Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay attend 'Selma' screening at the White House

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Selma, a civil rights-themed drama and current Best Picture Oscar nominee, was screened at the White House in Washington Friday evening.

U.S. President Barack Obama hosted the event, which was attended by the film's producer Oprah Winfrey, director Ava DuVernay, rapper Common -- whose "Glory" is an Oscar nominee for Best Original Song -- and actors David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo, who play Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

Common and Winfrey also played supporting roles in the critically acclaimed film.

Variety said the White House announced the screening Thursday afternoon, shortly after the Oscar nominations were revealed, and Oyelowo and Ejogo were left off of the list of acting nominees, all of whom were white this year. DuVernay was also snubbed.