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IMDbPro

Ava DuVernay

  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ava DuVernay at an event for 30th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards (2015)
From 'I Will Follow' to 'Selma,' and the award-winning "When They See Us," IMDb dives into the trademarks of writer, producer and director, Ava DuVernay.
Play clip1:35
A Guide to the Films of Ava DuVernay
13 Videos
99+ Photos
A director, producer, writer, marketer and film distributor, Ava DuVernay made her feature film debut with the documentary This is the Life (2008), a history on hip hop movement that flourished in Los Angeles in the 1990's. This was followed by series of television music documentaries which included My Mic Sounds Nice (2010) which aired on BET.

DuVernay's first narrative feature film, I Will Follow (2010), secured her the African-American Film Critics Association award for best screenplay. Her follow-up, Middle of Nowhere (2012) won the Best Director Prize at the 2012 Sundance film festival, making her the first African-American woman to receive the award.
BornAugust 24, 1972
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 24, 1972
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 74 wins & 79 nominations total

    Photos149

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    + 144
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    Known for

    David Oyelowo in Selma (2014)
    Selma
    7.5
    • Producer
    • 2014
    Queen Sugar (2016)
    Queen Sugar
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Writer(creator)
    Asante Blackk, Marquis Rodriguez, Caleel Harris, and Ethan Herisse in When They See Us (2019)
    When They See Us
    8.8
    TV Mini Series
    • Writer
    Middle of Nowhere (2012)
    Middle of Nowhere
    6.6
    • Writer
    • 2012

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer



    • Battle of Versailles
      • Writer
      • In Development
      • TV Movie
    • Untitled Ava DuVernay
      • Writer
      • In Production
      • TV Series



    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in Origin (2023)
      Origin
      7.2
      • written by
      • 2023
    • The Queen (2023)
      The Queen
      5.2
      TV Series
      • created by
      • original story (creator)
      • 2023
    • Queen Sugar (2016)
      Queen Sugar
      7.8
      TV Series
      • created for television by
      • written by
      • teleplay by ...
      • 2016–2022
    • Xosha Roquemore and Alano Miller in Cherish the Day (2020)
      Cherish the Day
      6.4
      TV Series
      • created by
      • written by (creator)
      • 2020–2022
    • Kaci Walfall in Naomi (2022)
      Naomi
      4.9
      TV Series
      • created for television by
      • written by
      • teleplay by
      • 2022
    • One Perfect Shot (2022)
      One Perfect Shot
      6.1
      TV Mini Series
      • Writer
      • 2022
    • Jaden Michael and Colin Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White (2021)
      Colin in Black & White
      6.2
      TV Mini Series
      • created by
      • story by (creator)
      • 2021
    • Home Sweet Home (2021)
      Home Sweet Home
      5.7
      TV Series
      • created by (creator)
      • 2021
    • Asante Blackk, Marquis Rodriguez, Caleel Harris, and Ethan Herisse in When They See Us (2019)
      When They See Us
      8.8
      TV Mini Series
      • creator
      • story by
      • teleplay by ...
      • 2019
    • Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé: Family Feud (2017)
      Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé: Family Feud
      4.8
      Music Video
      • Writer
      • 2017
    • 13th (2016)
      13th
      8.2
      • written by
      • 2016
    • August 28th (2016)
      August 28th
      6.2
      Short
      • written by
      • 2016
    • The Door (2013)
      The Door
      4.8
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2013
    • Middle of Nowhere (2012)
      Middle of Nowhere
      6.6
      • written by
      • 2012
    • Grace (2011)
      Grace
      2.7
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2011

    Producer



    • Untitled Ava DuVernay
      • executive producer, producer
      • In Production
      • TV Series
    • Wings of Fire
      • executive producer
      • In Production
      • TV Series



    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in Origin (2023)
      Origin
      7.2
      • producer (p.g.a.)
      • 2023
    • Queen Sugar (2016)
      Queen Sugar
      7.8
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2016–2022
    • Xosha Roquemore and Alano Miller in Cherish the Day (2020)
      Cherish the Day
      6.4
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2020–2022
    • Kaci Walfall in Naomi (2022)
      Naomi
      4.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • One Perfect Shot (2022)
      One Perfect Shot
      6.1
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Benjamin Bratt, Rosario Dawson, Hoon Lee, and Freddy Miyares in DMZ (2022)
      DMZ
      5.5
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Jaden Michael and Colin Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White (2021)
      Colin in Black & White
      6.2
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2021
    • Home Sweet Home (2021)
      Home Sweet Home
      5.7
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2021
    • Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sourav Kumar in The White Tiger (2021)
      The White Tiger
      7.1
      • executive producer
      • 2021
    • A Concerto Is a Conversation (2020)
      A Concerto Is a Conversation
      6.9
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • The Golden Girls: Reimagined
      3.4
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Deann Borshay, Angela Davis, Peter Dinklage, Dr. Riyadh, Bonita Dearmond, and Mohamed Bangura in P.O.V. (1988)
      P.O.V.
      7.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Asante Blackk, Marquis Rodriguez, Caleel Harris, and Ethan Herisse in When They See Us (2019)
      When They See Us
      8.8
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer (showrunner)
      • 2019
    • Noel Fisher in The Red Line (2019)
      The Red Line
      5.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2019
    • Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé: Family Feud (2017)
      Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé: Family Feud
      4.8
      Music Video
      • producer
      • 2017

    Additional Crew



    • Roger Ebert in Life Itself (2014)
      Life Itself
      7.8
      • archival stills and footage courtesy of
      • 2014
    • Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone in The Help (2011)
      The Help
      8.1
      • unit publicity (uncredited)
      • 2011
    • Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in Cop Out (2010)
      Cop Out
      5.5
      • publicity consultant
      • 2010
    • Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in Invictus (2009)
      Invictus
      7.3
      • publicity consultant (uncredited)
      • 2009
    • Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009)
      Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
      7.2
      • publicist
      • 2009
    • Chris Rock in Good Hair (2009)
      Good Hair
      6.9
      • promotional services
      • 2009
    • Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer, John DiMaggio, Tom McGrath, Christopher Knights, and Chris Miller in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
      Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
      6.6
      • promotional services
      • 2008
    • The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
      The Secret Life of Bees
      7.2
      • production publicist (uncredited)
      • 2008
    • Michael O'Keefe, Will Patton, Alfre Woodard, and Nicole Beharie in American Violet (2008)
      American Violet
      6.9
      • promotional services
      • 2008
    • A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy (2008)
      A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy
      4.7
      • publicist
      • 2008
    • Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 3 (2007)
      Rush Hour 3
      6.2
      • promotional services
      • 2007
    • Antonio Banderas, Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Conrad Vernon in Shrek the Third (2007)
      Shrek the Third
      6.1
      • promotional services
      • 2007
    • Lincoln Heights (2006)
      Lincoln Heights
      7.7
      TV Series
      • publicity consultant
      • 2007
    • Tre Armstrong in How She Move (2007)
      How She Move
      3.6
      • publicity consultant
      • 2007
    • Beyoncé, Anika Noni Rose, and Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls (2006)
      Dreamgirls
      6.6
      • publicity consultant
      • 2006

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos13

    A Guide to the Films of Ava DuVernay
    Clip 1:35
    A Guide to the Films of Ava DuVernay
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Official Trailer
    One Perfect Shot
    Trailer 1:49
    One Perfect Shot
    Only in Theaters Trailer
    Trailer 2:11
    Only in Theaters Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Official Trailer

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Alternative names
      • Ava
    • Height
      • 5′ 5¾″ (1.67 m)
    • Born
      • August 24, 1972
      • Long Beach, California, USA
    • Parents
        Joseph DuVernay Jr.
    • Other works
      Urban Beauty Collective
    • Publicity listings
      • 7 Interviews
      • 19 Articles
      • 2 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In June 2013, she was invited to join both the director's and writer's branches of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is only the second black woman, following Kasi Lemmons, to be invited to the director's branch.
    • Quotes
      Be passionate and move forward with gusto every single hour of every single day until you reach your goal.

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