Elizabeth Banks is breaking another boundary. The mogul will be the first woman director to be honored with the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation’s (WRMPPF) Pioneer of the Year Award, Deadline confirms. The “Pitch Perfect 2” helmer will receive the prize at the Pioneer of the Year Dinner on September 25, in Beverly Hills. The awards ceremony will also serve as a fundraiser for WRMPPF’s Pioneers Assistance Fund, which offers financial support to ill or injured theatrical entertainment community members.
The award is being presented to Banks in recognition of her outstanding “professional leadership, service, and commitment to philanthropy.” Past recipients include Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, producer Donna Langley, actress and film exec Sherry Lansing, and former Academy prez Cheryl Boone Isaacs.
2015’s “Pitch Perfect 2” earned over $69 million domestically in its opening weekend, which at the time made Banks the first-time director with the highest opening weekend ever. Overall, the a cappella sequel grossed $184 million domestically and became one of the top-earning woman-directed films at the domestic box office.
Next, Banks is directing, co-writing, producing, and co-starring in a reboot of “Charlie’s Angels.” She’ll portray Bosley in the Sony pic, due out in November. She’s also attached to helm “The Grace Year,” based on Kim Liggett’s forthcoming fantasy novel, for Universal.
Banks is a prolific producer, as well. Via her Brownstone Productions banner, she has produced projects such as Hulu series “Shrill” and the “Pitch Perfect” trilogy. Her upcoming production slate includes Lauren Palmigiano’s “White Girl Problems” and an untitled comedy from Kimmy Gatewood and Savion Einstein. Banks co-founded WhoHaha, an online comedy platform for women, in 2016.
“Wet Hot American Summer” and its spinoff Netflix shows, the “Hunger Games” franchise, and all three “Pitch Perfect” films are among Banks’ on-screen credits. Next, she’ll appear in FX’s Phyllis Schlafly miniseries “Mrs. America” alongside Cate Blanchett. She has received three Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy nods: one for “Modern Family” and two for “30 Rock.”
Banks is a vocal advocate for women’s rights in and out of Hollywood. She launched Brownstone partly so she could create better projects for herself and other women in show biz. She’s also active in Time’s Up and Women’s March Los Angeles as well as a proponent of reproductive rights.
“We are delighted to recognize Elizabeth’s achievements in the motion picture industry with this well-deserved honor,” said Kyle Davies, president of WRMPPF. “Her contributions to the film business as an actress, director, and producer, along with her tremendous advocacy and support of women in our community and beyond, demonstrates leadership, vision, and inspires audiences everywhere.”
