Billboard Women in Music 2024
Danielle Brooks, Celine Song, Diane Warren and Eva Longoria were among the attendees at the annual WIF event.
Stage at 17DM The film Oscar nominees aren't enough to showcase the impressive performance of the annual women's sisterhood.
The event, which celebrates women, non-binary and trans people nominated at the Academy Awards, coincides with International Women's Day on March 8.
When WIF CEO Kirsten Shaffer invited dozens of honorees to join her on stage, they crowded the small stage at L.A.'s Catch Steak, standing shoulder to shoulder.
The small army on stage included „The Color Purple” star Daniel Brooks, „Past Lives” writer-director Celine Song, „The Fire Inside” songwriter Diane Warren and more. Other attendees included „Lisa Frankenstein star Kathryn Newton, „Riverdale” alum Lili Reinhardt and „Flamin' Hot” director Eva Longoria.
During her toast, Shaffer emphasized the importance of continuing to fight for equality in the profession. „New reports from UCLA, USC and Reframe released in the past few weeks illustrate the backsliding of representation in front of and behind the camera. That, combined with a cultural and political backlash, makes our work as an organization and a community facing women, transgender people and people of color across the country more important than ever. ” he said.
„It's time to double down, lock arms, work together and make sure that inclusion is not just lip service, but we're actually getting there. We've been doing this work for 50 years and we'll be here until we reach parity,” he added, adding that Incited cheers and rapturous applause.
On the red carpet, Amy Baer, president of WIF's board of directors, emphasized her favorite part of the annual event: championing female talent below the line. „Product designers, editors, sound designers, visual effects artists and documentarians don't really shine a light on them, and it allows them to highlight all the work that's being done. Not just the highest level of work — which is amazing and great and important. But all women are elevated to highlight everyone else. You The more you know, the more you want to hire them,” he explained. „It creates a virtuous cycle.”
„Nimona” producer Karen Ryan underscored the way she shows young women that there is no 'right' way to be a woman. “Nimona is a female character who knows who she is. She doesn't try to reinvent herself or change herself. She only likes society. She wants people to see her for who she is and love her for it. I think it's very relatable. I think many women feel that way.
„Flamin' Hot” author Linda Yvette Chavez says events like the Women in Film Party allow empowering stories to continue to be told. „The more we celebrate each other, lift each other up, and make connections with each other, the more we hire each other!”