| Los Angeles, CA, (May 8, 2018) – Women In Film, Los Angeles (WIF LA) announced the honorees for the 2018 Women In Film Crystal + Lucy Awards® presented by Max Mara and Lancôme. Since 1977, Women In Film, Los Angeles has annually honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry – women who lead by example, are creative, groundbreaking, and excel at their chosen fields. The annual benefit gala supports WIF LA’s educational and philanthropic programs and its advocacy for gender parity for women throughout the industry. The evening, themed “Ignited,” will be held on Wednesday, June 13 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.
The 2018 Crystal + Lucy Award® honorees are:
The Crystal Award for Excellence in Film – BRIE LARSON
The Lucy Award for Excellence in Television – CHANNING DUNGEY
The Women In Film Max Mara Face of the Future Award® – ALEXANDRA SHIPP
The Women In Film Artistic Excellence Award – NOVA Wav (DENISIA “BLU JUNE” ANDREWS and BRITTANY “CHI” CONEY)
The evening’s program will also celebrate Women In Film, Los Angeles’ 45th Anniversary and recognize the leaders of the gender parity movement in Hollywood with the “45 years of Advocacy Celebration” segment presented by Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand. Leaders from the past and present will be acknowledged for their outstanding leadership in the advancement of gender equity.
Cathy Schulman, President of Women In Film, Los Angeles, said, “Throughout its history, Women In Film has focused its efforts on the kind of gender advocacy that is now sweeping through the screen industries like a tidal wave. The theme of this year’s Crystal + Lucy Awards Gala is ‘Ignited,’ referencing the tipping point we’re living in and Women In Film’s responsibility as a thought leader to keep the flame burning for a sustainable future – freed from the constraints of gender bias.”
The 2018 Crystal + Lucy Awards is presented by sponsors Max Mara for the 16th year and Lancôme for the first year. The event is designed and produced by Academy Award-winning producer Cathy Schulman and Tony Schubert of Event Eleven. Iris Grossman, President Emeritus of Women In Film, Los Angeles, returns this year as Advisor for the Awards.
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About The Honorees
Brie Larson / The Crystal Award for Excellence in Film
Brie Larson won the 2016 Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, Critics Choice and National Board of Review awards for her breakthrough lead performance as Ma in Room, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and adapted from the best-selling book by Emma Donoghue. Next up, Larson will make cinematic history as the star of Marvel’s first female-led superhero film, Captain Marvel. The film will release March 6, 2019.
Most recently, she starred in The Glass Castle based on the best-selling memoir by Jeannette Walls, reteaming her with director Destin Daniel Cretton. The film was released by Lionsgate in August 2017. Earlier that year, she starred in Warner Bros Kong: Skull Island directed by Jordan Vogt Roberts which earned $566 million worldwide and the Martin Scorsese executive-produced ‘70s crime thriller Free Fire, directed by Ben Wheatley. The latter premiered at the 2016 Toronto and London Film Festivals.
Larson has worked with top directors and co-stars on esteemed films including Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck opposite writer/star Amy Schumer; Rupert Wyatt’s The Gambler opposite Mark Wahlberg; James Ponsoldt’s The Spectacular Now opposite Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller; Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut Don Jon; Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street as the love interest to Jonah Hill; Oren Moverman’s Rampart as the defiant daughter of Woody Harrelson; and Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
In addition to acting, Larson is a writer and director. Her feature film directorial debut, Unicorn Store, premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival. She also starred. A short film she wrote and directed, The Arm, won the Special Jury Award for Best Comedic Storytelling at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
A native of Sacramento, Larson started studying drama at the early age of 6, as the youngest student ever to attend the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Larson currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Channing Dungey / The Lucy Award for Excellence in Television
Channing Dungey is president, ABC Entertainment, overseeing all development, programming, marketing and scheduling operations for ABC prime time and late-night. Since being named head of ABC Entertainment in February 2016, Dungey has shepherded in a wide variety of successful programming, including the most watched show on television, “Roseanne.” Additionally, she has successfully launched the No. 1 new drama on television and the No. 1 freshman show overall in Adults 18-49 in the 2017-18 season, “The Good Doctor.” Dungey is also responsible for the return of “American Idol,” which currently ranks No. 1 during its two-hour Sunday time slot.
Under her direction, the network has proven to be the most social network on air and holds five of the top 10 most co-viewed series. By creating a supportive environment and supporting visionary storytelling, Dungey has created a hub for talented and provocative producers where they can realize their vision. The network has raised a platform for series such as “Splitting Up Together,” “black-ish,” “How to Get Away with Murder” and “The Goldbergs.” Additionally, she has helped reinvigorate long-running series such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” which is poised to break television records next season as the longest-running hospital drama on-air.
Previously, Dungey was executive vice president, Drama Development, Movies & Miniseries, ABC Entertainment Group where she oversaw the development and production of all drama pilots, movies and miniseries, and the launch of new series for ABC Entertainment. Prior, she was senior vice president, Drama Development, ABC Entertainment Group, since June 2009. She joined ABC Studios in 2004 as vice president, Drama Development, overseeing development and acquisition of drama programming for the studio.
Dungey began her career at Davis Entertainment at 20th Century Fox. She later became story editor at Steamroller Productions and served for five years as a Warner Bros. production executive. In 1998 she left the executive suite to become senior vice president at Material and was named president in 2001. In 2003, she partnered with Pamela Post, and formed Dexterity Pictures.
Dungey, who graduated magna cum laude from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, is a visiting professor at the school and serves on the school’s executive board. She is also a founding member of Step Up. Dungey is a Los Angeles member of BAFTA and serves on the Board of the Motion Picture Television Fund.
Alexandra Shipp / The Women In Film Max Mara Face of the Future Award
Alexandra Shipp is best known for her role as the iconic mohawked super heroine ‘Storm’ in Twentieth Century Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse. She plays a younger version of ‘Storm’ (originally played by Halle Berry). Determined to make the mutant character her own, she delivers a new spin on ‘Storm,’ which many media outlets boasted her as the “breakout” star of the film. Alexandra will be reprising the role of ‘Storm’ in the next feature X-Men: Dark Phoenix, set to release February 14, 2019.
Alexandra can currently be seen in Fox 2000’s coming-of-age story Love, Simon, based on the popular Young Adult book “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.” She stars in the film opposite Nick Robinson and Kathrine Langford. Alexandra is currently working on New Line’s Son of Shaft, opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Regina Hall. Recently, she completed work on Sony’s A Dog’s Way Home alongside Ashely Judd.
Shipp appeared in Universal Pictures’ Oscar nominated feature Straight Outta Compton, which has become the highest grossing music biopic of all-time. Her other film credits include the two-hander Tragedy Girls, opposite Deadpool’s Brianna Hidlebrand, and the title role of ‘Aaliyah’ in the Lifetime biopic, Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B which she demonstrated and was praised for her singing and dancing talents.
NOVA Wav / The Women In Film Artistic Excellence Award
NOVA Wav has cracked the music glass ceiling as Pioneers, Trailblazers and Visionaries. This standout duo is a creative musical force as one of the ONLY female songwriting/production teams in the music industry. The GRAMMY® nominated songwriting /production team includes Denisia Andrews (“Blu June”) and Brittany Coney (“Chi”).
The twosome were both born in Florida, and in 2009, they met via Facebook and quickly discovered the music gift in one other and NOVA Wav was created. Their name has great meaning and purpose behind it, NOVA is when two stars revolve around each other and become the brightest light, while Wav short for Waveform is a technical term used in music for an audio file.
NOVA Wav believes their best work is created when they kick everyone out of the studio but GOD and then ‘music magic’ happens. Their music magic has placed them amongst a multitude of talent that they have written for, produced and or worked with from Beyonce’, Jay Z, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Brittney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, DJ Khaled and Kehlani for “CRZY” one of their most popular hits.
One of NOVA Wav’s biggest records for 2018 that they co-wrote is “Top Off” by DJ Khaled feat. Jay Z, Beyonce’ and Future. Additionally, they wrote two beautiful songs for the Disney movie A Wrinkle In Time called “I Believe” by DJ Khaled feat. Demi Lovato and “Let Me Live” by Kehlani.
They are undeniably talented and are making noise by carving out their own lane as women to be omnipresent in the male-dominated field of making music. NOVA Wav says, “Being a woman is powerful and sometimes it comes with double the work to prove yourself but we are at our best when we work together and grateful to be a reflection and vessel for others.”
Their hybrid of talent is melodic, edgy, free, universal and sprinkled with love. The road ahead is limitless for NOVA Wav. The iconic duo is looking forward to winning Grammys and working with other heavy hitters in the industry, with the hopes of one day putting out their own album. They are a published member and part of the Warner/Chappell family signed by Ryan Press and Big Jon Platt.
About Women In Film and the Awards
Women In Film advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries — to achieve parity and transform culture. Founded in 1973, Women In Film supports all women working in film, TV, and digital media from emerging to advanced career. Our distinguished programs include: mentoring, speaker & screening series, production training program, writing labs, film finishing funds, legal aid and an annual financing intensive. We advocate for gender parity through research, media campaigns and ReFrame, a collaboration with Sundance Institute. Women In Film honors the achievements of women in Hollywood through the legacy series, annual Emmy and Oscar parties and our signature event, the Crystal + Lucy Awards. Membership is open to all media professionals and more information can be found on our website: www.womeninfilm.org
The Crystal Award was established in 1977 to honor outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Elizabeth Banks, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Laura Linney, Viola Davis, Annette Bening, Donna Langley, Jennifer Aniston, Diane English and the cast of The Women, Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Lane, Halle Berry, Laura Ziskin, Jessica Lange, Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Angela Bassett, Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alfre Woodard, Polly Platt, Lauren Shuler Donner, Diane Warren, Amy Heckerling, Paula Weinstein, Martha Coolidge, Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, Gale Anne Hurd, Nancy Malone, Maya Angelou, Lily Tomlin, Ruby Dee, Penny Marshall, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Boyle, Nikki Rocco, Jean Firstenberg, Lee Remick, Lina Wertmuller, Bette Davis, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Sherry Lansing, Nora Ephron, Dawn Steel, Fay Kanin, Lillian Gish, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Amy Pascal, Denise Di Novi, Lucy Fisher, Lianne Halfon, Lynda Obst, Jane Rosenthal, and Paula Wagner.
The Lucy Award was founded in 1994 by Joanna Kerns, Bonny Dore and Loreen Arbus and are presented in association with the Lucille Ball Estate. They were named for Lucille Ball, who was not only a legendary actress and comedienne, but also a producer, studio owner, creator and director. They are given to recognize women and men and their creative works that exemplify the extraordinary accomplishments she embodied; whose excellence and innovation have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. Past recipients include: Tracee Ellis Ross, Taraji P. Henson, Jill Soloway, Kerry Washington, The Women Of Mad Men (Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Paré, Kiernan Shipka), Bonnie Hammer, Nina Tassler, Courteney Cox, Holly Hunter, Salma Hayek, Shonda Rhimes and the women of Grey’s Anatomy, Geena Davis, Debra Messing and Megan Mullally, Blythe Danner, Lily Tomlin, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daley, Phyllis Diller, Marcy Carsey, Carol Burnett, Barbara Walters, Shari Lewis, Garry Marshall, Angela Lansbury, Marlo Thomas, Gary David Goldberg, Diahann Carroll, Tracey Ullman, Fred Silverman, Imogene Coca, Camryn Manheim, Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin and the casts of Sex and the City, If These Walls Could Talk and If These Walls Could Talk 2.
The Women In Film Max Mara Face of the Future Award®, inaugurated at Women In Film’s 2006 Crystal + Lucy Awards®, is given to an actress who is experiencing a turning point in her career through her work in the film and television industries, through her contributions to the community at large, in recognition of her outstanding achievements, and her embodiment of style and grace. Past recipients include Zoey Deutch, Natalie Dormer, Kate Mara, Rose Byrne, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloë Grace Moretz, Katie Holmes, Zoë Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emily Blunt and Maria Bello.
The Women In Film Artistic Excellence Award was designed to honor women who demonstrate excellence in their screen craft, in all areas of production and post production.
About the Sponsors
Women In Film welcomes Presenting Sponsors Max Mara and Lancôme.
Max Mara, the premier collection within the Max Mara Fashion Group and is the epitome of Italian luxury and style. As a contemporary collection for the confident woman, consisting of opulent fabrications with couture details applied to ready-to-wear, Max Mara pieces embody femininity and craftsmanship. Symbolic for impeccable silhouettes with a timeless sensibility and constructed from the most luxurious fabrics, Max Mara is revered for the classification of the coat, sharp suiting and elegant accessories. Founded in 1951 by the late visionary, Achille Maramotti, Max Mara is now available in 2,378 locations in more than 100 countries. Max Mara Fashion Group counts 9 different brands. The company remains privately held by the Maramotti family.
Since visionary pioneer Armand Petitjean founded the brand in 1935, Lancôme has epitomized timeless glamour with a quintessential French touch. Today the world’s leading luxury beauty brand continues to inspire with its elusive je ne sais quoi that exudes happiness, confidence and French chic appeal, as well as the very best in quality, style, and transformative results. With a presence in 130 countries, over 20,000 beauty advisers in as many points of sale relay Lancôme’s message of French excellence, with incredible service and iconic products such as: Teint Idole, Advanced Genifique, Renergie, La Vie Est Belle, and award-winning mascaras. Lancôme affirms that happiness is the most attractive quality and offers every woman the opportunity to enhance her beauty and femininity, whatever her age and whatever her skin color, by giving her the best of science and innovation. The brand continues to offer every woman the best in beauty through its Elite Membership Rewards Program, which allows customers access to exclusive offers, products and uniquely indulgent experiences through brand partners. Lancôme’s ambassadresses include Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o, Lily Collins, Taylor Hill and Isabella Rossellini. Lancôme’s ambition is that every woman who comes to the brand to look more beautiful leaves feeling happier.### |
