Not only did the 2019 Women In Film Annual Gala honor Amy Poehler, Issa Rae, Elizabeth Debicki, Cathy Schulman, and more, it also featured the launch of ReFrame Rise Directors Program, ReFrame’s new initiative supporting established female filmmakers. According to a press release, actor-director Kyra Sedgwick unveiled ReFrame Rise’s inaugural class yesterday at the ceremony.
ReFrame Rise’s first class includes Desiree Akhavan (“The Miseducation of Cameron Post”), Haifaa al-Mansour (“Wadjda”), Patricia Cardoso (“Real Women Have Curves”), Hanelle Culpepper (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Sydney Freeland (“Deidra & Laney Rob a Train”), Zetna Fuentes (“Jane the Virgin”), Tina Mabry (“Mississippi Damned”), and Meera Menon (“Equity”).
ReFrame Rise is “a comprehensive and customized 2-year sponsorship that provides endorsement and support to accelerate high-level sustainable careers for experienced female directors who are poised to lead studio and independent features, pilots and episodic television across all platforms,” the press release details. As part of the program, class members receive complimentary memberships to IMDbPro to “manage and showcase their IMDb profile and discover and connect with key collaborators to bring their projects to life.”
“As an actor transitioning into directing, I know how important it is to be supported at every level in this industry,” Sedgwick said at the gala. “It requires a community-wide commitment to expand the lens and include bright new voices and perspectives.”
Comprised of a coalition of industry professionals and founded by Women In Film and the Sundance Institute, ReFrame works to improve gender representation across all areas of the film industry.
The WIF Annual Gala also saw Lake Bell presenting the inaugural WIF Members’ Choice Award, which celebrates women directors who released a film in theaters in 2018. Mimi Leder (“On the Basis of Sex”), Marielle Heller (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”), Debra Granik (“Leave No Trace”), Chloé Zhao (“The Rider”), and Anne Fletcher (“Dumplin'”) took home the prize.
