Copyright Forbes
On November 6th, Women In Film held its annual WIF Honors, celebrating leading women in entertainment, film, and television at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The non-profit honored Jamie Lee Curtis, Maude Apatow, Tessa Thompson, Dede Gardner, Gabrielle Nadig, Mara Brock Akil, Regina King (and Judy Blume and Nia DaCosta in absentia), and Kristen Wiig. This year’s WIF Honors, themed Unity, underscores the organization's commitment to equity, sustainability, and stories that represent the breadth of the human experience, which can transform culture, especially during a turbulent time in the United States and the entertainment industry, marked by mass layoffs and production rollbacks. Founded in 1973 as Women In Film, Los Angeles, WIF has been advocating for gender equity for over 50 years. Its advocacy, career programs, and research efforts are a driving force for increasing gender representation in Hollywood. WIF works to dismantle gender bias in the screen industries by building the pipeline, sustaining careers, and advocating for change. Since 1977, WIF has honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry who have broken ground and excelled in their chosen fields. Some exceptionally talented individuals who have been honored in past WIF awards programs include Lucille Ball, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Ava DuVernay, Nora Ephron, Jane Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Nicole Kidman, Donna Langley, Jennifer Lopez, Marlee Matlin, Mira Nair, Shonda Rhimes, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, and many more iconic women. This evening highlighted the overarching themes of advocacy, humanitarianism, dedication to one’s craft, and empathy, which all of the honorees have committed to throughout the course of their storied careers. The evening began with comedian Atsuko Okatsuka introducing the legendary actress Jane Fonda, who presented fellow actress Jamie Lee Curtis with the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award, aptly named after herself, in recognition of her decades-long commitment to philanthropy and human rights. Fonda praised Curtis for her tireless humanitarian efforts, including her significant donations and advocacy for various causes, such as founding the charity "My Hand In Yours" to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and a substantial $1 million donation to support victims of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Curtis has also been an advocate for various causes, including children's health and human rights, and has held roles in organizations like the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. MORE FOR YOU Before Fonda welcomed Curtis onto the stage to accept her award, she said the following: "Humanitarianism also means empathy, compassion for others, and we are in the business of compassion and empathy. To become someone else, to portray another human being, we must have a great deal of empathy. Writers who write about other people have to have a lot of empathy. What a different world it would be if Humanitarianism and empathy metastasized, if there were a contagion of Humanitarianism," she empathetically stated. "So tonight we’re not just honoring a brilliant actor, but a change maker, a lifesaver, a woman who understands that celebrity carries responsibilities and that using one's voice matters." "Ella McCay" star, graciously accepted the honor and paid homage to her mother, the late actress, Janet Leigh who helped launch the SHARE (Share Happily And Reap Endlessly) organization as she inspired her activism, "My mother, the late great Janet Lee, at this moment, was an actress, of course, with an impressive career, but she knew that there was much more to be done with fame," she began. Curtis remarked that the organization is “an extraordinary example of what happens when women come together for a common cause like Women In Film.” Next, "The Morning Show" actress, Karen Pittman, presented The Crystal Award for Advocacy in TV to Mara Brock Akil, Judy Blume (honored in absentia), and Regina King, and took her time to celebrate both King and Akil, as she worked with both the actress and showrunner on Netflix's hit television series, "Forever." Pittman discussed the enduring impact of Judy Bloom’s 1975 book "Forever," which has consistently been among the most censored books in the United States due to its unflinching truth. Pittman praised Bloom as a fearless activist and prolific author, highlighting her numerous books and the awards she has received. "Jane Fonda started talking about truth, because here I am to talk about some more truth. Judy Bloom wrote "Forever" in 1975, and in the 50 years since, it has consistently been one of the most censored books in the United States. And do you know why? Because some people can't handle the truth, but Ms. Bloom has never shied away from the raw truth, nor from fighting against those who want to keep the truth away from our own people," she stated. Bloom who wasn’t able to attend the event accepted her award via video, "Thank you to Mara Brock Akil for bringing her incredible reinvention of my story to a new generation, and to thank Regina King for your inspiration and guidance and Netflix, thank you for taking this on, and thank you Women In Film for fighting those who would silence creative voices. I don't have to remind you that while fear is contagious, so is courage, and I thank you for yours and for this honor," she said. Echoing Pittman’s earlier sentiments about Blume, both King and Akil sang their praises about the author when asked if they read Blume's books growing up during the first fireside chat of the evening, "You become a writer as a reader first, and I devoured every book that she wrote," Akil stated. Akil also discussed adapting Blume’s work for a modern audience, emphasizing the importance of representation and relatability, especially for Black children. She explained that the "Forever" series aims to portray universal themes of love, growth, and the shared fears of parenthood, underscoring the importance of protecting and valuing all children. "Mara saw the void, and that void was seeing our young girls and boys on the verge of becoming men and women, falling in love and being awkward and innocent. That is something that exists no matter what color you are, but unfortunately, we don't get to see ourselves like that often enough, on the small screen or the big screen," King shared. WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award recipients Maria Bello, Lili Reinhart, Elizabeth Debicki, and Zoey Deutch spoke to the impact of the partnership between WIF and Max Mara over the past 20 years. She welcomed "Euphoria" actress Maude Apatow to be the 20th recipient of the award. Apatow expressed her profound gratitude to the women who have played a significant role in her career, especially her mother, Leslie Mann. She shared, "My whole life I’ve watched her give incredible performances, but nothing could prepare me for seeing her talent up close when I directed her. Her ability to be hilarious, emotional, and heartbreaking all at once is mindblowing. The commitment to her craft and the dignity in which she carries herself will always be my North Star." WIF CEO Kirsten Schaffer acknowledged the challenges 2025 has presented for women and emphasized the importance of centering women in leadership roles across various fields. Despite backlash in the entertainment industry and beyond, only 4% of top films will be directed by women, highlighting the need for continued advocacy. The organization’s work, including data collection and media campaigns, is crucial for gender balance in productions. "WIF matters because stories that center women as leaders, as scientists, as artists, as politicians shape our ideas about who we are and who we can become. Let's use our pens and voices to stand up for each other and especially those who are marginalized because, undivided, we do have the power," she stated. The cast and creative team of Hedda, including Tessa Thompson, Dede Gardner, and Gabrielle Nadig, were honored with the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film for their upcoming film. The panel discussion centered on advocacy in film, particularly the film "Hedda," which redefines love and storytelling by focusing on nuanced and complicated characters. Thompson emphasized the importance of curiosity in advocacy and shared her journey of advocating for women of color in various spaces. "I don’t know what advocacy means, except curiosity. Curiosity about what other people are going through and what they need. And I certainly feel that it was something I wish I had known more about earlier in my career. Frankly, I feel like I had advocacy by proxy. I watched people and the way that they move through the industry, and I felt like they were, in their own way, advocating for me to show up in similar ways, to make more room for each other," she shared. Model and actress Kaia Gerber surprised her "Palm Royale" co-star, Kristen Wiig, by presenting her with the inaugural WIF Icon Award. When speaking about Wiig, Gerber shared, "Tonight, we celebrate the woman who taught us that comedy is art, that chaos is beautiful, that sheer stupidity is not only encouraged but a necessity of life, and that being unapologetically yourself might be the most iconic move of all." During her acceptance speech, Wiig reflected on her journey in Hollywood, emphasizing the importance of divine timing and the support of others. She also shared her vulnerability about fearing failure and criticism, encouraging others to embrace challenges and support each other in their creative endeavors. “I still have things in my career that I really want to do, that I'm really scared to do, and there have been things that maybe I haven't done because I am I'm being, just gonna be real vulnerable with you right now that I'm afraid to fail and I'm afraid of criticism, and stepping out of that comfort zone is really something that I'm trying to work on.”
