This is a list of awards and nominations received by American director and screenwriter Ava DuVernay.
Active in the cinematographic field since 2000s, DuVernay started as an independent director, received critics associations accolades for This Is the Life (2008), I Will Follow (2010) and Middle of Nowhere (2012), for which she was recognized with the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award. In 2014 she directed Selma based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, which was nominated for Best Picture at the 87th Academy Awards, and gave her a nomination at the Golden Globe Award for Best Director. The related soundtrack album generated her a Grammy Award nomination as a producer.
In 2013 DuVernay produced, wrote and directed documentary film 13th, becoming the first black woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Her work was honored with two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award, two Critics' Choice Documentary Awards and tow BAFTA Award, including the John Schlesinger Award for Excellence in Directing.
Since 2016 she directed and wrote episodes of television series Queen Sugar, winning an NAACP Image Award, and When They See Us, being nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2018 she made her video direction debut with "Family Feud" by Jay-Z and Beyoncé, winning the BET Award for Video Director of the Year. In 2024 she directed Origin, competing at the 80th Venice International Film Festival for Golden Lion.
DuVernay was also honored by the Royal Photographic Society, the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize and the International Emmy Awards. In 2020 she was honored for her independent distribution company ARRAY with the Industrial Honor by the Peabody Awards.
Major associations
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry, given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Year Category Work Result Ref.2017Best Documentary Feature13th
BAFTA Awards The BAFTA Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to honour the best British and international contributions to film, TV shows and video-games. Year Category Work Result Ref. British Academy Film Awards2017Best Documentary 13th British Academy Britannia Awards2017John Schlesinger Award for Excellence in Directing Herself
Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. Year Category Work Result Ref. International Emmy Awards2022Founders AwardHerself Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards2017Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special13thOutstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction ProgramOutstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Programming Primetime Emmy Awards2019Outstanding Limited SeriesWhen They See UsOutstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic SpecialOutstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Year Category Work Result Ref.2014Best DirectorSelma
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards are accolades presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. Year Category Work Result Ref.2016Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual MediaSelma: Music from the Motion Picture
Other awards and nominations BET Awards YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2018"Family Feud"Video Director of the Year
Black Reel Awards
YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2010Outstanding Independent FeatureThis Is the Life2010 Black Reel Awards2011Outstanding Feature DocumentaryMy Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop2011 Black Reel Awards2012Outstanding DirectorI Will FollowThe Help Cleans Up At the Black Reel Awards, February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.Outstanding Screenplay2013Outstanding FilmMiddle of NowhereOutstanding ScreenplayOutstanding Director2014Outstanding Television DocumentaryNine for IX12 Years a Slave Breaks Free2015Outstanding DirectorSelma15th Annual Black Reel Awards Nominate a Spate of Familiar Faces, Official website2016Outstanding Film13thOutstanding Feature Documentary2017Outstanding Drama SeriesQueen SugarOutstanding Directing, Drama SeriesOutstanding Writing, Drama Series2018Outstanding Drama SeriesOutstanding Writing, Drama Serie2019Outstanding TV Movie/Limited SeriesWhen They See UsOutstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited SeriesOutstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited SeriesWhen They See Us When They See Us When They See Us When They See Us 2022 Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited SeriesColin in Black & White2024Outstanding FilmOriginOutstanding DirectorOutstanding ScreenplayOutstanding Directing in a Drama SeriesQueen SugarOutstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Critics' Choice Awards The Critics' Choice Movie Awards or Broadcast Film Critics Association Award is an awards show presented annually by the American-Canadian Critics Choice Association (CCA) to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. YearWorkCategoryResultRef. Critics' Choice Documentary Awards2016Best Documentary Feature TV/Streaming13thBest Director TV/Streaming Critics' Choice Movie Awards2014Best DirectorSelma Celebration of Black Cinema and Television 2022 Trailblazer Award Herself
Directors Guild of America Awards The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2020 When They See UsOutstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film
Film Independent Spirit Awards The Film Independent Spirit Awards are awards presented annually to independent filmmakers by Film Independent. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2012Middle of NowhereJohn Cassavetes Award2015SelmaBest Director201713thBest Documentary
GLAAD Media Awards The GLAAD Media Awards is an annual presentation of the GLAAD Media Awards, presented by GLAAD, honoring films, television shows, musicians and works of journalism that fairly and accurately represent the LGBT community and issues relevant to the community. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2018 Herself Excellence in Media Award
Gotham Awards The Gotham Awards are American film awards, presented annually to the makers of independent films by the Gotham Film & Media Institute. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2012 Middle of Nowhere Best Feature 2019 When They See Us Breakthrough Series – Long Form Herself Tribute Awards
IDA Documentary Awards The IDA Documentary Awards is an annual event organized by the International Documentary Association that recognises and honours outstanding documentary films and filmmakers. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.201613th Best Feature VideoSource Award
NAACP Image Awards The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2012I Will FollowOutstanding Independent Motion Picture 2015SelmaOutstanding Motion Picture 2017 Queen Sugar Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series2018 Queen Sugar HerselfEntertainer of the Year2024OriginOutstanding Motion PictureOutstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Peabody Awards The Peabody Awards honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories in television, radio, and online media. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2020ARRAYInstitutional Honors
Producers Guild of America Awards The Producers Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Producers Guild of America. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2020 When They See UsBest Limited Series Television
Royal Photographic Society Awards The Royal Photographic Society presents a series of awards to photographers and other individuals in photography. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2021HerselfCinematic Production Award
Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards is an award ceremony honoring the year's outstanding performers, films, television shows, home videos and interactive media, presented by the International Press Academy. YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2015Selma Best Film Best Director
The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize is given annually by JPMorgan Chase Bank to "a man or woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world and to mankind's enjoyment and understanding of life". YearWorkCategoryResultRef.2020HerselfThe Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize
Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival is part of the Venice Biennale and is the world's oldest film festival. YearWorkCategoryResultRef. 2023 Origin Golden Lion
Critics awards AssociationYearWorkCategoryResultRef.African-American Film Critics Association2011I Will FollowBest Screenplay2012Middle of NowhereBest Independent FilmBest PictureBest Screenplay2014SelmaBest Director2024OriginBest DramaBest DirectorAlliance of Women Film Journalists2012Middle of NowhereBest Woman Screenwriter201613thBest Woman DirectorOutstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Film IndustryAmerican Film Festival2015SelmaBest FilmTop FilmsCamerimage2013Middle of NowhereDirectors' Debuts CompetitionAstra TV Awards2023Queen SugarBest Directing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama SeriesDallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association2014SelmaBest DirectorDorian Awards2014SelmaFilm Director of the YearGeorgia Film Critics Association2015SelmaOglethorpe AwardBest DirectorBreakthrough Award2024OriginOglethorpe AwardHollywood Black Film Festival2008This Is the LifeAudience Choice Award for Best Documentary Jury Award for Best Documentary Hollywood Critics Association2018A Wrinkle in TimeBest Female DirectorLatino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards2024OriginBest PictureBest DirectorLos Angeles Film Critics Association2014SelmaNew Generation AwardOnline Film Critics Society Award2014SelmaBest DirectorPalm Springs International Film Festival2015SelmaDirectors to Watch AwardBest Narrative FeaturePan African Film Festival2008This Is the LifeBest DocumentaryJury Award - Honorable MentionReelworld Film Festival2008This Is the LifeAudience Award - Documentary Stockholm International Film Festival2012Middle of Nowhere Bronze HorseSundance Film Festival2012Middle of NowhereDirecting AwardGrand Jury PrizeTCA Awards2019 When They See UsProgram of the YearOutstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and SpecialsVirginia Film Festival 2023 Herself Visionary Award Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards201413thBest Director 2023 Origin Best Adapted Screenplay Women Film Critics Circle2012Middle of NowhereJosephine Baker Award201613thBest Woman StorytellerCourage in FilmmakingWomen in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards2015HerselfDorothy Arzner Directors award
References
External links