WIF, Women In Film, Los Angeles, held their 16th annual kick off cocktail party at Neuehouse in Hollywood on Friday night. Co-hosted by Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, and WIF Board President Emerita Cathy Schulman, and noted screenwriter “CODA’S” Sian Heder, sixty five female nominees attended. Each nominee came up on stage and introduced themselves to the packed house in what turned out to be an emotional presentation.
Fourteen-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren got the biggest laugh when she quipped, “I’d like to thank the Academy.” (At the Oscars, Warren accompanied singer Sofia Carson on the piano for nominated song, “Applause.”)
“Elvis” Producer Gail Berman got huge applause when she touted Oscar nominee DP Mandy Walker. Mandy, who just garnered the Cinematographers award. There was a lot of hope she’d win the Oscar and be the first female cinematography winner, but she lost to James Friend of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
Ruth E. Carter, looking ever so fashionable of course, also got a huge hand for her Best Costume Design for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” On Sunday she became the first Black woman to win two Oscars.
Other notables attending were Dakota Johnson, Lake Bell, Garcelle Beauvais, Oscar winning director (“Nomadland”) Chloe Zhao, producer Cassian Elwes and artist Susan Carter Hall, producer Ilene Kahn Power and husband manager/producer Derek Power, composer Lesley Barber, actress Anika Noni Rose, and many more. WIF is a vital force in Hollywood , fighting for parity and advancing the careers of women, and continues to be.
