The Women’s Image Awards celebrate male and female media artists whose film and television advances the value of women and girls.
French new wave director Jean Luc Godard once reportedly stated that “all you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun.” A simplified fact, but true. Motion picture without women would be worthless. On and off screen, women have been celebrated, scorned, and stereotyped just as they have since the beginning of time.
In Hollywood’s greatest moments, the magnificence of women is exemplified. In its darkest days, they are ridiculed or shunned. Behind the scenes, countless women in Hollywood have been systematically used, abused, and exploited by men who held power over them. While major problems still exist today, things have gotten at least noticeably better for women. Their collective voices are finally being heard and more cared about. Those of us working in the film industry owe it to all women and future generations of girls and women in Hollywood to support actions, causes, and organizations that continue this positive trend.
One vital, non-profit organization of the arts has made it their mission to advance the fair and equitable representation of women in cinema. Hollywood Sentinel was once again, honored to be there.
The Women’s Image Awards celebrate male and female media artists whose film and television advances the value of women and girls. Founded by Phyllis Stuart in 1993, Women’s Image Network has been collaborating with esteemed artists in television and film for 25 years, by producing The Women’s Image Awards.
The event this year was held Wednesday, February 21, 2024, and was hosted by actress and comedian Caroline Rhea. Honorees included Ann-Margret – Living Legend Tribute, presented to her by philanthropist Wallis Annenberg.
Men also showed their support including Justin Chambers from Grey’s Anatomy, who collaborated on a perfume with Ann-Margret, and all guests were treated to a bottle.
On stage, Ann-Margret was presented her award by Wallis Annenberg and was extremely grateful by all the praise. Endearingly emotional after watching a great highlight reel of her amazing body of work, she was filled with deep gratitude that she conveyed with total sincerity. Noting to the audience how her hands were shaking and that her hands were so cold, she looked at her hands and then quipped, “But my diamond look good up here!” entertaining the audience who laughed.
Having once noted that any word using “man” as an adjective was a pet peeve of mine, including the word mansplain, my client Carissa Summer Rose once joked that she would write a song for me using “mansplain” as the title. At the event, comedian and host Caroline Rhea mentioned there would be no “mansplaining” at this event. Carissa looked over at me with surprise, and we both laughed.
A great event filled with amazing talent and amazing women, the Women’s Image Network and Women’s Image Awards are a must attend event. With a red carpet, gift bags, tons of media, food buffet, cash bar, DJ, beautiful theatre, live performances, video clips, comedy, and celebrities galore, it was a night to remember.
HOST: Caroline Rhea
HONOREES:
Ann-Margret – Living Legend Tribute
Loretta Devine– Lifetime Achievement Award
Regina K. Scully, Philanthropist and Producer – Humanitarian Honoree
PRESENTERS:
Wallis Annenberg (Philanthropist)
Rory Kennedy (documentary filmmaker)
Amber Stevens West (Actress, Happy Together)
Raven-Symoné (The Cosby Show, That’s So Raven)
Julia Verdin (Producer, Director)
Christopher Showerman (Actor, George in the Jungle 2)
Amy Ziering (Documentary Filmmaker, The Invisible War)
Chanel West Coast (Television Personality, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory)
Mark Bailey (Owner, Moxie Films)
Hana Girlado (singer, Pat Benatar’s daughter)
Kyle Massey (Actor, That’s So Raven)
Alexa Jago (film Waterworld)
Atmosphere at The Women’s Image Awards at the Saban Theatre, Los Angeles, on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Presley Ann)
NOMINEES:
Rachel Watanabe-Batton (Producer, Sneakerella)
Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum (Director, Sneakerella)
Tamara Chestna (Producer, Sneakerella)
Lexi Underwood (Actress, Sneakerella)
Travis Callahan (Producer,Growing Up)
Nicole Galoviski (Producer,Growing Up)
Cormac Wibberley (Creator and Writer, National Treasure: Edge of History
Marianne Wibberley (Creator and Writer, National Treasure: Edge of History)
Sara Dosa(Director, Fire of Love)
Annabel Oakes (Writer, Grease: Rise of The Pink Ladies)
Alethea Jones (Director, Grease: Rise of The Pink Ladies)
Ondi Timoner (Director, Last Flight Home)
Simone Finch (Creator, Single Drunk Female “Grant Me the Serenity)
Joan Rater (Creator, A Small Light)
Tony Phelan (Creator, A Small Light)
ATTENDEES
Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy), Katie Couric (TV host), Mike White (writer, actor White Lotus), Bo Derek, Carri Twigg (co-founder Culture House), Shane Boris (Producer, Fire of Love), Scarlett Bress, Dennis Dugan (actor, producer, writer),Jeffrey Lane (author, television scriptwriter, film producer and actor), Lyn Lear (Documentary Filmmaker and Environmentalist), Geralyn Dreyfous (film producer), Caroline Libresco (Film Producer), Maria Cuomo Cole (Documentary Filmmaker), Laurie David (Environmental Activist, producer),Christy Hall (Producer, It Ends With Us), Dawn Kamoche (Writer, Sharp Objects), Ariella Blejer (Writer, Sharp Objects), Heather Zuhlke (Showrunner, BMF), Henry Jaglom, Kamie Crawford (Host, Catfish” The TV Show), Ursula Liang (producer, director), Carissa Summer Rose (recording artist), and Bruce Edwin (CEO, Starpower Management) among more.
