François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, Iris Knobloch, President of the Festival de Cannes, and Thierry Frémaux, Director of the Festival de Cannes, will present the 2024 Women In Motion Award to Dame Donna Langley, Chairman, NBCUniversal Studio Group and Chief Content Officer, during the official dinner to be held in Cannes on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
In presenting the Women In Motion Award to Langley, Kering and the Festival de Cannes wish to celebrate a lifelong career committed to steadfast leadership and the fostering of a more inclusive industry that has helped shape diversity both in front and behind the camera.
A singular force in the business, Langley has gained global recognition through her remarkable career supporting the creation of films that capture the cultural zeitgeist and provide a platform for women and diverse voices globally. For nearly two decades, she has worked with both acclaimed and emerging talent championing storytelling reflective of the world around her. In the process, she has been part of the vanguard of change in Hollywood, challenging the status quo and proving that inclusive casting, hiring and storytelling is smart business.
Langley’s strategic leadership has also led to new distribution models that have carved a path for more films to be seen and accessed worldwide.
But her impact extends far beyond the boardroom and even her own business sector. A passionate advocate for the empowerment and inclusion of women, she is an Ambassador for Vital Voices and has served on the organization’s Board of Directors since 2013. She is also a key founder of The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Film Mentorship program. A native of the United Kingdom, she is the first British female to run a major Hollywood studio and was awarded a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the Queen’s 2020 New Year’s Honor List. The honor recognizes Langley’s many accomplishments in redefining popular culture and her efforts to expand networks and opportunities for women and people of color in the entertainment industry.
Since its launch during the Festival de Cannes in 2015, Women In Motion has been rewarding and highlighting the creativity and unique contribution made by women in culture and the arts whose work helps to transform our vision of the world. The Women In Motion Award has recognized the careers and commitment of Jane Fonda in 2015, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in 2016, Isabelle Huppert in 2017, Patty Jenkins in 2018, Gong Li in 2019, Salma Hayek in 2021, Viola Davis in 2022, and Michelle Yeoh in 2023.
Donna Langley, DBE, said: “Receiving the Women In Motion Award is an immense honor, and to be recognized amongst such remarkable recipients is a testament to the work Kering, the Festival de Cannes and our industry peers do to propel women forward, amplify their voices, create opportunities, and push boundaries.”
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, said: “It is an honour to be presenting the 2024 Women In Motion Award to Donna Langley, recognizing her both as one of Hollywood’s most influential leaders, and as someone who has dedicated herself to demonstrating on and off-screen that gender equality and diversity are absolutely essential. It highlights the collective effort of people working behind the scenes, tirelessly confronting and knocking down gender barriers and racial prejudice.”
Iris Knobloch, President of the Festival de Cannes, said: “Donna Langley’s brilliant career and commitment to a better representation of women in all their diversity make her a natural choice for this award, which holds very significant meaning for the Festival de Cannes and for Kering. We are delighted to celebrate her and the evolutions she embodies in the seventh art. A change that we will continue to support through Women In Motion.”
Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Festival de Cannes, said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to honour Donna Langley’s leadership and unwavering commitment to challenging the status quo, paving the way for women in this industry and beyond. We are proud to recognise the importance of the tireless work of women behind the scenes to shape a more equal, inclusive and therefore creative cinema.”
