Ava DuVernay Becomes The First African American Woman to Compete in Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival is the world’s oldest major film festival, held annually in Venice, Italy. The festival began as a way for filmmakers from across the world to exhibit their work, and this year marks its 80th anniversary. Yet, throughout its history there has never been a Black woman among the filmmakers to compete in Venice. Not until this year.
The festival has included the works of Black filmmaker men in the past, including Spike Lee, Antoine Fuqua, and John Singleton. And in 2020 Regina King became the first African American woman to have a film featured in the festival, but she didn’t qualify for competition. However, this year Ava DuVernay’s film “Origin” was selected, naming her as the first Black American woman to compete in the festival’s eight decade history.
Ava DuVernay wrote, produced and directed her independent film “Origin,” which premiered in Venice on September 6, establishing herself as the first Black woman to be considered for the Golden Lion award, the festival’s top prize. As an acknowledgement of this achievement, and simply because of her brilliance as a filmmaker and artist, after the film was played she received a standing ovation that went on for almost nine minutes.
In a press conference in Venice following the film’s premiere, Ava discussed the barriers that have long existed surrounding the international recognition of Black stories and Black voices in the industry. She expressed that “for Black filmmakers, we’re told that people who love films in other parts of the world don’t care about our stories and don’t care about our films. This is something that we are often told: you cannot play international film festivals, no one will come…don’t apply.” Multiple of her industry colleagues told Ava directly that applying for the festival would be pointless because her chances of being accepted were so slim. In the press conference, Ava also noted that her accomplishment “acknowledges an absence for 80 years,” calling attention to the history of the exclusion of Black filmmakers in major international exhibitions.
With her feat in Venice, Ava DuVernay has helped to further solidify a space for Black filmmakers to tell their stories on an international stage. Though, her achievement also points to the historic absence of Black women in the festival’s competition, and highlights the clear underrepresentation of Black filmmaker women in international film festivals. Not only has Ava made history, but she has become an integral part of the ongoing efforts toward the inclusion and representation of Black voices in cinema.
Black filmmakers have just entered the Venice Film Festival World after 80 years. Drop a comment below and let me know if Black films matter to you.
