The acclaimed filmmaker also shares what viewers can expect from her HBO Max series One Perfect Shot.

As the lights of the downtown Los Angeles skyline sparkled behind a drive-in movie screen Saturday night, Ava DuVernay welcomed 100 cars as they arrived for a special showing of Prince’s 1984 musical drama Purple Rain. The screening was part of a two-night event orchestrated by the acclaimed director and her nonprofit organization Array Alliance, whose goal is to amplify BIPOC and women filmmakers globally.

In her welcome remarks, DuVernay reflected on being a young girl who loved watching movies and what a pleasure it was for her to host screenings of two of her favorite films (Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez, was shown Friday). The icing on the cake for the SoCal native was having her mother, Darlene, in the audience, watching her daughter proudly fulfilling her dreams and helping others do the same.