Ava DuVernay is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, film distributor and producer. Born on August 24 with a passion for storytelling, DuVernay’s journey to becoming one of the most influential filmmakers has been nothing short of extraordinary. She initially had an interest in journalism after getting the opportunity to work as an intern for a significant news broadcasting channel on a high-profile case at the time. However, she pivoted into public relations and worked as a junior publicist for a few PR firms before opening her own PR firm in 1999, working on campaigns for films such as Dreamgirls, Spy Kids, and The Terminal. It wasn’t until she was in her early 30s that she pivoted again, picked up a camera and made her first film. 

DuVernay made her directorial debut with a short film, A Saturday Night Life, which was released in 2006. In 2011, she captured the attention of critics and set the stage for what would become a transformative career with the release of her first feature film, I Will Follow. In the following year, DuVernay became the first African-American woman to win the Directing Award for U.S Dramatic Film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for her second feature film, Middle Of Nowhere- a film that explores the implications and the burdens that families are faced with when a family member goes to prison, and how those burdens commonly fall upon women most times. DuVernay continued to bloom into a visionary director and a force to be reckoned with in the filmmaking industry. 

She has directed and worked on groundbreaking and critically acclaimed projects such as Selma (2014), 13^th (2014), and the Netflix 4-part miniseries When They See Us (2019), which received international critical acclaim, getting several award nominations. And in 2023, she produced and directed the film Origin. In addition to telling impactful stories, she is committed to creating a platform for women in the filmmaking industry. 

DuVernay’s influence and impact in the filmmaking industry extends beyond her own films. In 2011, she founded ARRAY- a film distribution company whose mission is to shine a spotlight on films by women. Through ARRAY, the dynamic filmmaker has championed films by female filmmakers who might be overlooked and struggle to find an audience. 

Her commitment to elevating women in film was reflected when she launched the television series Queen Sugar in 2016. DuVernay made the groundbreaking decision to have an all-female directorial team for the series. The series provided a platform for many women who are directors and was also a testament to the power of giving women creative control in a male-dominated industry and the impact of diverse storytelling on television. DuVernay is a creative that uses her platform to create and share stories that inspire and uplift. Her projects are not just cinematic experiences, but they are also powerful statements that challenge the status quo and call for social change and justice. 

Ava DuVernay’s journey not only reflects her passion for storytelling but is also inspiring and impactful. She consistently champions for people in creative spaces to push boundaries. Her famous mantra, “Don’t wait for permission to do something creative”, resonates throughout her work. She has established herself as a trailblazing filmmaker and has established a legacy that continues to inspire women and will continue to do so for years to come.