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Ava DuVernay Wants You to Be a Rebel and Join the Movement for Diverse Films

Ava DuVernay Wants You to Be a Rebel and Join the Movement for Diverse Films
Ava DuVernay Wants You Be Rebel and Join the Movement Diverse Films

Award-winning “Selma” director Ava Duvernay, founder of the African American Film Festival Releasing Movement, along with other filmmakers, have taken over Twitter today for a “Rebel-a-Thon” in support of the AFFRM.

Moderated by DuVernay, an all-star lineup of more than 40 black filmmakers including Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”), Dawn Porter (“Spies of Mississippi”), Roger Ross Williams (“God Loves Uganda”), Rick Famuyiwa (“Dope”), Justin Simien (“Dear White People”), Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights”), John Singleton (“Boyz ‘N The Hood”) and many more are taking to Twitter from 10am ET to 10pm ET to raise funds for the AFFRM.

READ MORE: Ava DuVernay on How to Move the Film Industry in the Right Direction

DuVernay started AFFRM in 2011 with the goals of empowering black, independent filmmakers with theatrical and multi-platform distribution through Array Releasing. “I’m a product of that,” DuVernay recently told Indiewire. “If I did not have my films distributed through AFFRM and Array, I would have never had a chance to make ‘Selma,’ or do any of the things that I’m doing now. It’s so important to give these filmmakers a leg up, to give them an opportunity to find an audience.” Watch AFFRM films here.

“There were a lot of people trying to talk to me at Oscar time about diversity and inclusion and this is a way you can actually help further that,” DuVernay said. “If they really care about it now they can do something about it.”

Until last year, without any sponsors or grants, AFFRM was financed entirely by DuVernay. Now run by a 30-person volunteer staff with the help of organizations and museums from around the country, the organization began its “Rebel” member program last year. The idea is that  fellow filmmakers, actors or simply fans can donate, becoming either a “Digital Rebel” for $40 or a “Full Rebel” for $100.

The “Rebel” filmmakers are using the hashtag #ARRAY. Follow AFFRM on Twitter here.

READ MORE: The 8 Most Badass Things Ava DuVernay Said About Being a Female Filmmaker

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