Amy Poehler, Issa Rae, Elizabeth Debicki, and Cathy Schulman are heading to the 2019 Women In Film Annual Gala. According to a press release from Women In Film, Los Angeles (WIF LA), these ladies will be honored at the event, formerly known as the Crystal + Lucy Awards, as will an as-yet unannounced female filmmaker. Set to be held June 12 in Los Angeles, the Gala will honor “outstanding women in the entertainment industry who have broken ground and excelled in their chosen fields.” “Mindy Project” alumna Xosha Roquemore is taking on hosting duties.
Poehler will be presented with a new prize, the WIF Entrepreneur in Entertainment Award. The “Wine Country” director/star and “Russian Doll” co-creator is being recognized for supporting other women’s advancement in her own work. “Just as [Poehler’s] creative output is shaping the landscape of high-quality stories and entertainment, [her] influence is benefiting the conversation about gender parity in our industry,” the press release stresses.
Another new honor, the WIF Emerging Entrepreneur Award, will be given to Rae. The multi-hyphenate, who stars in body-swap comedy “Little,” is being lauded for blazing a trail for future generations of women in the media. Rae “has demonstrated a foundation for her career comprising of accomplishments marrying creative achievements and business acumen,” WIF notes. In addition to co-creating and starring in “Insecure,” she has a number of projects in the pipeline, such as two Stella Meghie films and an HBO limited series about real-life riots caused by Cabbage Patch Kids dolls.
Rising star Debicki will take home the WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award, which celebrates a woman who has come to “a turning point” in her career. Most recently seen in heist drama “Widows,” Debicki has a slew of upcoming projects, including Virginia Woolf love story “Vita & Virginia,” out July 2 in Canada and July 5 in the UK; Misha Green and Jordan Peele’s horror series “Lovecraft Country,” and Christopher Nolan’s next film.
Previous Face of the Future Awards have gone to Elizabeth Banks, Emily Blunt, andChloë Grace Moretz, among others.
Schulman will receive the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Entertainment. The Oscar-winning producer, Welle Entertainment prez and CEO, and former WIF LA Board President will be recognized for “creating increased opportunities for the advancement of women working throughout the screen industries” through her own success. “The Edge of Seventeen” and “Five Feet Apart” are among Schulman’s producing credits. Welle is currently developing Liv Constantine’s bestselling thriller “The Last Mrs. Parrish” as an Amazon series.
The inaugural WIF Member’s Choice Award will be given out at the Gala as well. WIF LA members will vote to honor a woman director who released a narrative feature theatrically in 2018. The recipient will be announced at the event.
“We set out to pivot the event to highlight community, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, and are thrilled by this year’s honorees, whose collective body of work truly embodies those values,” stated Gala co-chairs Amy Baer, Esther Chang, Hannah Minghella, and Talitha Watkins. “These extraordinarily talented women demonstrate a lifelong commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and support for the next generation of rising talent.”
