Amy Adrion’s award-winning documentary about Hollywood’s gender problem is receiving a major endorsement from Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network, Discovery, and The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation (WJSFF): the titans of entertainment are teaming up to donate 1500 tickets for screenings of “Half the Picture” to students in New York and Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.
An investigation into the entertainment industry’s systemic discrimination of female filmmakers in Hollywood, “Half the Picture” is also a celebration of the women who do make it behind the camera, and features interviews with Ava DuVernay (“A Wrinkle in Time”), Lena Dunham (“Girls”), and Karyn Kusama (“The Invitation”), among others. The doc premiered at Sundance in January and has since screened at SXSW and Sundance Film Festival London, and took home the #WhatsNextPrize at the latter.
“‘Half the Picture’ powerfully illustrates an important truth: Only half our stories are being told when women’s voices are not included in the global conversation,” said Jana Babatunde-Bey, president of WJSFF. “When given the opportunity, women storytellers positively influence culture and create more inclusive societies by sharing their stories. WJSFF is committed to improving lives through the art of storytelling and proud to support ‘Half the Picture.'”
Adrion added, “I’m so excited these generous donations will make this film accessible to our next generation of storytellers. ‘Half the Picture’ looks at the challenges women directors face but more importantly, it celebrates their work and cultural contributions, and I hope all young people who dream of making movies and creating art will be as inspired as I was in hearing these women’s stories.”
“I want people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations to leave [the theater] with an even greater passion to tell their own stories,” the first-time filmmaker told us.
“Half the Picture” opens at the City Cinemas Village East in New York June 8, and at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Los Angeles June 22. The free tickets are first-come, first-serve, and students must present a valid student ID card at the box office.
