VENICE, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Award-winning director Ava DuVernay on Wednesday became the first African American woman to present a movie in competition at the Venice Film Festival, overcoming sceptics who had tried to talk her out of applying. "I can't tell you how many times I have been told: 'Don't apply for Venice, you won't get in'. Something happened that hadn't happened in eight decades before, an African American women in competition." DuVernay said it would have been impossible to put together such a cast with a studio in charge. "Origin" is one of 23 movie competing for the coveted Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, which ends on Sept. 9.

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Persons: Ava DuVernay, sceptics, DuVernay, Isabel Wilkerson, Jim Crow, Wilkerson, Suraj Yengde, Selma, Martin Luther King's, Aunjanue Ellis, Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Crispian Balmer, Nick Macfie Organizations: Venice Film, Blacks, Golden, Thomson Locations: VENICE, American, Venice, African American, Nazi Germany, United States, India, Indian