On Thursday, October 24, 2024, WIF (formerly known as Women In Film, Los Angeles) celebrated the 2024 WIF Honors, an annual benefit supporting WIF’s educational and philanthropic programs and its advocacy for gender parity in entertainment, at the Beverly Hilton.

Theme The power of the collectiveThe gala recognized industry leaders who demonstrate how the power of collaboration, inclusion and uplifting stories can change culture for the better. The 2024 WIF Honors celebrated Annette Bening with the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award presented by Jane Fonda; Kate Winslet and Ellen Kuras with the Crystal Prize for Advocacy in Film presented by Marion Cotillard, in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter Contributing Editor, Stacey Wilson Hunt; Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel with the Crystal Award for Television Advocacy presented by Janelle James, in conversation with Danielle Young; and Kerry Washington with the Entrepreneur in Entertainment Award presented by Emayatzy Corinealdi, in conversation with Variety Senior Entertainment Editor, Angelique Jackson. Joey King was honored with the award WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award presented by Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti, global brand ambassador of Max Mara.

Actress and WIF board member Jurnee Smollett (We’re grown up now, The funeral“The Order”), delivered the opening speech. Additional participants included Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary School, Winner of the WIF 2022)Amy Baer (president, WIF), Alexandra Hedison (director/actress), Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot), Ari Graynor (Monsters), Christina Perri (Recording artist), Dana Ledoux Miller (writer/director, Moana 2), Kirsten Schaffer (CEO, WIF), Lake Bell (Under the lights), Lili Reinhart (Hal & Harper, WIF 2022 Max Mara, face of the future), Nava Mau (Baby reindeerr), Jackie Tohn (Nobody wants that), Jodi Long (actress, SAG-AFTRA LA Local President), Monica Levinson (co-chair, WIF Honors Committee), Natasha Ofili (actress), Rachael Harris (Mother of the bride), Sherry Cola (Nobody wants that), Sharon Lawrence (Walker), Storm Reid (Euphoria, The Last of Us), Talitha Watkins (Co-Chair, WIF Honors Committee), Linda Yvette Chávez (Flamin’ Hot, Honored WIF 2023), and more.

At the event, WIF Board Chair Amy Baer announced that Board Executive Vice President Syrinthia Studer will take the helm in 2025.

“I am now excited to pass the baton to an extraordinary woman, executive and friend, the next chair of the WIF Board of Directors, Syrinthia Studer,” said Baer. “A 20-year industry veteran with a career spanning from marketing to development, and from film production to digital platform production in the United States and internationally. Syrinthia is a bold and caring leader, and WIF has already benefited from her broad and diverse experience and extraordinary leadership skills as a member of the Board of Directors since 2018 and, most recently, Executive Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the WIF. She has a lucid, ambitious and exciting agenda for WIF in 2025 and beyond.

Kirsten Schaffer, CEO of the WIF, took the stage to speak about the impact and opportunity of the event, saying: “The days ahead, for business and for culture – and for our country – will be difficult . But the fact that we have come this far proves that we are up to the challenge.”

Annette Bening, recipient of the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award, said in her speech: “I so appreciate this evening’s theme of celebrating our collective strength. Something that resonates with all of us here, I’m sure, and anyone who has ever been involved in a production knows, that all great change and growth comes from the merging of talents, skills, hearts, minds and minds. souls.

Kate Winslet and Ellen Kuras (Lee), winners of the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film, discussed the power of inclusive opportunities and the lack thereof early in their careers.

“That’s why events like this are so important,” Winslet said. “Twenty, thirty years ago, when I was starting out, events like this did not exist. The idea that cheering on your friends, celebrating that person that you’re standing with and being proud of ourselves, large groups of women working together, it’s so meaningful.

“I think people recognize and see women as a viable force, even if they are mothers, and they have to work,” Kuras added. “So I think a change is happening, but we still have a lot of room to continue to progress in the film industry.”

Entrepreneur in Entertainment award winner Kerry Washington shared her advice for women in the industry: “Find your team. As a producer, it brings me so much joy that so often our cast or other crew members come up to me and say, “I’ve never been on a set like this before, it’s is so inclusive, I feel seen, I feel represented”, I don’t feel alone. Really find your crew.

When discussing how comedy helped her find herself professionally, Michelle Buteau shared, “Comedy saved my life, comedy gave me a voice, it made me understand how to ask for things that I want and make people laugh while they give them. Me.”

When talking about her first job and the mantra she and her sisters adopted throughout their lives, Danielle Sanchez-Witzel shared, “When the door opens, walk through the door. And when you pass, be awesome. Don’t wonder why it opened.

WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award winner Joey King gave an emotional speech thanking his grandmother, mother and sisters, sharing, “The women in my life are the only reason I’m here today today. And I could not be named the face of the future of WIF MaxMara without their leadership.