This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Oscar-Nominated 'Selma' Director Ava DuVernay Will Head MAMI's International Jury

This Oscar-Nominated Director Will Head MAMI's International Jury This Year
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Director Ava DuVernay attends The Broad Museum's Inaugural Celebration at The Broad on September 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval/FilmMagic)
Vincent Sandoval via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Director Ava DuVernay attends The Broad Museum's Inaugural Celebration at The Broad on September 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval/FilmMagic)

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, 43, will be heading the jury for the international competition at this year's edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival, as reported by Mumbai Mirror on Monday.

Last year, DuVernay became the first African-American woman director to ever be nominated for an Academy Award as well as a Golden Globe for Selma (2014), a historical drama film featuring David Oyelwo as civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. Previously, in 2012, she had been awarded a best director prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival that year, for her sophomore feature Middle Of Nowhere (2012).

The 17th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival, which has seen a change in leadership and funding this year (it is officially being called 'Jio MAMI', after its title sponsor), will be held in Mumbai from October 29 to November 5. "I'm thrilled to have been invited to head the international jury and am really looking forward to celebrating the work of a diverse array of filmmakers with energetic, engaged audiences in the dynamic city of Mumbai," said DuVernay to Mirror.

The article gave us a sneak peek at five out of the 170 films that have been programmed for this year's festival. While international films include French filmmaker Jacques Audiard's Golden Palm winner Dheepan, Iranian master Jaffar Panahi's Golden Bear winner Taxi, and English filmmaker Andrew Haigh's 45 Years; Indian selections include Raam Reddy's Kannada debut Thithi, which one two prestigious awards at this year's Locarno International Film Festival, and Pan Nalin's Angry Indian Goddesses, which was the first-runner up for the Grolsch People's Choice Award at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.