Ava Marie DuVernay (born August 24, 1972) is an American director, screenwriter, producer, and former rapper. In the 1990s, DuVernay was active in the Los Angeles underground hip hop scene, performing under the names AvA and Eve, and as one half of the duo Figures of Speech with fellow female MC Ronda Ross (aka Jyant). DuVernay's debut film, music documentary "This Is the Life" (2008), chronicled the rise and enduring influence of the scene of which she had been a part, focusing on its epicenter at the famous open mic nights in the Good Life Cafe, where many major west coast underground hip hop artists got their starts. At the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, DuVernay won the Best Director Prize for her second feature film "Middle of Nowhere", becoming the first African-American woman to win the award. For her work on "Selma" (2014), DuVernay was the first black female director to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award and also the first to have her film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, though she was not nominated for Best Director. In 2017, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for her political documentary "13th" (2016).
Known For
Becoming King
Self
2024
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (1 episode)
2023
Only in Theaters
Self
2022
One Perfect Shot
Self - Director · (6 episodes)
2022
Adele One Night Only
Self
2021
DC Fandome 2021
2021
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Self
2021
Regard Noir
Self
2021
Variety Studio: Directors on Directors
Self · (1 episode)
2021
Aggie
Self
2020
Dear...
Self · (1 episode)
2020
#blackAF
Ava DuVernay · (1 episode)
2020
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Ava DuVernay · (1 episode)
2019
Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now
Self
2019
Desus & Mero
Self - Illustrious Guest · (1 episode)
2019
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
Self
2018
Shine On with Reese
Self · (1 episode)
2018
Half the Picture
Self
2018
Girls Trip
Ava DuVernay
2017
The Female Lead - A Selection of Portraits
Self
2017
13th: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay
Herself
2017
Chelsea
Self · (1 episode)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
Life Itself
Self - Filmmaker
2014
Trailblazer Honors
Self - Honoree · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2014
Finding Your Roots
Self · (2 episodes)
2012
This Is the Life
Self
2008
The View
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self · (1 episode)
1979