Ava DuVernay’s Array Will Distribute Films by Women and Minorities

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay has been in the movie business for quite some time but it took the immense success of the critically-acclaimed Selma, to finally catapult her into the realm of success that ordinarily eludes female minority directors.

This enviable status comes with a certain level of responsibility which DuVernay is taking in stride as she sets the wheels in motion for her next ambitious endeavor which she recently shared with Variety.

Her 5-year-old distribution company, AFFRM (African American Film Festival Releasing Movement) will undergo expansion by taking on the responsibility of giving much needed exposure to minorities and women filmmakers who generally have more of a challenge marketing and distributing their films. This new arm of AFFRM will perform under the banner of – Array.

DuVernay expressed the fact this new focus had always been part of her plan for expansion and now that the time is right – it’s full speed ahead. “I’ve always felt as if there were so many films that get made but not seen”. The real focus of our company has always been distribution. What we’re doing is opening our arms a little wider and enlarging our mission”.

Array is already attached to two upcoming films that will be released this fall – A coming-of-age-drama by South African director, Sara Blecher, Ayanda and the Mechanic, and newcomer Takeshi Fukunaga’s Out of My Hand.

The new Array will also join forces with Netflix to release Mississippi Damned, a family drama from Tina Mabry that made its debut in Slamdance back in 2009.

DuVernay is eager to use her influence in an industry that isn’t particularly colorblind to boost those who may otherwise remain dormant. “It’s a definite evolution of what we were doing at AFFRM”. “When I was out promoting ‘Selma’, I became aware of so many films that ought to be getting distribution. And this is a problem I can do something about because of my experience”.

It looks like she is definitely on her way to using her good fortune for the betterment of those who deserve it.