This year's Pioneer Award is given to producer Ava DuVernay. Ava has proved that persistence; artistic integrity and commitment to quality will yield amazing results. Ava has been a first in many ways, she was the first director to win Best director at the Sundance film Festival, the first African-American female director to be nominated for Golden Globe and we completely believe that she will continue to be a force in Hollywood to be reckoned with and create powerful, memorable, evocative work that will stand the test of time. Ava continues to expand the boundaries of what women and black filmmakers can achieve and embody the very essence of the word Pioneer.
