Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay Headshot

Director • Writer

Birth Date: August 24, 1972

Age: 50 years old

Birth Place: Long Beach, California

A gifted, socially conscious writer, director and producer, Ava DuVernay went from in-demand publicist to helming her own projects when she saw a gap in the marketplace for non-stereotypical African-American independent films. After experiencing success with the award-winning documentaries "This is the Life" (2008) and "My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women in Hip-Hop" (BET, 2010), DuVernay turned her focus to narratives features with the acclaimed tale of moving on from grief, "I Will Follow" (2011), the first release from her industry-changing collective, the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM). DuVernay impressed critics even further with her follow-up, "Middle of Nowhere" (2012), the story of a woman (Emayatzy Corinealdi) who makes enormous personal sacrifices to support her incarcerated husband (Omari Hardwick) but eventually reaches a personal crossroads. Her film dramatizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 civil rights march, "Selma" (2014), was even more acclaimed. Earning massive acclaim across the board, DuVernay made history as the first African-American winner of Best Director from the Sundance Film Festival. Blessed with a huge talent to match her social conscience, Ava DuVernay excited critics and fans who were proud to join her in championing challenging African-American independent films of depth and substance. DuVernay also broke ground on television with a collaboration with longtime friend and mentor Oprah Winfrey, "Queen Sugar" (OWN 2016- ) and was tapped to direct the film version of the classic children's fantasy "A Wrinkle In Time," making her the first African-American woman to helm a feature with a budget over one hundred million dollars.

Credits

One Perfect ShotStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2022

One Perfect ShotStream

Narrator
TV Show
2022

NaomiStream

Executive Producer
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2022
91%

NaomiStream

Writer
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2022
91%

DMZStream

Director
TV Show
2022

DMZStream

Executive Producer
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2022

Colin in Black and WhiteStream

Creator
TV Show
2021
79%

Colin in Black and WhiteStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2021
79%

Home Sweet Home

Executive Producer
TV Show
2021

CBS Mornings

Guest
TV Show
2021

The White TigerStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2021
91%

A Concerto Is a Conversation

Executive Producer
Movie
2021

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
TV Show
2020

OWN Spotlight The Culture Connection to August 28th, with Ava DuVernay and Rev. Sharpton

Guest
TV Show
2020

OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?

Guest
TV Show
2020

Dear...Stream

Self
TV Show
2020
100%

Cherish the DayStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2020

Cherish the Day: Extras

Actor
TV Show
2020

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
TV Show
2019

Tamron Hall

Guest
TV Show
2019

Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now

Guest
TV Show
2019

When They See UsStream

Creator
TV Show
2019
97%

When They See UsStream

Director
TV Show
2019
97%

When They See UsStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2019
97%

When They See UsStream

Writer
TV Show
2019
97%

The Red LineStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2019
72%

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
TV Show
2019

Trailblazer Honors 2019

Guest
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2019

Desus & MeroStream

Guest
TV Show
2019

Desus & Mero: Extras

Guest
TV Show
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
TV Show
2018

Cultureshock: Chris Rock's Bring the Pain

Self
TV Show
2018

August 28: A Day in the Life of a People

Producer
TV Show
2018

Shine On with Reese

Guest
TV Show
2018

Extras: Shine On with Reese

Actor
TV Show
2018

A Wrinkle in Time: Extras

Director
TV Show
2018

American Woman With Brooke Baldwin

Guest
TV Show
2018

A Wrinkle in Time

Director
Movie
2018

Half the Picture

Self
Movie
2018

Zamanda Kivrilma

Director
Movie
2018

13th: A Conversation With Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay

Actor
TV Show
2017

Queen SugarStream

Creator
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2016

Queen SugarStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2016

Queen SugarStream

Self
TV Show
2016

Today's Take

Guest
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2016

ChelseaStream

Guest
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2016
41%

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
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2016

13TH

Director
Movie
2016

13TH

Producer
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2016

13TH

Screenwriter
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2016

13TH

Writer
Movie
2016

The Daily Show With Trevor NoahStream

Guest
TV Show
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
TV Show
2015

Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter

Guest
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2015

Black Girls Rock! 2015

Actor
TV Show
2015

For Justice

Director
Movie
2015

For Justice

Executive Producer
Movie
2015

Women of Power

Guest
TV Show
2014

Oprah Prime

Guest
TV Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
TV Show
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
TV Show
2014

Being Mary JaneStream

Guest Star
TV Show
2014

Life Itself

Self
Movie
2014

SelmaStream

Director
Movie
2014
99%

SelmaStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2014
99%

Hello Beautiful's Interludes: John Legend

Producer
TV Show
2013

The Real

Guest
TV Show
2013

Nine for IX

Director
TV Show
2013

99 Percent: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film

Associate Producer
Movie
2013

The Root 100

Guest
TV Show
2012

ScandalStream

Director
TV Show
2012
93%

Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Stream

Guest
TV Show
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
TV Show
2012

Middle of Nowhere

Director
Movie
2012

Middle of Nowhere

Producer
Movie
2012

Middle of Nowhere

Screenwriter
Movie
2012

Dish Nation

Guest
TV Show
2011

The Talk

Guest
TV Show
2010

Essence Presents: Faith in 2010

Director
TV Show
2010

Essence Presents: Faith in 2010

Writer
TV Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
TV Show
2010

TV One Night Only: 2010 Essence Music Festival

Writer
TV Show
2010

I Will Follow

Director
Movie
2010

I Will Follow

Producer
Movie
2010

I Will Follow

Screenwriter
Movie
2010

My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women in Hip Hop

Director
Movie
2010

My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women in Hip Hop

Executive Producer
Movie
2010

The Laura Flanders Show

Guest
TV Show
2008

This Is the Life

Director
Movie
2008

This Is the Life

Producer
Movie
2008

This Is the Life

Writer
Movie
2008

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
TV Show
2005

Tavis Smiley

Guest
TV Show
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
TV Show
2003

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
TV Show
1999

Black Filmmaker Showcase

Director
TV Show
1998

Black Filmmaker Showcase

Writer
TV Show
1998

The View

Guest
TV Show
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
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1996

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
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1981

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
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1979

Good Morning America

Guest
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1975

60 MinutesStream

Guest
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1968

News about
Ava DuVernay

Sesame Street Season 53

‘Sesame Street’ Announce Season 53 Guests Samuel L. Jackson, Zazie Beetz, Brett Goldstein & More (VIDEO)

Ava DuVernay, Lauren Ridloff, Joshua Jackson

Joshua Jackson & Lauren Ridloff to Star In Ava DuVernay Romantic Drama

'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,' HBO, John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Jason Clarke

What’s Coming & Going From HBO Max in March 2022

Queen Sugar Season 6 OWN

‘Queen Sugar’ Renewed for Seventh and Final Season at OWN

Kaci Walfall as Naomi in Naomi

‘Naomi’ Sneak Peek: The CW’s New Hero Chases After… Superman? (VIDEO)

Home Sweet Home NBC Season 1
Preview

‘Home Sweet Home’ EP Ava DuVernay on Celebrating ‘the Differences’ of Families

Jaden Michael, Colin Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White

‘Colin in Black & White’: New Trailer Shows Kaepernick’s Life On & Off the Field (VIDEO)

Colin Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White on Netflix

‘Colin in Black & White’ Trailer Teases Kaepernick’s Childhood Journey (VIDEO)

Colin in Black and White cast Netflix
Fall Preview

Netflix’s ‘Colin in Black & White’ Explores Kaepernick’s ‘Resiliency’

'Home Sweet Home,' Ava DuVernay NBC Series

‘Home Sweet Home’: Ava DuVernay’s Family Social Experiment Series Gets NBC Premiere Date

Colin in Black & White - Amarr M. Wooten, Jaden Michael, and Mace Coronel

Netflix’s ‘Colin in Black & White’ Sets Premiere, Unveils First Look at Kaepernick Drama

LeVar Burton and Ava Duvernay

Ava DuVernay Wants to Create a Show for LeVar Burton After His ‘Jeopardy!’ Heartbreak

Richard Roundtree and Terri J. Vaughn for Cherish the Day

OWN’s ‘Cherish the Day’ Adds Richard Roundtree & Terri J. Vaughn for Season 2

Ava DuVernay’s Comic-Book Pilot ‘Naomi’ Lands Its Lead: Kaci Walfall

Cicely Tyson and Ava DuVernay
Exclusive

Master Class: The Ava DuVernay & Cicely Tyson Interview

Rutina Wesley in Queen Sugar
Preview

‘Queen Sugar’ Season 5 Addresses Black Lives Matter & COVID in New Trailer (VIDEO)

‘DMZ,’ Adapted From the DC Comics Series, Gets Picked Up by HBO Max

Colin Kaepernick Jaden Michael

‘Colin in Black & White’ Casts Jaden Michael as QB & Activist Colin Kaepernick

Ava DuVernay NBC

NBC Orders Ava DuVernay’s Unscripted Series ‘Home Sweet Home’

Colin Kaepernick Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick Team for Limited Netflix Scripted Series ‘Colin in Black & White’

OWN Where Do We Go From Here Oprah Winfrey
Preview

Oprah Winfrey to Host ‘OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?’ Special

Cherish the Day OWN
Preview

‘Cherish the Day’: Ava DuVernay Previews the ‘Dreamy’ Romantic Drama (VIDEO)

CHERISH THE DAY XOSHA ROQUEMORE GENTLY ALANO MILLER EVAN CHEESECAKE

‘Cherish the Day’: Sneak Peek at Ava DuVernay’s OWN Anthology (PHOTOS)

WTSU_104_Unit_02031R

‘When They See Us’ Cast & Exonerated Five on Hopes for Justice System Reform (VIDEO)

The Essentials

Oscar-Nominated Director Ava DuVernay Joins TCM’s ‘The Essentials’

VH1 Trailblazer Honors 2019

What to Watch on International Women’s Day 2019

michael-k-williams-john-leguizamo (2)

Michael K. Williams, John Leguizamo & More Cast in Ava DuVernay’s ‘Central Park Five’

Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Oprah Winfrey, Rutina Wesley, Kofi Siriboe, Tina Lifford and Ava DuVernay at the Season 2 finale taping of 'Queen Sugar'
Preview

Oprah Says She Was ‘Doubled Over’ Watching Emotional ‘Queen Sugar’ Season 2 Finale (VIDEO)

Queen Sugar Ep

OWN Debuts ‘Queen Sugar’ Season 2 Trailer

Rutina Wesley in Queen Sugar

‘True Blood’ Vet Rutina Wesley Lands the Sweetest Role of Her Career in ‘Queen Sugar’

Ava DuVernay

Selma Director Ava DuVernay to Helm Robert DeNiro’s CBS Pilot