The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is recognizing Ava DuVernay’s commitment to making “topical films and television shows focusing on important social issues.” Variety reports that the “Selma” director is the recipient of the PGA’s 2018 Visionary Award. She’ll be presented with the prize at the 29th Annual Producers Guild Awards on January 20.
“The emergence of Ava DuVernay as a producer and filmmaker has been one of the great developments of the past several years,” stated PGA Awards Chairs Amy Pascal and Donald De Line. “Whether in scripted features, television, or documentaries, her unique voice, skill, and passion have inspired countless audiences throughout our country and around the world. She is, by any standard, a visionary storyteller, and we are excited to be honoring her as such in 2018.”
Previous Visionary Award recipients include Megan Ellison (“Detroit”) and Laura Ziskin (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler”).
DuVernay is just as passionate about social justice and intersectionality in real life as she is in her creative pursuits. After the revelations about Harvey Weinstein came to light, she said, “For … women like me and many others, that protection of our womenhood isn’t enough, because we’re not only women. We’re black. We’re brown. We are native. We are Asian. We are Muslim. We are queer. We are many things that deserve safe spaces and protection.” She continued, “We come in here with focus and ferocity and fever, with an intention that says, until all women are safe, until we take an intersectional approach to safeguard within this industry, that we are not truly living up to the movement.”
The writer, director, and producer was recently named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100. DuVernay founded the film collective ARRAY, which spotlights work from women and people of color, and is the first woman of color to helm a $100 million feature. The Oscar-nominated doc “13th,” “Selma,” “Middle of Nowhere,” and “I Will Follow,” are among her directing credits. “Queen Sugar,” the OWN family drama DuVernay created, recently aired its second season finale. She’s also working on a Netflix miniseries about the Central Park Five and a TV adaptation of Octavia Butler’s “Dawn.”
DuVernay’s newest project, the highly-anticipated sci-fi adventure “A Wrinkle in Time,” hits theaters March 9, 2018.
