The power of an organization like Women in Film cannot be overlooked in today’s world. As women finally find themselves in a world where they can begin to be recognized, the significance of this union of female artists is just beginning to take shape. The Los Angeles chapter of WIF is gearing up to host its annual gala that will take place on June 12, 2019. The gala will be hosted by Xosha Roquemore of The Mindy Project and Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here.
WIF has been dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the film industry since 1977, however the impact of women honoring women is only now becoming real. This year, the board has chosen to highlight community, advocacy and entrepreneurship. A new slate of awards has been announced honoring some powerhouse women in the industry.
Click on the film titles to read FF2 Media’s reviews.
The nominees in for best directing are:
I Feel Pretty, Abby Kohn
I Think We’re Alone Now, Reed Morano
Jinn, Nijila Mu’min
Leave No Trace, Debra Granik
Let the Sunshine In, Claire Denis
Madeline’s Madeline, Josephine Decker
Mary Queen of Scots, Josie Rourke
Mary Shelley, Haifaa al-Mansour
Mug, Malgorzata Szumowska
Nancy Christina Chloe
Never Going Back, Augustine Frizzell
Night Comes On, Jordana Spiro
Oh Lucy, Atsuko Hirayanagi
On the Basis of Sex, Mimi Leder
Outside In, Lynn Shelton
Private Life, Tamara Jenkins
Revenge, Coralie Fargeat
Skate Kitchen, Crystal Moselle
The Darkest Minds, Jennifer Yuh Nelson
The Kindergarten Teacher, Sara Colangelo
The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Desiree Akharan
The Nightingale, Jennifer Kent
The Rider, Chloe Zhao
The Spy Who Dumped Me, Susanna Fogel
The Strange Ones, Lauren Wolkstein
The Year of Spectacular Men, Lea Thompson
What They Had, Elizabeth Chomko
Where the Hands Touch, Amma Asante
You Were Never Really Here, Lynne Ramsay
Zama Lucrecia Martel
The names of these prodigious women honorees are certainly recognizable, but if you aren’t familiar with their work, here is a little insight into their individual careers and why they each are abundantly deserving of the recognition.
The Women In Film Entrepreneur in Entertainment Award – Amy Poehler
This award celebrates “the ongoing achievements of an individual whose work nurtures the advancement of their female collaborators.” Amy Poehler has been making us all laugh for more than two decades. From the SNL stage to her latest accomplishment, Wine Country, Poehler is one of the most versatile and dedicated women in the industry. Wine Country is an endlessly entertaining film that recently dropped on Netflix. Poehler stars in the female-driven film, but perhaps more importantly, she not only produced this gem but she made her directorial debut guiding a cast of talented women. Poehler is living proof that women can be powerful in many capacities, and no limitations can be placed on their potential. Poehler has several projects in development.
The Crystal Award for Advocacy in Entertainment-Cathy Schulman
This award was established in 1977 “to honor outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.”
Cathy Schulman is truly inspiring in her leadership and her visionary work. Schulman is the President and CEO of Welle Entertainment. Welle is the first female facing, independent film, television, and finance company in Hollywood. Schulman was an executive at The Samuel Goldwynn Company and Savoy Pictures. She was also the president of Mandalay Pictures, and Head of Production for STX Entertainment. She holds and honorary doctorate from Chapman University where she taught graduate-level filmmaking. Schulam was on the board of WIF and is an advocate for gender parity in media. Her accomplishments go on and on and she continues to be an enormous influence on the role of women in the film and television industry.
These awards are truly groundbreaking as they honor not only the artistry of these women, they also honor the business savvy and entrepreneurial spirit that is so incredibly important to women who make a difference in the industry, and in the world.
Adding to the energy, the first ever Women In Film Member’s Choice Award will be announced at the event. This is the inaugural year for this important award and the focus of the honor is exactly where it should be: female directors. The Member’s Choice Award aims to honor the vastly talented pool of female directors, all of whom were overlooked at this year’s Oscars and throughout the mainstream awards platforms.
And with that impressive list comes the realization of just how many women directed quality feature films last year, only to be overlooked on the world stage. We will follow the gala in June! Click HERE for more information.
© Angela Stern (5/29/19) FF2 Media
Featured photo: Amy Poehler, director of Netflix’s WINE COUNTRY (Credit: Netflix EPK)
