1, 2016, the series was renewed for a second season ahead of its television premiere; it aired in a two-night premiere on June 20 and 21, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/oprah-winfrey-ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-gets-season-2-renewal-own-1201796851/|title=Ava DuVernay-Directed 'Queen Sugar' Gets Season 2 Pickup From OWN – TCA|last=Patten|first=Dominic|date=August 1, 2016|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://shadowandact.com/2016/08/01/own-renews-queen-sugar-for-a-16-episode-second-season-ahead-of-its-season-1-premiere/|title=OWN Gives 'Queen Sugar' an Early 16-Episode Second Season Renewal + A New Trailer|date=August 1, 2016|work=[[Shadow and Act]]|archive-date=August 18, 2016|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818074839/http://shadowandact.com/2016/08/01/own-renews-queen-sugar-for-a-16-episode-second-season-ahead-of-its-season-1-premiere/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series was renewed for a third season on July 26, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/queen-sugar-scores-season-3-renewal-on-own/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726231234/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/queen-sugar-scores-season-3-renewal-on-own/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2017|title='Queen Sugar' scores Season 3 renewal on OWN|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=July 26, 2017|work=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> In August 2018, OWN renewed the series for a fourth season, which premiered on June 12, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Queen Sugar' Renewed For Season 4 By OWN With New Showrunner Anthony Sparks|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/queen-sugar-renewed-season-4-own-new-showrunner-anthony-sparks-1202442491/|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=August 8, 2018|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|language=en|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=TV News Roundup: Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong Netflix Comedy 'Tuca and Bertie' Sets Premiere Date|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/tv-news-roundup-tiffany-haddish-ali-wong-netflix-animated-comedy-1203163416/|last=Moreau|first=Jordan|date=March 14, 2019|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref>

=== 2016–present: Career expansion ===
[[File:Ava DuVernay Cannes 2018.jpg|thumb|339x339px|Ava DuVernay at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival|71st annual Cannes Film Festival]] in 2018]]
''' ''13th'' '''
{{Main|13th (film)}}
In July 2016, the [[New York Film Festival]] made the surprise announcement that ''[[13th (film)|13th]]'', a documentary directed by DuVernay, would open the festival. Until the announcement no mention of the film had been made by either DuVernay or [[Netflix]], the film's distributor.<ref name=Variety-NYFF-13th-2016>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Gordon|title=2016 New York Film Festival to Open With Ava DuVernay Documentary 'The 13th'|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/new-york-film-festival-2016-opening-night-1201817239/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> Centered on [[race in the United States criminal justice system]], the film is titled after the [[Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution]], which outlawed slavery (except as punishment for a crime). DuVernay's documentary opens with the statement that 25 percent of the people in the world who are incarcerated are incarcerated in the U.S., and argues that slavery has been effectively perpetuated in the U.S. through disproportionate [[mass incarceration]] of people of color. The film features several prominent activists, politicians, and public figures, such as [[Bryan Stevenson]], [[Angela Davis]], [[Van Jones]], [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Cory Booker]], [[Henry Louis Gates Jr.]],  [[Michelle Alexander]], and others, who discuss such issues as convict leasing, the war on drugs, and disproportionate arrests, convictions and sentencing of minorities.<ref name=Guardian-13th-2016>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Nigel M.|title=The 13th: inside Ava DuVernay's Netflix prison documentary on racial inequality|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/26/the-13th-trailer-ava-duvernay-netflix-prison-race|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=September 26, 2016}}</ref> It was also the first critically acclaimed documentary to highlight the story of [[Kalief Browder]].

It was released on October 7, 2016, on [[Netflix]].<ref name=Vulture-NYFF-2016>{{cite news|last1=Lockett|first1=Dee|title=Ava DuVernay's The 13th Will Be the First Documentary to Ever Open the New York Film Festival|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/ava-duvernay-documentary-the-13th-to-open-nyff.html|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> ''13th'' garnered acclaim from film critics and has a 97% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 94 reviews. The critical consensus says: "''13th'' strikes at the heart of America's tangled racial history, offering observations as incendiary as they are calmly controlled."<ref name=RottenTomatoes-13th-2916>{{cite web|title=13th (2016)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/13th|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> In a review from Awards Circuit, Angela Davis said "''13th'' is probably the most important movie you'll ever see."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avaduvernay.com/|title=Ava DuVernay|website=Ava DuVernay|language=en-US|access-date=April 30, 2019|archive-date=July 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708154849/http://www.avaduvernay.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, the film was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature]] at the [[89th Academy Awards|89th Oscars]];<ref name=AMPAS-OscarNoms-2017>{{cite web|title=Oscar Nominations|url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees|work=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]|access-date=January 24, 2017}}</ref> DuVernay became the first Black woman to be nominated by the academy as a director in a feature category.<ref name=Vogue-OscarNoms-2017>{{cite news|first1=Patricia|last1=Garcia|title=Ava DuVernay Doesn't Want Praise, She Wants Change|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/ava-duvernay-oscar-nomination-oscars-so-male|work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|date=February 6, 2017}}</ref> The film also won a [[Peabody Award]] in 2017<ref name=HReporter-PeabodyAwards-13th-2017>{{cite news|last1=Nordyke|first1=Kimberly|last2=Lewis|first2=Hilary|title=Peabody Awards: Norman Lear, 'Lemonade,' 'Atlanta,' 'Veep' Among Winners|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/peabody-awards-oj-made-america-13th-documentary-winners-995048|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=April 18, 2017|language=en}}</ref> and a [[Columbia Journalism School]] [[Dupont Award|duPont Award]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://journalism.columbia.edu/winners-2018-dupont-columbia-awards|title=Winners of the 2018 duPont-Columbia Awards|website=Columbia University in the City of New York|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=June 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621135253/https://journalism.columbia.edu/winners-2018-dupont-columbia-awards|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her music video for the [[Jay-Z]] ft. [[Beyoncé]] song "[[4:44 (album)#Music videos|Family Feud]]" premiered December 29, 2017, on [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]].<ref name=VanityFair-FamilyFeud-2017>{{cite news|last1=Stefansky|first1=Emma|title=Jay-Z Confesses His Sins to Beyoncé in Ava DuVernay-Directed "Family Feud" Music Video|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/12/jay-z-ava-duvernay-family-feud-music-video|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>

''' ''A Wrinkle in Time'' ''' 
{{Main|A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film)}}
In 2010, it was announced that [[Disney]] carried the [[A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film)|film rights]] to Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel ''[[A Wrinkle in Time]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://screenrant.com/a-wrinkle-in-time-film-disne-benk-49886/|title=Script in the Works for 'A Wrinkle in Time'|work=[[Screen Rant]]|last=Kendrick|first=Ben|date=March 23, 2010}}</ref> which follows a young girl traveling through space and time. Following the success of [[Tim Burton]]'s ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'', Disney announced the hiring of Jeff Stockwell to write the screenplay for [[Cary Granat]] and his new [[Bedrock Studios]]. Granat had previously worked with Disney on the ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia (film series)|Chronicles of Narnia]]'' and ''[[Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)|Bridge to Terabithia]]'' films.<ref name=HReporter-Wrinkle-Stockwell-2010>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bedrock-taps-jeff-stockwell-adapt-21791|title=Bedrock taps Jeff Stockwell to adapt 'Wrinkle'|last=Fernandez|first=Jay|date=October 14, 2010|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> On August 5, 2014, [[Jennifer Lee (filmmaker)|Jennifer Lee]] was announced as the screenwriter, taking over from Stockwell, who had written the first draft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/frozen-director-jennifer-lee-to-adapt-a-wrinkle-in-time-for-disney-exclusive-1201275488/|title='Frozen' Director Jennifer Lee to Adapt 'A Wrinkle in Time' for Disney|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=August 5, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name=SlashFilm-Wrinkle-2014>{{cite news|last1=Han|first1=Angie|title='Frozen' Director Jennifer Lee to Adapt 'A Wrinkle in Time'|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/a-wrinkle-in-time-movie-jennifer-lee/|work=Slash Film|date=August 5, 2014}}</ref> On February 8, 2016, it was reported that DuVernay had been offered a chance to direct the film, and she was confirmed as director later that same month.<ref name=Feb2016THR>{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Lupita Nyong'o in Talks to Star in Sci-Fi Thriller With Ava DuVernay Eyed to Direct (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lupita-nyongo-talks-star-sci-863100|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 8, 2016}}</ref>

''A Wrinkle in Time'' began filming in November 2016. Directing this film made DuVernay the first African-American woman to direct a live-action film with a budget of over $100 million, and the second woman to do so after [[Patty Jenkins]] (who directed ''[[Wonder Woman (2017 film)|Wonder Woman]]'').<ref name=LATimes-WrinkleBudget-2016>{{cite news|last1=Keegan|first1=Rebecca|title=With 'A Wrinkle In Time,' Ava DuVernay will pass a milestone|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-wrinkle-budget-20160803-snap-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 3, 2016}}</ref> The film was released in March 2018 and brought in $33 million in its opening weekend, second at the box office behind ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]].''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/entertainment/wrinkle-time-black-panther-trnd/index.html|title=This weekend was the first time films by black directors with mega budgets held the top 2 spots at the box office|first=Lisa Respers |last=France|work=[[CNN]]|date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> Following Disney's Q2 earnings report in May 2018, [[Yahoo! Finance]] deduced the film would cost the studio anywhere from $86–186 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lone-loser-disneys-big-quarter-wrinkle-time-220638977.html|title=The lone loser in Disney's big quarter: 'A Wrinkle in Time'|work=[[Yahoo! Finance]]|date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> Nonetheless, ''A Wrinkle in Time'' still made the list for the top 100 grossing movies of 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Numbers - Top-Grossing Movies of 2018|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/market/2018/top-grossing-movies|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=The Numbers}}</ref> making DuVernay one of four female directors that made the list that year.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|2163350412}} |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=Black filmmakers make history in 2018, but female directors still shut out |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-ent-movies-diversity-study-20190104-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 4, 2019 }}</ref> Upon release, the film received mixed reviews, with critics "taking issue with the film's heavy use of [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] and numerous plot holes" while "celebrating its message of female empowerment and diversity."<ref name="Kirsten Chuba">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/wrinkle-in-time-reviews-roundup-critic-response-1202720742/|title='A Wrinkle in Time' Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying|author=Kirsten Chuba|date=March 7, 2018|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

''' ''When They See Us'' '''
{{main|When They See Us}}
On July 6, 2017, it was announced that [[Netflix]] had given the production ''[[When They See Us]]'' a series order consisting of four episodes. The series was created by DuVernay, who served as executive producer, co-writer, and director. Other executive producers credited, include [[Jeff Skoll]], [[Jonathan King]], [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Jane Rosenthal]] and Berry Welsh. Production companies involved with the series consisted of [[Participant Media]], [[Harpo Films]], and [[Tribeca Productions]].<ref name="WhenTheySeeUsNetflixOrder">{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title=Ava DuVernay Teaming With Netflix On Central Park Five Limited Drama Series|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/ava-duvernay-netflix-on-central-park-five-limited-drama-series-1202124535/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=May 31, 2019|date=July 6, 2017}}</ref> The series premiered on Netflix on May 31, 2019. Upon its release, the miniseries received universal acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a26588461/when-they-see-us-netflix-central-park-five-series-ava-duvernay/|title=Ava DuVernay's "When They See Us" Looks at the Central Park Five—Here's What to Know|last=Darrisaw|first=Michelle|work=The Oprah Magazine|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/reviews/ava-duvernay-when-they-see-us-1203220510/|title=TV Review: Ava DuVernay's 'When They See Us'|last=D'Addario|first=Daniel|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 21, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/when-they-see-us-2019|title=When They See Us Review|last=Henderson|first=Odie|work=[[Roger Ebert]]|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/they-see-us-review-1211524|title='When They See Us': TV Review|last=Fienberg|first=Daniel|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/when-they-see-us-review-netflix/|title='When They See Us' Review: Ava DuVernay's Magnum Opus of a Broken America|last=Goldberg|first=Matt|work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/31/when-they-see-us-review-netflix-ava-duvernay-central-park-five|title=When They See Us review – Netflix's gut-wrenching tale of the Central Park Five|last=Mangan|first=Lucy|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/when-they-see-us-netflix-review.html|title=When They See Us Is an Intimate, Sensitive Look at the Central Park Five Tragedy|last=Chaney|first=Jen|work=Vulture|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2019/05/when-they-see-us-central-park-five-netflix-review.html|title=When They See Us Is a New Kind of Must-See TV|last=Paskin|first=Willa|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-when-they-see-us-review-netflix-duvernay-20190529-story.html|title=Review: Ava DuVernay's 'When They See Us' gets to the human heart of the Central Park Five|last=Lloyd|first=Robert|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref> On June 25, 2019, Netflix announced that the miniseries had been streamed by over 23 million viewers within its first month of release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/when-they-see-us-watched-by-more-than-23-million-netflix-accounts-worldwide-1202638036/|title='When They See Us' Watched By More Than 23 Million Netflix Accounts Worldwide|last=Bennett|first=Anita|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=June 25, 2019|date=June 26, 2019}}</ref> It received a record 16 Emmy nominations, for writing, directing, and acting for stars and supporting actors.

''' ''Origin'' ''' 
{{main|Origin (film)}} 
In October 2020, her next film, ''[[Origin (film)|Origin]]'', an adaptation of [[Isabel Wilkerson]]'s book ''[[Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents]]'', was officially announced for Netflix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/ava-duvernay-netflix-isabel-wilkerson-caste-1234597262/|title=Ava DuVernay Back In Director's Chair For 'Caste'; Netflix Adaptation Of Acclaimed Isabel Wilkerson's Best Seller|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=October 14, 2020|publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref> Netflix later exited the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/aunjanue-ellis-ava-duvernay-caste-1235487507/|title=Aunjanue Ellis to Star in Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Film Adaptation|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Angelique|last=Jackson|date=January 12, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[Venice International Film Festival]] where it competed for the [[Golden Lion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/venice-film-festival-lineup-2023-full-list-1235447144/|title=Venice Film Festival Lineup: Mann, Lanthimos, Fincher, DuVernay, Cooper, Besson, Coppola, Hamaguchi In Competition; Polanski, Allen, Anderson, Linklater Out Of Competition – Full List|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=July 25, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref> This made DuVernay the first African American woman to have a film compete for the Golden Lion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/ava-duvernay-venice-film-festival-origin-first-african-american-woman-director-1235714665/|title=Ava DuVernay on Making Venice History as First African American Woman in Competition: I've Been Told 'Don't Apply, You Won't Get In'|first=Ellise|last=Shafer|date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> The film received critical acclaim and was distributed by [[Neon (company)|Neon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/neon-worldwide-rights-ava-duvernay-origin-venice-premiere-trailer-1235536781/|title= Neon Snaps Up Worldwide Rights For Ava Duvernay's ''Origin'' Ahead Of Venice Premiere; Unveils First Trailer|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref>

==== Upcoming projects ====
In 2013, DuVernay announced development on a narrative feature film entitled ''Part of the Sky'' and set in Compton.<ref>{{cite web|work=Strutta|url=http://affinity.strutta.com/entry/1205618|title=Ava DuVernay <nowiki>|</nowiki> Heineken Affinity Award|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030220033/http://affinity.strutta.com/entry/1205618|archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, it was announced that DuVernay would be writing, producing, and directing a fictional account which will focus on the "social and environmental" aspects of Hurricane Katrina while including a love story and a murder mystery.<ref name=WashPost-Katrina-2015>{{cite news|last=Rosenberg|first=Alyssa|title='Selma' criticism isn't stopping Ava DuVernay|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/01/26/selma-criticism-cant-stop-ava-duvernay/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> [[David Oyelowo]] was said to be part of the project.<ref name=LATimes-Katrina-2015>{{cite news|last=Gettell|first=Oliver|title=Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo to reunite on Hurricane Katrina drama|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ava-duvernay-david-oyelowo-hurricane-katrina-drama-20150126-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> In 2018, it was announced that DuVernay would be directing a [[New Gods]] film for the [[DC Extended Universe]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Ava DuVernay to Direct DC's Superhero Epic 'New Gods'|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/ava-duvernay-superhero-movie-new-gods-dc-1202725043/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> On May 29, 2019, DuVernay announced that she and [[Tom King (writer)|Tom King]] would co-write the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/29/tom-king-new-gods-script-ava-duvernay/|title=Batman writer Tom King teams up with Ava DuVernay for New Gods script|last=Agard|first=Chancellor|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 29, 2019|access-date=May 29, 2019}}</ref> The movie was no longer moving forward by April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 1, 2021|title=Ava DuVernay's 'New Gods,' James Wan's 'The Trench' DC Movies Not Moving Forward at Warner Bros. (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ava-duvernays-new-gods-james-wans-the-trench-dc-movies-not-moving-forward-at-warner-bros|access-date=April 1, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|first=Aaron|last=Couch|author2=Borys Kit}}</ref>

On October 29, 2018, it was announced that DuVernay would be working with the estate of [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] to make a documentary covering his life for Netflix.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/30/ava-duvernay-prince-documentary-netflix|title=Ava DuVernay to make Prince documentary for Netflix|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=October 30, 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 29, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> However, in August 2019, DuVernay quit as director due to "creative differences".<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/ava-duvernay-quits-as-director-of-netflix-s-authorized-prince-documentary/557885482/ | title=Ava DuVernay quits as director of Netflix's authorized Prince documentary| website=[[Star Tribune]]|date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> On June 29, 2020, Netflix announced a six-episode series, created by DuVernay and [[Colin Kaepernick]], titled ''[[Colin in Black & White]]'', centering on Kaepernick's youth and various events in his life.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Colin Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay team up for Netflix series about his high school years|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colin-kaepernick-ava-duvernay-netflix-series/|first=Danielle |last=Garrand|access-date=May 13, 2021|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=June 30, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> On February 11, 2020, news reports speculated about DuVernay possibly co-producing and directing a [[Nipsey Hussle]] documentary for Netflix.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/nipsey-hussle-documentary-netflix-ava-duvernay-1203500697/|title=Nipsey Hussle Documentary From Ava DuVernay in Preliminary Stages at Netflix|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=February 11, 2020|access-date=February 13, 2020|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

== Production company ==
{{main|ARRAY}}
In 2010 DuVernay founded African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement ([[AFFRM]]), her own company to distribute films made by or focusing on Black people. DuVernay refers to AFFRM as "not so much a business, but a call to action."<ref name=NYTimes-AFFRM-2011>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/movies/08urban.html|title=Building an Alliance to Aid Films by Blacks|date=January 7, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|last=Cieply|first=Michael}}</ref> Although she sees building strong business foundations for films is a priority, DuVernay has said that she stresses that the driving force of the organization is activism.<ref name=Martin2014/> In 2015 the company rebranded itself under the name [[ARRAY]], promising a new focus on women filmmakers as well.

DuVernay also owns Forward Movement, a film and television production company.<ref name=Martin2014>{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=Michael T. |title=Conversations with Ava DuVernay—'A Call to Action': Organizing Principles of an Activist Cinematic Practice |journal=Black Camera |date=2014 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=57–91 |doi=10.2979/blackcamera.6.1.57 |s2cid=61018393 }}</ref>

==Podcast, public speaking, and advocacy==
In September 2013, DuVernay started a podcast series called ''The Call-In,''<ref name=Filmmaker-Podcast-2013>{{cite news|last=Macaulay|first=Scott|title=Ava DuVernay and AFFRM Launch Podcast, 'The Call In,' with Andrew Dosumnu|url=http://filmmakermagazine.com/76243-ava-duvernay-and-affrm-launch-podcast-the-call-in-with-andrew-dosumnu/|work=[[Filmmaker (magazine)|Filmmaker]]|date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> a series of phone conversations recorded by AFFRM of Black filmmakers of feature narrative and documentary work. DuVernay talks about her goals with ''The Call-In:'' "For people of color and women filmmakers, so often the questions we get asked are about being a woman or a person of color. So The Call-In was a space where we could just talk about craft."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weir|first=Keziah|date=February 20, 2018|title=11 Career Moments That Made Ava DuVernay Who She Is|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g18278445/ava-duvernay-career-highlights/|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=ELLE|language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 27, 2013, DuVernay gave one of the Executive Keynote addresses for Film Independent, a non-profit organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, at their 2013 Film Independent Form, a three-day event. She was one of two keynote speakers along with the chief executive officer of Netflix, Ted Sarandos.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cipriani|first=Casey|date=September 18, 2013|title=Exclusive: Film Independent Forum Announces 2013 Keynote Speakers Ted Sarandos and Ava DuVernay|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/09/exclusive-film-independent-forum-announces-2013-keynote-speakers-ted-sarandos-and-ava-duvernay-34874/|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref>

DuVernay, in a keynote address<ref name=Variety-SXSWKeynote-2015>{{cite news|last=Setoodeh|first=Ramin|title='Selma's' Ava DuVernay: 'Studios Aren't Lining Up for Black Protagonists'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/selmas-ava-duvernay-studios-arent-lining-up-for-black-protagonists-1201452855/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 14, 2015}}</ref> at the 2015 [[SXSW Film Festival]],<ref name=SXSW-FilmKeynote-Schedule-2015>{{cite news|title=Ava DuVernay Keynote|url=http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_FP991057|work=[[SXSW]]|date=March 2015}}</ref><ref name=IndieWire-SXSWKeynote-2015>{{cite news|last=Obenson|first=Tambay A.|title=Watch Ava DuVernay's Rousing SXSW Keynote Address|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/watch-ava-duvernays-rousing-sxsw-keynote-address-20150317|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=March 17, 2015}}</ref> shared that she was the seventh person asked to direct ''Selma''<ref name=IndieWire-SXSW-7Things-2015>{{cite news|last=Canfield|first=David|title=SXSW: The 7 Best Things We Learned From Ava DuVernay's Keynote Speech|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/sxsw-the-7-best-things-we-learned-from-ava-duvernays-keynote-speech-20150318|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=March 18, 2015}}</ref> and described her experience at the [[87th Academy Awards|2015 Oscars]], while being an honor to attend, was just "a room in L.A."<ref name=HReporter-SXSW-Oscars-2015>{{cite news|last=Abramovitch|first=Seth|title=SXSW: Ava DuVernay Calls Oscars a "Room in L.A." at Rousing Keynote|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sxsw-ana-duvernay-calls-oscars-781521|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 14, 2015}}</ref>

In February 2018 it was announced that DuVernay, along with producer [[Dan Lin]] and Los Angeles Mayor [[Eric Garcetti]], had launched the Evolve Entertainment Fund. The fund's mission is to promote inclusion and provide an opportunity for under-served communities to pursue a dream in the entertainment industry.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Ava DuVernay, Dan Lin, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Launch Inclusion Fund|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/ava-duvernay-dan-lin-eric-garcetti-inclusion-1202695182/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 12, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Since May 2019, DuVernay has cohosted ''[[The Essentials (TCM)|The Essentials]]'', a weekly film series on [[Turner Classic Movies]], with [[Ben Mankiewicz]]. DuVernay has appeared in [[Interstitial program|wraparounds]] each Saturday night on the channel, discussing a wide range of films, including ''[[Marty (film)|Marty]]'', ''[[Ashes and Embers]]'', ''[[Harlan County, USA]]'' and ''[[La Pointe Courte]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ava-duvernay-joins-tcm-discuss-essentials-1204680|title=Ava DuVernay Joins TCM to Discuss 'The Essentials'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 25, 2019|language=en|access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>

At the [[96th Academy Awards|2024 Academy Awards ceremony]] she wore a red [[Artists4Ceasefire]] badge calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire during the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Meaning of Kfir Bibas |url=https://www.thefp.com/p/the-meaning-of-kfir-bibas |website=thefp.com |publisher=[[The Free Press (newsletter)|The Free Press]] |access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title 
! [[Film director|Director]]
! [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! [[Film producer|Producer]]
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} 
|- 
| 2010
| ''[[I Will Follow (film)|I Will Follow]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/i-will-follow-film-review-166540|title= I Will Follow: Film Review|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= March 10, 2011|access-date= June 22, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Middle of Nowhere (2012 film)|Middle of Nowhere]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/middle-of-nowhere-2012-ava-duvernay/|title= Review: Middle of Nowhere|website= [[Film Comment]]|date= October 10, 2012|access-date= June 22, 2020}}</ref> 
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/01/08/375756377/the-sounds-space-and-spirit-of-selma-a-director-s-take|title= The Sounds, Space And Spirit Of 'Selma': A Director's Take|website= [[NPR]]|access-date= June 22, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2018
| ''[[A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film)|A Wrinkle in Time]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/wrinkle-time-isn-t-film-critics-it-s-ava-duvernay-ncna855306|title= 'A Wrinkle in Time' isn't a film for critics. It's Ava DuVernay's love letter to black girls|website=[[NBC News]]|date= March 10, 2018|access-date= June 22, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Origin (film)|Origin]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/ava-duvernay-caste-aunjanue-ellis-oprpah-winfrey-isabel-wilkerson-1235219850/|title=Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Casts Oscar Nominee Aunjanue Ellis As Lead|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=January 12, 2023|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>
|}

'''Executive producer'''
* ''[[The White Tiger (2021 film)|The White Tiger]]''<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 29, 2020|title=The White Tiger trailer: Priyanka-starrer explores India's class struggle|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/the-white-tiger-trailer-priyanka-chopra-starrer-explores-india-class-struggle-netflix-6907370/|access-date=October 29, 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> (2021)

'''Short films'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title 
! [[Film director|Director]]
! [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! [[Film producer|Producer]]
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} 
|- 
| 2006
| ''Saturday Night Life''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2013
| ''[[Women's Tales|The Door]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''Say Yes''
| {{yes}} 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ebony.com/style/fashion-fair-presents-say-yes-by-ava-duvernay-987 |title=Fashion Fair presents SAY YES by Ava DuVernay|work=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|date=August 16, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Documentary films===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title 
! [[Film director|Director]]
! [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! [[Film producer|Producer]]
! Notes 
|- 
| 2007
| ''Compton in C Minor''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Short
|-
| 2008
| ''[[This Is the Life (2008 film)|This Is the Life]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2016
| ''August 28: A Day in the Life of a People''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Short 
|-
| ''[[13th (film)|13th]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Director
!Writer
!Executive<br>Producer
!Creator
!Notes
|-
|2013
|''[[Scandal (TV series)|Scandal]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Episode "[[Vermont is For Lovers, Too|Vermont is for Lovers, Too]]"
|-
|2015
|''For Justice''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Unaired TV pilot
|-
|2016–2022
|''[[Queen Sugar]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
| Writer (4 episodes), Director (2 episodes)
|-
|rowspan=2|2019
|''[[When They See Us]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
| Director (4 episodes)
|-
|''[[The Red Line (TV series)|The Red Line]]''
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
| 
|-
|2020–2022
|''[[Cherish the Day (TV series)|Cherish the Day]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2021
|''[[Colin in Black & White]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
| Episode "Cornrows"
|-
|''[[Home Sweet Home (American TV series)|Home Sweet Home]]''
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2022
|''[[Naomi (TV series)|Naomi]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
| 
|-
|''[[DMZ (miniseries)|DMZ]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
| Episode "Good Luck"
|}

'''Documentary series'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Director
!Writer
!Producer
|-
|rowspan=3|2010
|''TV One Night Only: Live from the Essence Music Festival''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
|''My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes|executive}}
|-
|''Essence Presents: Faith Through the Storm''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2013
|''[[Nine for IX|Venus Vs.]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
|''HelloBeautiful Interludes Live: John Legend''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
|}

===Commercials===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
|2015–2016
|''Chapter 1'', ''Chapter 2'', ''Chapter 3''
| [[Apple Music]]
|}

===Music video===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Director
!Writer
!Producer
!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
|2017
|"[[Family Feud (song)|Family Feud]]," [[Jay-Z]] ft. [[Beyoncé]]
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|<ref name=VanityFair-FamilyFeud-2017/>
|}

== Awards, nominations, honors ==
[[File:Ava DuVernay - Peabody Awards (cropped 2).jpg|thumb|DuVernay with her [[Peabody Award]] for ''[[13th (film)|13th]]'' at the 76th annual ceremony in 2017]]
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Ava DuVernay}}

*In 2012, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' featured DuVernay in its Women's Impact Report. 
* In June 2013, she was invited to both the director's and writer's branches of [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|AMPAS]].<ref name=Variety-Academy-2013>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/film-academy-invites-276-new-members-1200502837/|title=Film Academy Invites 276 New Members|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 28, 2013|first=Jon|last=Weisman}}</ref> DuVernay was only the second Black woman, following [[Kasi Lemmons]], to be invited to the director's branch.
* DuVernay became the inaugural recipient of the [[Tribeca Film Institute]]'s [[Heineken]] Affinity Award, receiving a $20,000 prize and industry support for future projects. DuVernay donated all the money to AFFRM, the Black arthouse film collective she founded.<ref name=Indiewire-AffinityAward-2013>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/tribeca-film-institutes-inaugural-heineken-affinity-award-goes-to-ava-duvernay-20-000-industry-support|title=Tribeca Film Institute's Inaugural Heineken Affinity Award Goes To Ava DuVernay ($20,000 + Industry Support)|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=April 21, 2013|access-date=June 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221051946/http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/tribeca-film-institutes-inaugural-heineken-affinity-award-goes-to-ava-duvernay-20-000-industry-support|archive-date=December 21, 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref>
* In June 2015, DuVernay was honored as part of [[Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards]] with the [[Dorothy Arzner]] Directors Award.<ref name=IndieWire-WiFAwards-2015>{{cite news|last=Kang|first=Inkoo|title=Nicole Kidman, Ava DuVernay, Jill Soloway Among Women in Film's 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awardees|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/womenandhollywood/nicole-kidman-ava-duvernay-jill-soloway-among-women-in-films-2015-crystal-lucy-awardees-20150331|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=March 31, 2015}}</ref>
* In April 2015 DuVernay was chosen as one of [[Mattel|Mattel's]] "Sheros" of 2015. A custom-made one-of-a-kind [[Barbie]] in DuVernay's likeness was produced. The doll was auctioned off with the proceeds given to charity.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Benjamin|title=Holding out for a Shero: Selma director Ava DuVernay gets her own Barbie doll|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/24/holding-out-for-a-shero-selma-director-ava-duvernay-gets-her-own-barbie-doll|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=April 24, 2015}}</ref> Due to high demand, a collectible version of the doll was produced and sold in December of that year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cunningham|first=Todd|title=Ava DuVernay Barbie Doll to Go on Sale Monday, Director Says|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ava-duvernay-barbie-doll-to-go-on-sale-monday-director-says/|work=[[TheWrap]]|date=December 6, 2015}}</ref>
* In 2016, DuVernay was named to [[Oprah Winfrey|Oprah Winfrey's]] ''SuperSoul 100'' list of visionaries and influential leaders<ref>{{cite news |date=August 1, 2016 |title=Meet the SuperSoul100: The World's Biggest Trailblazers in One Room |url=http://www.oprah.com/spirit/supersoul100-the-worlds-biggest-trailblazers-in-one-room |work=[[O, The Oprah Magazine]] |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180050/http://www.oprah.com/spirit/supersoul100-the-worlds-biggest-trailblazers-in-one-room |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* In 2017, DuVernay became the first Black woman nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature]], for her film ''[[13th (film)|13th]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jenelle|last=Riley|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/2017-oscars-diversity-denzel-washington-viola-davis-octavia-spencer-1201968125/|title=2017 Oscars: Diversity Makes Comeback, Record Six Black Actor Nominees|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldextra.com/best-documentary-feature/article_5222cb03-b20d-5fa7-923b-3ae5950221d2.html|title=Best Documentary Feature|work=[[Daily Herald (Utah)|Daily Herald]]|date=January 18, 2017|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127122759/http://www.heraldextra.com/best-documentary-feature/article_5222cb03-b20d-5fa7-923b-3ae5950221d2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*In 2017, DuVernay was the recipient of Smithsonian Magazine's American Ingenuity Award for Visual Arts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ingenuity/ceremonies/2017-winners/|title=2017 American Ingenuity Award Winners|work=Smithsonian|access-date=October 15, 2018|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628225523/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ingenuity/ceremonies/2017-winners/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*In 2018, DuVernay won Entertainer of the Year at the [[49th NAACP Image Awards]] for her work in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2018-naacp-image-award-winners-complete-list-1064208|title=NAACP Image Awards: Full List of Winners|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>
*[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]] declared DuVernay and actor [[Benedict Cumberbatch]] to be the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebs of 2018.<ref name=ETCanada-PETA-BeautifulVegan-2018>{{cite news|last1=Furdyk|first1=Brent|title=Benedict Cumberbatch, Ava DuVernay Named PETA's 'Most Beautiful Vegan Celebs' Of 2018|url=https://etcanada.com/news/346447/benedict-cumberbatch-ava-duvernay-named-petas-most-beautiful-vegan-celebs-of-2018/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222107/https://etcanada.com/news/346447/benedict-cumberbatch-ava-duvernay-named-petas-most-beautiful-vegan-celebs-of-2018/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2018|work=[[Entertainment Tonight Canada|ET Canada]]|date=July 11, 2018}}</ref>
*In 2019 DuVernay's first name was the correct response to a clue in a Sunday ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' [[Crossword|crossword puzzle]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kinnel |first=Laura Taylor |date=22 December 2019 |title=Down for the Count |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/daily/2019/12/22 |access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>
*In 2020, DuVernay was awarded the [[The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize|Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/movies/ava-duvernay-gish-prize.html|title=Ava DuVernay Wins the Gish Prize|work=The New York Times|first=Lauren|last=Messman|date=August 6, 2020|access-date=November 26, 2020}}</ref>
*In 2021, DuVernay was given the Award for Cinematic Production of the [[Royal Photographic Society]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://rps.org/media/u5tcqeje/rps_annual-report_2021_online.pdf |title=The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain - Annual Report 2021 |date=December 31, 2021 }}</ref>
*In 2024, the Los Angeles Times featured DuVernay in its "L.A. Influential" series as a "creator who is leaving their mark in Los Angeles".<ref>{{Citation |title=Rowse, William Crapo, (24 Jan. 1883–12 June 1961), Consulting Engineer, Los Angeles, California |date=2007-12-01 |work=Who Was Who |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u58161 |access-date=2024-06-17 |publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u58161 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* In 2024, DuVernay was inducted into the [[California Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://californiamuseum.org/california-hall-of-fame/17th-annual-california-hall-of-fame-california-museum/|title=17th Annual California Hall of Fame|access-date=August 21, 2024|archive-date=August 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821015235/https://californiamuseum.org/california-hall-of-fame/17th-annual-california-hall-of-fame-california-museum/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{IMDb name}}

{{Ava DuVernay}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Ava DuVernay|Awards for Ava DuVernay]]
|list =
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{BET Award for Video Director of the Year}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Director}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Limited Series}}
{{International Emmy Founders Award}}
{{EmmyAward NonfictionProgrammingWriting}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series}}
{{VH1 Trailblazer Honors}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:DuVernay, Ava}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:African-American film directors]]
[[Category:African-American film producers]]
[[Category:African-American screenwriters]]
[[Category:African-American television directors]]
[[Category:African-American television producers]]
[[Category:American people of Creole descent]]
[[Category:American people of French descent]]
[[Category:American publicists]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:American women film directors]]
[[Category:American women film producers]]
[[Category:American women screenwriters]]
[[Category:Film directors from California]]
[[Category:Film producers from California]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Louisiana Creole people]]
[[Category:People from Lynwood, California]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni]]
[[Category:American women television directors]]
[[Category:American women television producers]]
[[Category:American women television writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Long Beach, California]]
[[Category:Television writers from California]]
[[Category:Sundance Film Festival award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American writers]]
[[Category:African-American women screenwriters]]
[[Category:American science fiction film directors]]
[[Category:The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize winners]]