Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay is a visionary filmmaker who has shattered conventions to showcase the Black experience. This year, the spotlight found its way to DuVernay in a never-seen-before way. At the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, the award-winning filmmaker premiered her film “Origin,” becoming the first Black woman to premiere a feature film in competition at the festival. At a festival press conference, she revealed the struggles she faced throughout her journey. "I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told, 'Don’t apply to Venice, you won’t get in, it won’t happen,'" she confessed. Against the odds, DuVernay opened a door that remained elusive for so long and made history.