Annenberg Inclusion Initiative founder and director Stacy L. Smith is joining forces with Women in Motion, Kering and the Cannes Film Festival’s program spotlighting women in film. According to WWD, Kering and Cannes have also renewed Women in Motion for another five years.
“Together, we can engage key stakeholders in meaningful ways to develop and implement true solutions and create lasting change,” said Smith. The inclusion rider co-creator described her collaboration with Women in Motion as an “unprecedented” move towards inclusion in show business.
Smith has written more than 100 journal articles, book chapters, and reports on content patterns and effects of the media with a focus on gender, race, LGBT status, disability, and age. One of her more recent studies concluded that 2018 saw increased on-screen representation for women and people of color in popular films.
Beginning May 15, Women in Motion will release podcasts “featuring key moments” from past editions, such as conversations with Jodie Foster, Salma Hayek-Pinault, and Agnès Varda.
Patty Jenkins, Isabelle Huppert, and Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are among the program’s previous honorees.
Despite Women in Motion’s focus on gender equality in cinema, overall, Cannes’ exclusion of women filmmakers remains staggering — even after it launched the Gender Parity Pledge. Since 2005, its Competition has never included more than four titles from female filmmakers. Its 2019 Competition features four women-directed titles, Critics’ Week includes one, and Directors’ Fortnight four.
Behind the scenes, at least, Cannes does seem to be improving. Earlier this year it announced the members of its (gender-balanced) selection committee for the first time, and the fest is now offering childcare to industry attendees with kids.
