Age: 53
female
Ava Marie DuVernay (/ˌdjuːvərˈneɪ/; born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. She is a recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, a BAFTA Film Award, and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. In 2011, she founded her independent distribution company ARRAY. After making her directorial debut with I Will Follow (2010), DuVernay 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. For her work on Selma (2014), a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr., DuVernay became the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director; the film went on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Her other film credits include the Academy Award-nominated Netflix documentary 13th (2016) and the Disney fantasy film A Wrinkle in Time (2018), the latter making her the first African-American woman to direct a film with a $100 million budget. In 2023, she directed the biographical film Origin based on Isabel Wilkerson's book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (2020). DuVernay's television credits include the OWN drama series Queen Sugar (2016) and two Netflix drama limited series: When They See Us (2019), based on the 1989 Central Park jogger case, and Colin in Black & White (2021), based on the teenage years of NFL player Colin Kaepernick. In 2017, DuVernay was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. In 2020, she was elected to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences board of governors as part of the directors branch. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ava DuVernay, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Ava DuVernay
Producer
for Producer in Simply the Best: The Tina Turner Story
Suggested by kamsismith
The film opens with a young Anna Mae Bullock dreaming of a life beyond the cotton fields of Tennessee, where she finds solace and inspiration in the vibrant rhythms of gospel music. Through a series of serendipitous events, she encounters Ike Turner, a charismatic musician who recognizes her incredible voice and potential. Under Ike's tutelage, Anna Mae transforms into Tina Turner, and together they skyrocket to fame with hits like "Proud Mary" and "River Deep, Mountain High." However, behind the glittering facade of stardom lies a dark reality of abuse and manipulation. Tina endures years of torment at the hands of Ike, culminating in her decision to break free and rebuild her life from scratch. With unparalleled resilience and determination, she embarks on a solo career, facing skepticism and prejudice in a male-dominated industry. As Tina's star continues to rise, she captivates audiences worldwide with her electrifying performances and distinctive voice, earning her the title of the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll." Alongside her professional triumphs, the film explores Tina's personal journey of self-discovery and empowerment, as she finds love, strength, and ultimately, redemption. Through electrifying musical sequences and intimate character moments, "Simply the Best" celebrates Tina Turner's enduring legacy as a pioneer, survivor, and icon. It's a testament to the transformative power of music and the unbreakable human spirit.
