Ava DuVernay on Her Oscar Snub: "I Actually Knew It Wasn't Going to Happen"

Ava DuVernay sat down with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now to discuss the success of 'Selma.' DuVernay's film earned two Academy Award nominations, but she was not nominated for Best Director.

When asked about her thoughts on the snub, DuVernay responded:

I didn't expect to be. I actually knew it wasn't going to happen. I've been telling people since October. No one listened to me. I'm serious. Old interviews that are coming out now. Friends say, "Yeah you did say that." I just knew that was going to be the case, so I never took it into my heart. It didn't really bother me.

DuVernay went on to lament the consequences of a lack of diversity within the Academy.

I don't think the question is so much about the awards. The question is why was Selma the only film that was in the running for people of color for the awards? Why are there not, not just Black, Brown people, Asian people, Indigenous people--representations that are more than just one voice, just one face, just one gaze. 

Watch the entire interview below.

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Kimberly Foster is the founder and editor of For Harriet. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster

Ava Duvernay Democracy Now interviews Selma