“SYHS ‘J OTSPN’….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: R = N
ANSWER: “THAT ‘I VOTED’ STICKER … PROCLAIMS THAT I EXERCISED A RIGHT DENIED TO SO MANY FOR SO LONG … I VOTE WITH THEM IN MIND.” —AVA DUVERNAY
AVA DUVERNAY
BORN AUGUST 24, 1972 • AGE 54 • AMERICAN FILM DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
🎬 A CALIFORNIA GIRL WITH BIG IDEAS!
Ava Marie DuVernay was born in Long Beach, California, and grew up in the Los Angeles area. She studied English literature and African American studies at UCLA, developing an appreciation for storytelling long before becoming a film director.
📣 FIRST THE PUBLICITY, THEN THE PICTURES!
Before directing movies, DuVernay built a career in entertainment publicity and founded her own marketing agency. Working with filmmakers gave her valuable experience, and she eventually decided to step behind the camera and tell stories herself.
🏆 A GROUNDBREAKING DIRECTOR TAKES THE STAGE!
In 2012, DuVernay became the first African American woman to win the directing award in the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition. The winning film, Middle of Nowhere, helped establish her as an important new voice in independent cinema.
🎞️ SELMA: A STORY WORTH REMEMBERING!
DuVernay directed Selma (2014), a historical drama portraying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1965 voting rights marches in Alabama. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture and won Best Original Song for “Glory.”
🌌 A MAGICAL ADVENTURE BEYOND THE STARS!
In 2018, DuVernay directed Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, adapted from Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved fantasy novel. Featuring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling, the movie follows a young girl’s extraordinary journey to find her missing father.
✨ MAKING ROOM FOR MORE VOICES!
DuVernay founded ARRAY, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for filmmakers and sharing stories from underrepresented communities. Her television series Queen Sugar ran for seven seasons, while her 2023 film Origin continued her exploration of history and human relationships.
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