Mara Brock Akil, Regina King, Nia DaCosta, and Tessa Thompson will be among this year’s honorees at the 2025 WIF Honors, taking place November 6 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Presented under the theme “Unity,” the annual Women In Film gala celebrates creators and changemakers whose work and advocacy are reshaping the industry through representation, sustainability, and equity.
Honorees and Awards
Thompson, DaCosta, Dede Gardner, and Gabrielle Nadig will be recognized with the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film for their upcoming project Hedda. The award spotlights individuals actively creating opportunities for women in the screen industries.
Meanwhile, Akil, King, and author Judy Blume will receive the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Television for their collaboration on the Netflix series Forever.
Jamie Lee Curtis will be honored with the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award, recognizing her acclaimed career and decades of advocacy for human rights and equality. Two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda will present the award herself.
Actress and filmmaker Maude Apatow will receive the WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award, celebrating her emerging talent and creative leadership, including her feature directing debut Poetic License and her work on Euphoria.
About the Event
Hosted by comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, this year’s gala continues WIF’s commitment to supporting women across all facets of the entertainment industry. Funds raised during the evening will benefit WIF’s education, career, and advocacy programs, which help women achieve lasting equity behind and in front of the camera.
“This year’s WIF honorees exemplify how artists are using their voices to drive change,” said WIF CEO Kirsten Schaffer. “From rising talent like Maude Apatow to legends like Jamie Lee Curtis and Mara Brock Akil, their inspiring work reminds us that solidarity and connectedness protect our ability to tell stories that reflect our full humanity.”
WIF Honors co-chairs Victoria Alonso and Tracy McKnight added, “As a collective, we stand united against division — our commitment to fair pay, safe working conditions, and the right to create freely is unwavering. This year’s honorees embody that spirit.”