Women of Power: 10 Black Industry Leaders in Television and Film

Ava DuVernay

As the first African American woman to win the Best Director Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for her feature film Middle of Nowhere, DuVernay is proving that you will be seeing a lot more of her name in the coming years.

Having directed an episode of Scandal and with several short plays under her belt, DuVernay has also been tasked with directing the 2014 film Selma starring Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr., and several other top actors.