Director Ava DuVernay is taking on mass incarceration in her new documentary "13th." The title refers tot he 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution which makes illegal involuntary servitude "except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." It is this clause, the film argues, which sets the stage for the over incarceration of Black people in public and private prisons.
With appearances from Michelle Alexander, Jelani Cobb, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, DuVernay makes plain the problem and the path to correcting it.
DuVernay will make history when the film opens the New York Film Festival on September 30. The film will be available on Netflix and in select theaters on October 7.
Change will not come without affirmative efforts to see a difference. That might require us, when we get in positions of power, demanding to upset the status quo. Director Ava DuVernay has done that throughout her career.
In an interview with ReelBlack at the Sundance Film Festival, she talks about working on her first television show for OWN, Queen Sugar. DuVernay says the show will utilize all-women directors. And much to our delight, DuVernay plans to hire "a lot of women that we know from the Black independent film space."
In Chapter 2 of the 3-part series of Apple Music commercials starring Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson, and Mary J. Blige, the women cook and dance together in a beautiful new ad directed by Ava DuVernay.
Apple premiered the first of three commercials starring Taraji P. Henson, Kerry Washington, and Mary J. Blige during the Emmys and we couldn't get enough of it!
The first of three Apple Music commercials starring Taraji P. Henson, Kerry Washington, and Mary J. Blige aired during the 2015 Emmy Awards. The spot features the ladies dropping by Mary's house and having an impromptu turn up session by way of Apple's streaming music app.
'Mississippi Damned' a 2009 film directed by Tina Mabry is now available to stream on Netflix. The film is based Mabry's life growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi.
In an interview for AOL’s MAKERS series, Ava DuVernay shared her thoughts on the lack of women in film and how her identity as a black woman filmmaker.
Ava DuVernay gave a remarkable keynote speech about focusing on the work at SXSW in Austin. In her remarks, the acclaimed director recounts her phenomenal year and details her journey in gratitude.
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.
OWN's new digital series "Who Am I" is a collection of short interviews highlighting the stories of influential black celebrities. Sharing personal experiences and words of wisdom, these stars express the challenges and rewards that pave the road to success and how the complexities of that ever-progressing journey can reinforce an unyielding confidence in one's self-identity.
While appearing on "The Daily Show," Ava DuVernay says of Selma,
We don't paint anyone as a saint in this [movie] and we don't paint anyone as a sinner. . . We are looking at them as human beings, as living breathing human beings . . . We really have to deconstruct our heroes, these myths that make us feel warm and fuzzy, we gotta challenge that and push that a little bit and there's nothing wrong with that . . .
Director Ava DuVernay's "Selma" delves deep into the struggle for racial equality led by Martin Luther King Jr.. In 1965, King headed a historic march from Selma, AL to Montgomery, AL in an effort to reform policies that barred Blacks from voting.
On Saturday, October 11th, The Broad Museum brought together director Ava Duvernay with artist Kara Walker, for an hour-long conversation on creating artistic work based on the experiences of women of color—focusing on Walker's artwork, including her recent installation "A Subtlety…", and the complexities of telling Black women's narratives.
Ava Duvernay has directed two critically-acclaimed films, I Will Follow (2011) and Middle of Nowhere (2012). She's the first Black woman to receive the Best Director award at the Sundance Film Festival.
She explains how she finds inspiration for her creative work.
Ava DuVernay's latest short film "Say Yes" follows a house party turned engagement celebration. The film, sponsored by Fashion Fair and Johnson Publishing, features a host of beautiful black women and men. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity cameos including Issa Rae and noted filmmaker Julie Dash.
Last year Ava DuVernay was the first African-American woman to win the
Best Director award at the Sundance Film Festival. Her most recent film
"Middle of Nowhere" has garnered widespread critical acclaim. She
appeared on Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss the importance of telling
thoughtful stories of race and gender.
The Door, a short film produced by Ava DuVernay, is the fifth of an installment for Miu Miu's Women's Tales. The short film stars Gabrielle Union, Alfre Woodard, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Adepero Oduye and Goapele. The short film follows Union as she rises above sadness with the help of her friends.
(2011) and Middle of Nowhere (2012). She's the first Black woman to receive the Best Director award at the Sundance Film Festival. 
