On Saturday night, Ava DuVernay became the first African-American woman to win the U.S. Directing Award in the dramatic category at the Sundance Film Festival. The talented director, who is a The Root 100 honoree, won for her feature film Middle of Nowhere, according to the Los Angeles Times. DuVernay released her first film, I Will Follow, last year, also to positive reviews.
Nowhere is a drama that follows the life of a woman separated from her incarcerated husband and her quest to reconcile her marriage with her own identity. Participant Media and AFFRM (the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, which she founded) have acquired the theatrical rights to the film.
We are glad to see films that showcase the broad depth of the African-American experience being recognized. Too many films that hit big screens across the country depict us in a negative and stereotypical manner. Artists like DuVernay are helping to show audiences that the African-American experience stretches beyond what they see on their TV screens and in most theaters.
Read more at the Los Angeles Times.
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