Ava DuVernay
Biography
Ava DuVernay is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. Born on August 24, 1972, in Long Beach, California, she is known for her work in directing. DuVernay made her directorial debut with the film I Will Follow in 2010. She won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for her second feature film, Middle of Nowhere, becoming the first black woman to win the award. DuVernay founded her independent distribution company ARRAY in 2011. She has also directed the film Selma, a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr. DuVernay has directed other notable projects, including the series DMZ, which premiered on HBO Max in 2022.
Career overview
Ava DuVernay is an American filmmaker who has made a significant impact in the industry. She began her career in directing with the 2010 film I Will Follow, which marked her directorial debut. DuVernay's second feature film, Middle of Nowhere, earned her the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, making her the first black woman to win the award.
DuVernay's work has been recognized for its quality, and she has been involved in various projects over the years. She founded her independent distribution company ARRAY in 2011, which has allowed her to showcase her vision and support emerging filmmakers. DuVernay's directing credits include several notable films and television series, although specific titles are not mentioned in the provided sources.
DuVernay's directing career has been marked by her ability to tackle complex and thought-provoking subjects. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and BAFTA Film and TV Awards. DuVernay's influence extends beyond her own projects, as she continues to support and empower emerging filmmakers through her work with ARRAY.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
107 titles- 14th (2026) Director
- 14th (2026) Producer
- Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (2025) as Self
- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self
- Becoming King (2024) as Self
- Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter (2023) as Self
- Origin (2023) Writer
- Origin (2023) Director
- Origin (2023) Producer
- Naomi (2022) Executive Producer
- Naomi (2022) Teleplay
- Naomi (2022) Writer
- Naomi (2022) Creator
- DMZ (2022) Director
- DMZ (2022) Executive Producer
- One Perfect Shot (2022) as Self - Director
- One Perfect Shot (2022) Executive Producer
- One Perfect Shot (2022) Creator
- Only in Theaters (2022) as Self
- Colin in Black and White (2021) Executive Producer
- Colin in Black and White (2021) Director
- Colin in Black and White (2021) Creator
- Directors on Directors (2021) as Self
- Adele One Night Only (2021) as Self
- The White Tiger (2021) Producer
- The White Tiger (2021) Executive Producer
- Regard Noir (2021) as Self
- Home Sweet Home (2021) Creator
- A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks (2021) as Self
- Dear... (2020) as Self
- #blackAF (2020) as Ava DuVernay
- Cherish the Day (2020) Executive Producer
- Cherish the Day (2020) Writer
- Cherish the Day (2020) Creator
- A Concerto Is a Conversation (2020) Executive Producer
- And She Could Be Next (2020) Executive Producer
- And She Could Be Next (2020) Executive Producer
- Aggie (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- Desus & Mero (2019) as Self - Illustrious Guest
- When They See Us (2019) Story
- When They See Us (2019) Executive Producer
- When They See Us (2019) Director
- When They See Us (2019) Teleplay
- When They See Us (2019) Creator
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Ava DuVernay
- The Red Line (2019) Executive Producer
- Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now (2019) as Self
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018) Director
- Shine On with Reese (2018) as Self
- Family Feud (2018) Director
- Family Feud (2018) Writer
- Family Feud (2018) Producer
- Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018) as Self
- Half the Picture (2018) as Self
- Girls Trip (2017) as Ava DuVernay
- August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017) Writer
- August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017) Producer
- August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017) Director
- The Female Lead - A Selection of Portraits (2017) as Self
- 13th: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay (2017) as Herself
- Chelsea (2016) as Self
- Queen Sugar (2016) Director
- Queen Sugar (2016) Creator
- 13th (2016) Director
- 13th (2016) Writer
- 13th (2016) Producer
- Black America Again (2016) Executive Producer
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Trailblazer Honors (2014) as Self - Honoree
- Selma (2014) Director
- Selma (2014) Executive Producer
- Selma (2014) Writer
- Life Itself (2014) as Self - Filmmaker
- Nine for IX (2013) Director
- The Door (2013) Director
- The Door (2013) Writer
- The Door (2013) Producer
- Venus VS. (2013) Director
- Say Yes (2013) Writer
- Say Yes (2013) Director
- 99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film (2013) Associate Producer
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- Middle of Nowhere (2012) Director
- Middle of Nowhere (2012) Writer
- Middle of Nowhere (2012) Producer
- I Will Follow (2010) Director
- I Will Follow (2010) Writer
- I Will Follow (2010) Producer
- My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop (2010) Director
- My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop (2010) Executive Producer
- Compton in C Minor (2009) Director
- This Is the Life (2008) as Self
- This Is the Life (2008) Director
- This Is the Life (2008) Producer
- Saturday Night Life (2006) Director
- Saturday Night Life (2006) Writer
- Collateral (2004) Unit Publicist
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- CBS News Sunday Morning (1979) as Self
- Heist of Benin Director
- King vs. the United States of America Executive Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ava DuVernay best known for?
Ava DuVernay is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The White Tiger (2021), The White Tiger (2021), Dear... (2020), The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019).
When and where was Ava DuVernay born?
Ava DuVernay was born on August 24, 1972 in Long Beach, California, USA.
How many credits does Ava DuVernay have?
Ava DuVernay has accumulated over 107 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1979 to 2026.
What is Ava DuVernay's background in cinema and television?
Ava DuVernay is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. Born on August 24, 1972, in Long Beach, California, she is known for her work in directing. DuVernay made her directorial debut with the film I Will Follow in 2010. She won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film F...