During this year’s Oscars many people expressed frustration that Selma director Ava DuVernay didn’t earn a nod for Best Director
and that all of the acting nominees were white. Now DuVernay is asking those tired of Hollywood’s lack of diversity to consider donating to a program that actively fosters it.
The African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) is a membership-based program that allows donors to support black cinema. The grassroots organization has been around for the past four years and has so far distributed eight feature films through Array Releasing including Sundance winners like Kinyarwanda and Middle of Nowhere.
Supporters are called “rebels” because they’re working outside of the traditional Hollywood system. Members can donate at the $40 or $100 level and receive various perks including Google Hangouts with industry members, special screening access, and more. 700 people gave to the campaign last year and AFFRM is hoping to reach 1000 this year.
DuVernay tweeted this at the start of the Membership Drive:
Earlier this year, I logged 174 interview requests about film diversity in one day. That day happened to be the day the Oscar nominations.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 4, 2015
A flurry of outlets wanted my "reaction." Requests came from all over the world. I wondered where all those folks had been all this time.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 4, 2015
It was a hot button issue. Black actors. Black filmmakers. Inclusion. Diversity. Drama. Some sincere. Some contrived. Some smart. Some not.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 4, 2015
Bottom line? These issues weren't new. But it took something folks perceived as dramatic to get attention. As a society, we do that a lot.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 4, 2015
I wonder how many folks who tweeted about slights and snubs from one group will tweet about hard work and passion coming from the community?
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 4, 2015
Let's find out. If you believe all kinds of storytellers deserve to be heard and diverse images have value, join us. http://t.co/Wx9fiJvg7B.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 4, 2015
The 30 day membership push lasts through June 5th. You can learn more and join the campaign on the group's website. You can also check out this video, which showcases some of the campaign’s famous supporters like David Oyelowo and Anika Noni Rose:
Or this video, which explains the origins of AAFRM:
