HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN, Calif. — Director Ava DuVernay is well known for films like Selma, 13th and A Wrinkle In Time, as well as TV series Queen Sugar and When They See Us. But she’s also bringing many film and TV projects to audiences that are being made by other women and people of color. 

Ava DuVernay gives Canadian filmmaker and actress Elle-Máija Tailfeathers and newcomer Viola Nelson huge hugs as she welcomes them to her Array Creative Campus in Historic Filipinotown. This is the tail end of what has been a whirlwind international tour of film festivals and screenings of their movie The Body Remembers When the World Broken Open, which DuVernay's company acquired the distribution rights to. 

“I'm using the spotlight that I have from my work to design it and share it with folks who deserve to be seen,” DuVernay said as she sat with Máija (as she prefers to be called) and Nelson in the huge loft space in the main lobby of her company.

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DuVernay founded Array in 2010 to be a grassroots distribution arts and advocacy collective focused on film and television projects by people of color and women.

Máija wrote and co-directed with Kathleen Hepburn the film The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open. She also stars in it.

 

The drama follows two indigenous Canadian women from vastly different backgrounds whose worlds collide as one of them is fleeing a violent domestic attack. This is Nelson’s debut and first acting role, and she tapped into her own experiences which brought an incredible intensity to her character.

“To have more connection to Rosie, my mom and I have similar experiences. My mom was an abusive relationship, and I witnessed that growing up," she said.

The movie showcases the rarely portrayed lives, challenges, and perspectives of Indigenous women. 

“How are you managing so many jobs from the day? I mean, you're acting, you're directing your own script, you're producing?” DuVernay asked Máija.

“Well we spent a lot of time prepping just a lot of conversations about how we were going to pull it all out," Máija said. "When two women work together, I think you can basically do anything!”

"I like that! That’s true!” DuVernay said, giving Máija a high five.

Máija was blown away when she got the call that DuVernay loved her film and wanted to distribute it. 

“I didn't believe it. I mean, it's surreal," Máija said. "Ava's an icon and what she's doing for communities of color is incredible. I actually cried when I got off the phone. It just didn't feel like reality. It’s a truly a dream come true.”

DuVernay thought the emotional and passionate storytelling would resonate with a wider audience than many independent films usually draw.

“If we can share and expose incredible filmmakers to audiences who are hungry for them, may not even know that they are hungry for it, than we've succeeded," DuVernay said.

The film premiered on Netflix on November 27. You can expect to see a lot more films by and for women and people of color by DuVernay and Array coming to a theater—or a TV—near you in the near future.