By Gina Yarbrough
Los Angeles, CA–The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in partnership with Chanel, hosted the annual Academy Women’s Luncheon on November 4 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
The event celebrates the achievements of women in film and television, and recognizes recipients of the 2025 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women.
Among the attendees were Pam Abdy, Stephanie Allain, Debbie Allen, Maude Apatow, Colleen Atwood, Odessa A’Zion, Stacey Battat, Lucy Bevan, Thora Birch, Janicza Bravo, Mary Bronstein, Alice Brooks, Patricia Cardoso, Ruth E. Carter, Kerry Condon, Embeth Davidtz, Zoey Deutch, Kaitlyn Dever, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Barbie Ferreira, Claire Foy, Amy Homma, Lynette Howell Taylor, Kate Hudson, Patty Jenkins, Felicity Jones, Laura Karpman, Riley Keough, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Emma Mackey, Leslie Mann, Allison McGourty, Dylan Meyer, Indya Moore, Tig Notaro, Katy O’Brian, Sarah Paulson, Arianne Phillips, Alicia Silverstone, Kristen Stewart, Kim Taylor-Coleman, Tessa Thompson, Nancy Nugent Title, Diane Warren and Janet Yang.
Howell Taylor opened the program with welcoming remarks, followed by two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who presented this year’s Gold Fellowships to filmmaker Alina Simone of the United States and Marlén Viñayo of El Salvador. Actor, director, and producer Kristen Stewart delivered the keynote presentation.
Simone, a Ukrainian-born journalist and documentary filmmaker, was honored for her acclaimed film “Black Snow” (2024), which premiered at CPH:DOX and will air on PBS’s POV series in 2025–26. Her work has appeared in major publications including The New York Times and The Guardian, and she has earned numerous awards, including the Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award and the Sustainable Future Award at the Sydney Film Festival.
Viñayo, founder of La Jaula Abierta Films in El Salvador, was recognized for her documentary work highlighting social and human rights issues. Her award-winning films, “Cachada: The Opportunity” (2019) and “Unforgivable” (2020), have screened at over 150 international festivals, earning accolades from SXSW, IDFA, Hot Docs, and other notable festivals.
The Academy Gold Fellowship for Women is a one-year program providing mentorship, financial support, and networking opportunities to help emerging women filmmakers advance their careers. Each year, the Academy awards two fellowships—one to a U.S.-based filmmaker and one to a filmmaker from outside the U.S.—as part of its global talent development and education initiatives.
