Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin’ Gets 8-Minute-Plus Ovation At Venice Film Festival Premiere
Ava DuVernay touched down at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday evening with her new film Origin, which world premiered in Competition and received a more than eight-minute ovation in its debut screening.
DuVernay was visibly overjoyed by the audience’s warm response to the film. The director was making history as the first female African American director to compete for the festival’s prestigious Golden Lion award across its 80 editions, stretching back to 1932.
More from Deadline
‘Origin’ Review: Ava DuVernay’s Unflinching Drama On Global Oppression – Venice Film Festival
Ava DuVernay On Making ‘Origin’, Neon Sale, Some Venice History & Global Appeal Of Justice
(WATCH) Ava DuVernay thanks audience for enthusiastic response to ‘Origin’ at #Venezia80 premiere pic.twitter.com/Rq7VYnrie7
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) September 6, 2023
DuVernay wrote, produced and directed the biopic, which is inspired by the life and work of Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, following her creative and personal journey as she writes her seminal book, Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents.
Oscar-nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars as Wilkerson in a cast also featuring Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Finn Wittrock, Jasmine Cephas-Jones and Connie Nielsen.
Paul Garnes and DuVernay produced Origin under her Array Filmworks banner.
RELATED: Ava DuVernay On ‘Origin’: “Thank Goodness We Made This Film Independently” – Venice
Earlier at the press conference for the film, DuVernay said it was rare for two Black filmmakers who work as a producing team to make a film that travels.
“Black filmmakers are told people who love films in other parts of the world don’t care about our stories and don’t care about our films,” she said.
RELATED: Venice Film Festival 2023: All Of Deadline’s Movie Reviews
“We are often told you cannot play international film festivals, no one will come, people will not come to your press conference, people will not come to the P&I screenings… You will not get into this festival, don’t apply.”
Neon announced on the eve of the premiere that it had taken worldwide rights.
Best of Deadline
Venice Film Festival 2023 Photos: Jessica Chastain & Peter Sarsgaard Attend 'Memory' Premiere
2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreements: Full List Of Movies And TV Series
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.