Thanks to Ava DuVernay, March is coming in like a lion — and we mean that in the best possible way. DuVernay’s film distribution collective, ARRAY, is celebrating Women’s History Month today with a 12-hour Twitter Take-Over: Rebel-A-Thon.
According to a press release, ARRAY’s third Rebel-A-Thon will celebrate “underrepresented filmmakers while raising awareness for ARRAY’s annual membership drive.” Today’s Rebel-A-Thon will “amplify the voices of women and people of color filmmakers” through interactions with 25 female directors across five countries. Alongside host DuVernay, Julie Dash (“Daughters of the Dust”), Mira Nair (“Queen of Katwe”), Amma Asante (“A United Kingdom”), Stella Meghie (“Jean of the Joneses”), and Anna Rose Holmer (“The Fits”) are among the participating filmmakers.
Today! For 12 hours! Women directors tweet to celebrate @ArrayNow's membership drive + kick off Women's History Month! Join via #ArrayToday!
— @ava
“We offer this year’s Rebel-A-Thon as an opportunity to highlight the important contributions made by women filmmakers,” ARRAY’s Executive Director Tilane Jones said in a statement. Jones emphasized that ARRAY and its Rebel-A-Thon participants will use this opportunity to “stand together for inclusiveness in the industry.”
Today’s Rebel-A-Thon will also give special attention to “Namour,” from Egyptian-American director Heidi Saman. “Namour,” ARRAY’s most recent acquisition, will be screening throughout the country this month and will be released on Netflix on March 15.
DuVernay founded ARRAY in 2010. Since then, “Array Releasing has distributed 15 feature films by underrepresented filmmakers in theaters and on digital platforms,” the press release details. ARRAY’s releases include Rebecca Johnson’s “Honeytrap,” Sara Blecher’s “Ayanda,” and DuVernay’s own “Middle of Nowhere” and “I Will Follow.”
Today’s Twitter Take-Over is just one event on DuVernay’s packed schedule. The “Selma” filmmaker is directing Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time” — making her the first woman of color to helm a $100 million film. The adaptation of the beloved children’s book will be released April 6, 2018. DuVernay was nominated for an Oscar this Sunday for “13th,” her exploration of the ties between the prison system and slavery.
Visit the ARRAY website for more information on the collective. And be sure to join in today’s Rebel-A-Thon using #ArrayToday.
The complete list of today’s Rebel-A-Thon participants is below, courtesy of ARRAY.
Amanda Marsalis (ECHO PARK)
Amma Asante (A UNITED KINGDOM)
Anna Rose Holmer (THE FITS)
Ava DuVernay (SELMA)
Aurora Guerrero (MOSQUITA Y MARI)
Ayoka Chenzira (ALMA’S RAINBOW)
Christine Swanson (ALL ABOUT US)
DeMane Davis (LIFT)
Hanelle M. Culpepper (WITHIN)
Heidi Saman (NAMOUR)
Jennifer Brea (UNREST)
Julie Dash (DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST)
Kasi Lemmons (EVE’S BAYOU)
Kat Candler (HELLION)
Leila Djansi (LIKE COTTON TWINES)
Lucy Walker (DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND)
Marta Cunningham (VALENTINE ROAD)
Millicent Shelton (RIDE)
Mira Nair (QUEEN OF KATWE)
Robin Swicord (WAKEFIELD)
Sara Blecher (AYANDA)
Shola Lynch (FREE ANGELA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS)
Stella Meghie (EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING)
Tanya Hamilton (NIGHT CATCHES US)
Tina Gordon Chism (PEEPLES)
Tina Mabry (MISSISSIPPI DAMNED)
Victoria Mahoney (YELLING TO THE SKY)
