The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted the Academy Women’s Luncheon in Los Angeles yesterday (4 November), bringing together women from all facets of the filmmaking community to celebrate the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, the Academy’s programme to support emerging women filmmakers.
The luncheon at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was attended by Academy governors and leaders, and women from across the film industry, including Alice Brooks ASC, Mary Bronstein and Patricia Cardoso.
The afternoon featured opening remarks by Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor, followed by costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who presented this year’s Gold Fellowships for Women to recipients Alina Simone (US fellow) and Marlén Viñayo (non-US fellow). Actor, director and producer Kristen Stewart delivered a keynote presentation.
Simone is a Ukrainian-born journalist and award-winning filmmaker whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Atlantic and more, with her debut documentary Black Snow executive produced by Erin Brockovich and premiering at CPH:DOX before going on to screen at more than 20 international film festivals.
Viñayo is an award-winning documentary film director, writer and producer. Since 2013, she has been based in El Salvador, where she founded her production company, La Jaula Abierta Films. Viñayo’s feature film Cachada: The Opportunity and short film Unforgivable have won awards at international film festivals such as SXSW, IDFA, Hot Docs, Slamdance and more.
Part of the Academy’s global talent development and education work, the Gold Fellowship for Women is a one-year programme that combines support, personalised mentorship and access to networking opportunities for emerging women filmmakers to further their pursuits in the field of cinema.
As part of the Academy’s global focus and outreach, the Academy awards two fellowships annually, presented in partnership with CHANEL.
More information is available on the Academy website.
