10 Things You Should Know About Ava DuVernay

Learn more about the director of I Will Follow!

Affirming Her Beliefs - She is the Founder of AFFRM, the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement.  (Photo: FERNANDO LEON)

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Affirming Her Beliefs - She is the Founder of AFFRM, the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement. (Photo: FERNANDO LEON)

Making History - She is the winner of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Award for Best Director, and is the first African-American to do so. Her movie Middle of Nowhere is what landed her the winning title. (Photo: EPA/GEORGE FREY /LANDOV)

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Making History - She is the winner of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Award for Best Director, and is the first African-American to do so. Her movie Middle of Nowhere is what landed her the winning title. (Photo: EPA/GEORGE FREY /LANDOV)

Critical Acclaim - Movie critic Roger Ebert championed DuVernay stating that "I Will Follow is one of the best films I've seen about coming to terms with the death of a loved one."  (Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for WIF)

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Critical Acclaim - Movie critic Roger Ebert championed DuVernay stating that "I Will Follow is one of the best films I've seen about coming to terms with the death of a loved one."  (Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for WIF)

Photo By Anna Webber/Getty Images for WIF

Directed by Ava DuVernay - While there have been some very big names in the running to direct Whitney's biopic, Sundance winner and indie darling DuVernay would likely create an intimate and realistic portrait of Houston and her complex life.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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Based on a True Story - Her debut film, I Will Follow, is based on her relationship with her late aunt. She wrote, directed and funded the film herself.  (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Low Budget, High Value - DuVernay made I Will Follow in 15 days and kept the production cost under $50,000 by keeping the location the same throughout the filming process. (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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Low Budget, High Value - DuVernay made I Will Follow in 15 days and kept the production cost under $50,000 by keeping the location the same throughout the filming process. (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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UCLA Grad - DuVernay is a UCLA Graduate with degrees in English and African-American studies. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI)

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UCLA Grad - DuVernay is a UCLA Graduate with degrees in English and African-American studies. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI)

California Love - DuVernay grew up in Compton, California.(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for WIF)

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California Love - DuVernay grew up in Compton, California.(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for WIF)

The Start of the Good Life - Ava DuVernay made her feature directorial debut with the critically-acclaimed 2008 hip hop documentary This Is the Life.  (Photo: ava duvernay/Facebook)

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The Start of the Good Life - Ava DuVernay made her feature directorial debut with the critically-acclaimed 2008 hip hop documentary This Is the Life. (Photo: ava duvernay/Facebook)

Photo By Photo: ava duvernay/Facebook

Before She Was Behind the Camera - Previously, DuVernay worked as a film marketer and publicist for more than 14 years, forming her own company, DVA Media + Marketing, in 1999.  (Photo: ava duvernay/Facebook)

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Before She Was Behind the Camera - Previously, DuVernay worked as a film marketer and publicist for more than 14 years, forming her own company, DVA Media + Marketing, in 1999. (Photo: ava duvernay/Facebook)

Solid Representation - DuVernay is represented by Paradigm.(Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

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Solid Representation - DuVernay is represented by Paradigm.(Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)