Copyright Variety
Jamie Lee Curtis did not shy away from politics while accepting the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award at the Women in Film Honors on Thursday at the Beverly Hilton. Grabbing the hand of Fonda, who presented the recognition to Curtis, she referenced the Nov. 4 elections, in which the Democratic Party won key races across the country. “Since this is women in film, which supports women in an industry that often rejects them — not unlike politics — I am most excited today to stand here two days after the repudiation of the authoritative regime,” Curtis began, then specifically highlighting the victories of “two beautiful women,” New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill and Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. Curtis also name-checked the newly relaunched Committee for the First Amendment, which Fonda announced the formation of on Oct. 1. Curtis is one of its inaugural members. “My father [actor Henry Fonda] was a member of the first Committee for the First Amendment,” Fonda said. “But dig this. That was about one small part of government robbing us of our First Amendment. Right now, it’s the entire federal government. It is far, far worse than what existed back in the ‘40s and ‘50s, and so we have to do something about that.” Prior to the ceremony, Fonda spoke to Variety about how much she admired Curtis’ activist spirit. “What really hit me was when the [California wildfires in January] were raging and friends of mine had their houses burning — it was tragic — and then I heard that Jamie Lee gave a million dollars to fire relief, and it just made me cry. It’s such a magnificent gesture, and it so exemplified who she is,” Fonda related. Curtis has been involved with numerous charitable endeavors, including with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, AIDS Walk and her own organization, My Hand in Yours. Like Fonda, Curtis also was raised by movie star parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, and she credited her mother’s own activism for inspiring her. Through the organization SHARE (Share Happily and Reap Endlessly), Leigh helped produce and perform in an annual fundraiser that raised funds to improve the lives of children. In its 73-year history, SHARE has raised over $70 million. Curtis brought an original SHARE member and friend of her mother’s, Dolores Nemiro, to WIF Honors as her date. “I grew up as a young woman watching this group of women … come together and put on a big effing show to benefit these children,” Curtis explained. “I grew up right away seeing it wasn’t about them … really what I saw was, ‘Oh, you come together with other women to help other people.’ So then when I became an adult, I just mirrored that back to the organizations I’ve been a part of.” Social justice, women’s equality and the national political climate frequently came up in speeches throughout the evening. In accepting the Crystal Award for TV Advocacy, “Forever” producer Regina King and creator Mara Brock Akil spoke during a panel discussion of the importance of adapting Judy Blume’s seminal 1975 novel for the modern Black experience. “I think it’s important for us to see how much we are alike, and I think that that’s the reason why people responded to ‘Forever’ the way they did,” King said. The work of Women in Film was also emphasized throughout the program, particularly in the organization’s work to bring about greater equity for women both in front and behind the camera. The team behind Amazon MGM’s “Hedda,” which received the Crystal Award for Film Advocacy, talked about the impact of having a largely female-led production. “It’’s so incredible to get to be in the company of so many women that I feel like have been … the prototype for me — that have made me understand what it is that I want, what it is that I can be,” star Tessa Thompson said. “I suppose I hope that we can enter these spaces, not from a place of deep need, but just celebration.” Maude Apatow was named the Face of the Future. Recently, Apatow finished her directorial debut, “Poetic License,” which premiered to raves at TIFF. “My favorite woman in film is my mom, Leslie Mann,” Apatow related. “My whole life, I’ve watched her give incredible performances, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing her talent up close when I directed her, her ability to be hilarious, emotional and heartbreaking all at once is mind blowing, the commitment to her craft and the dignity in which she carries herself will always be my North Star.” Kristin Wiig, who is currently starring and producing the latest season of Apple TV+’s “Palm Royale,”’ won WIF’s first Icon Award. “I want to keep telling stories about women with women, and I’m just so happy they keep being told,” Wiig said in her acceptance speech. See more photos from WIF Honors below.
