Hollywood’s Finest Celebrate Unity and Advocacy at the 2025 WIF Honors
The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom was alive with a palpable sense of purpose and solidarity on Thursday night as WIF (formerly Women in Film) hosted its annual gala. The event, a crucial fundraiser for the organization’s education, career development, and advocacy initiatives, saw a constellation of Hollywood’s most influential women gather under the resonant theme of unity.
A Night of Honoring Trailblazers
As the lights dimmed and the opening notes of Queen Latifah’s anthem “U.N.I.T.Y.” filled the room, the stage was set for an evening of celebration and recognition. The honorees included powerhouses like Mara Brock Akil and Regina King, the creative force behind the television adaptation of Judy Blume’s seminal novel, Forever, and Tessa Thompson, celebrated for Hedda, the inaugural project from her production company, Viva Maude.
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka opened the proceedings with a blend of heart and humor, acknowledging the powerful assembly of women. The legendary Jane Fonda then took the stage to present the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award to the inimitable Jamie Lee Curtis, setting a tone of generational support and mutual respect.
Creative Partnerships and Reimagined Classics
The spotlight shone brightly on the partnership between Mara Brock Akil and Regina King. Actress Karen Pittman, of Forever and The Morning Show, presented the duo with the Crystal Award for Advocacy in TV. Walking on stage hand-in-hand, they shared their deep admiration for author Judy Blume.
“You become a writer as a reader first, and I devoured every book that she wrote,” Akil remarked. Though not present in person, Blume herself appeared via video, praising the impactful and fresh life Akil and King brought to her 1975 novel.
King, in turn, lauded Akil’s vision and tenacity. “Mara saw a void and she was the vessel for [the project] to happen,” King stated. “She had the courage to reimagine the story and illuminate the beauty and intricacies of young Black love. Luckily for me, the project was greenlit before she felt that I would be a good partner to come in and help establish the visual language for all that she had in her head.”
Advocacy Rooted in Curiosity
The advocacy theme continued as writer-director Janicza Bravo presented the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film to the team behind the 1950s drama Hedda. Honorees included Tessa Thompson and producers Dede Gardner and Gabrielle Nadig, with writer-director Nia DaCosta honored in absentia.
In her acceptance, Thompson offered a poignant and practical definition of advocacy. “If you have the great pleasure of being in a room, I feel like one great thing to do is to look around and think, ‘Who else ought to be here?'” she mused. “That, to me, is the only thing I understand about advocacy and how to do it.”
A Celebration of Present and Future Icons
The honors continued to roll out, with actress, producer, and director Maude Apatow receiving the WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award from former recipient Maria Bello. The evening culminated with Kaia Gerber presenting the inaugural WIF Icon Award to her Palm Royale co-star, the comedic genius Kristen Wiig.
“I love stories about women,” Wiig declared to applause. “We’re so crazy, we’re complex, and I want to keep telling stories about women, with women.”
The guest list was a veritable who’s who of industry leaders and talent, including Jurnee Smollett, Taylour Paige, attorney Nina Shaw, producers Effie T. Brown and Reina King, Starz’s Kathryn Busby, and activist Dolores Huerta. The night was a powerful testament to inspiration, empowerment, and a hopeful outlook for the future of women both in front of and behind the camera.
As Atsuko Okatsuka perfectly captured the spirit of the evening: “The good news is, we have each other. We are crushing. We are powerful—here’s to us!”
