Ava DuVernay Wins 2012 Sundance Best Directing Award

By Yolanda Marie Johnson

AFFRM founder and director of AFFRM's first release I WILL FOLLOW, Ava DuVernay, received Sundance's 2012 Best Director Award for her second narrative feature MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

As the first black female director to receive this award, DuVernay's historic win helps shine a spotlight on black independent cinema.  AFFRM applauds her as she continues to be a leader in black contemporary storytelling.

In case you missed the announcement, here is a rundown of key coverage:

• HUFFINGTON POST | January 30, 2011 | "Sundance 2012: Ava DuVernay Becomes First Black Woman to Win Best Director Prize"
• EBONY | January 30, 2012 | "Director Makes Sundance History"
• ESSENCE | January 29, 2012 | "Ava DuVernay Wins Directing Award at Sundance Film Festival"
• THE ROOT | January 29, 2012 | “Ava DuVernay Wins Best Director at Sundance”
• BET.COM | January 29, 2012 | Ava DuVernay wins Best Director for MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
• ELECTRONIC URBAN REPORT | January 30, 2012 | “Ava DuVernay’s History Making Turn at Sundance: Wins Dramatic Directing Award”
• NEWS ONE | January 29, 2012 | “Straight Outta Compton: Ava Makes Black History at Sundance!”
• BLACK ENTERPRISE | January 29, 2012 | 'Ava DuVernay Becomes The First Black Woman To Win Best Director at Sundance'
• COLORLINES | January 30, 2012 | "Ava DuVernay Becomes First Black Woman To Win Best Director at Sundance"
• THE WAVE NEWSPAPERS | January 30, 2012 | "MIDDLE OF NOWHERE director Ava DuVernay honored at Sundance"
• R WEEKLY | January 31, 2012 | 'Ava DuVernay Scores Historic Win at Sundance for ‘Middle of Nowhere’