Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, whose projects include the inspiring Atlanta-filmed "Selma," will be rendered as a Barbie doll, the company announced.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
The first black woman to earn best-director honors at the Sundance Film Festival, DuVernay also founded AFFRM, or the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, "a distribution collective of black arts organizations dedicated to quality black independent films" that she founded in 2011. (You can become a supporter, or an "AFFRM Rebel," at arrayaction.com. Donations support the distribution of films by artists working outside of the studio system.)
DuVernay was honored with the Civil Rights and Civic Participation award from the Andrew J. Young Foundation in May. During her remarks, she noted that "Selma" began filming just about a year ago.
"To come back here and see you and to think about our journey over the last year and the fact that it was made possible in large part because of your generosity of spirit was very moving to me,” she told Young that night. “You have never rested on your laurels. I honor you today. You aren’t a chapter in a history book to me. You aren’t a street in Atlanta. You are a man who is deeply loving and deeply loved.”
"Selma" tells the story of the Selma-to-Montgomery march movement led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Atlanta civil rights heroes including U.S. Rep. John Lewis, former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young, the Rev. C.T. Vivian and the late Revs. Hosea Williams and Ralph David Abernathy.
Here’s a look back at the AJC’s extensive coverage of the movie:
Selma’s” $10+ million economic impact in Georgia
Rev. C.T. Vivian salutes American Baptist College amid heritage honor, “Selma” role
Rev. Bernice King says “Selma” is an incredible movie but doesn’t get everything 100% right
