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Born August 24, 1972 in Long Beach, California

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Born August 24, 1972 in Long Beach, California

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Ava was born to her mother, Darlene Maye. She was Darlene's first of five children. Her role as "eldest sister" impacted her sense of responsibility starting at an early age.

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DuVernay spent summers during her childhood visiting Selma, AL where her stepfather grew up. While there, she heard stories from people who had experienced or participated in the March on Selma, one of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement in 1965.

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Early 1980s- DuVernay watches "West Side Story" with her Aunt Denise.

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Early 1980s- DuVernay watches "West Side Story" with her Aunt Denise.

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Aunt Denise was passionate about the arts, and encouraged DuVernay's participation in a variety of art forms at a young age, introducing her to film, theater, and other artistic mediums. West Side Story was one of the first films where DuVernay saw how art could comment on culture in an impactful way.

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June 1990- DuVernay graduates from all-girls Catholic Saint Joseph's High School. 

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June 1990- DuVernay graduates from all-girls Catholic Saint Joseph's High School. 

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Sept. 1994- DuVernay works for CBS covering OJ Simpson murder trial

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Sept. 1994- DuVernay works for CBS covering OJ Simpson murder trial

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While reporting on the OJ Simpson trial, DuVernay became unenamored with journalism as she felt the news spent too much time glamorizing celebrity life and not enough time reporting on the hard facts, making an impact with reporting. She chose to leave the world of journalism altogether.

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1999- Starts own publicity agency, DuVernay Agency.

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1999- Starts own publicity agency, DuVernay Agency.

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After working for other people and developing her publicity and public relations skills, DuVernay opens her own firm after her father points out that she could be making more money working for herself. She enjoys the challenge and reward of determining what elements of a film are most compelling and what will bring audiences in!

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2010- DuVernay makes first film, "I Will Follow"

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2010- DuVernay makes first film, "I Will Follow"

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DuVernay makes her debut film while still working as a Hollywood publicist. Her film, which premieres at a number of film festivals, receives high honors for it's "honest' and "truthful" portrayal of how we process grief, including from renowned film critic Roger Ebert. DuVernay shares that the film is inspired by her personal experience with grief after the loss of her beloved and inspiring Aunt Denise.