Ava DuVernay keeps reeling in well-deserved honors. The multi-hyphenate has already snagged three 2019 Emmy nominations for Netflix miniseries “When They See Us” — which scored 16 nods total — and will receive this year’s Pen America’s Voice of Influence Award. Now, The Wrap reports that the IFP Gotham Awards will honor DuVernay with this year’s Director’s Tribute.
“Ava DuVernay is a groundbreaking and influential filmmaker whose work casts an overdue and much needed light on the history of our nation’s systemic racism embedded in our institutions of justice today,” said Jeff Sharp, executive director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “She is enlightening and impactful to a new wave of filmmakers and her films are profoundly consequential to our nation’s continued endeavor to provide equal justice for all.”
DuVernay’s feature credits include historical drama “Selma,” documentary “13th,” and fantasy adaptation “A Wrinkle in Time.” With the latter, DuVernay became the first woman of color to direct a film with a budget over $100 million. She most recently created, directed, and co-wrote Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” which tells the true story of the so-called “Central Park Five,” a group of young men of color who were convicted for a crime they did not commit.
DuVernay continues to oversee the production of OWN series “Queen Sugar,” which was just renewed for a fifth season. Every episode of the family drama has been directed by a woman.
The ARRAY founder’s forthcoming projects include an adaptation of DC Comics’ “The New Gods” and “Cherish the Day,” a romantic anthology following one couple’s romance day by day. It received a straight-to-series order and will premiere on OWN in winter 2020.
DuVernay’s 2012 drama “Middle of Nowhere” received two Gotham Award nominations, including Best Feature. The 2019 IFC Gotham Awards will be held on December 2 in New York.