Photo credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
As one of the most influential producers and directors today, Ava DuVernay will be honored by the Producers Guild of America with its 2018 Visionary Award.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a release from the guild says that the award “recognizes television, film, or new media producers for their unique uplifting contributions to our culture through inspiring storytelling or performance.”
In the case of DuVernay, the award-winning director will be recognized for her thought-provoking work that addresses important social issues, including her documentary “13th” and her TV show “Queen Sugar.”
“The emergence of Ava DuVernay as a producer and filmmaker has been one of the great developments of the past several years,” said Producer Guild Awards chairs Donald De Line and Amy Pascal in a statement. “Whether in scripted features, television or documentaries, her unique voice, skill and passion have inspired countless audiences throughout our country and world.”
As an accomplished and respected voice in Hollywood, DuVernay has broken down several barriers throughout her career. She was the first African American female director to have a film nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards with her 2014 project “Selma,” and she was the first to win the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012. Most recently, she’s making history with her upcoming film “A Wrinkle in Time,” as she is the first African-American woman to direct a film with a budget over $100 million.
DuVernay took to Twitter to thank the Producers Guild for honoring her and said, “This is so lovely and unexpected. I love producing. Almost as much as directing. So you know that’s a lot.”
Congratulations, Ava! Thank you for always using your platform to speak truth to power.
The 29th Annual Producers Guild Awards is set to be held at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles on January 20, 2018.