Women's Image Network Awards

Women's Image Network
Women's Image Network Awards
"Fostering A World Where Everyone WINs"
Awarded for	Awards men and women who create dimensional female media images to advance gender parity.
Country	United States
Presented by	Women's Image Network Awards
First awarded	July 22, 1993
Official website	thewinawards.com

Since 1993, Women's Image Network (WIN) has produced The Women’s Image Awards to honor artists and others who promote the value of women and girls.

Women's Image Network Awards, (also known as The WIN Awards or The Women's Image Awards), applaud outstanding media to improve conditions for women and girls because WIN believes that by encouraging dimensional female media images, one day women everywhere may attain economic and social parity.

Each year, the film studios and television networks submit (and the WIN jury adjudicates and applauds) outstanding film and television to encourage writers, directors, producers and actors to create dimensional female media images.

While The Women's Image Awards are presented on a completion basis to film and television (and sometimes advertising and video game) professionals, WIN also honors deserving individuals whose work advances the value of women and girls. For seventeen years, WIN has promoted gender parity by presenting its awards in Hollywood and relies on its network and studio collaborations to draw audiences to excellent media while also encouraging viewers to value women and girls.^[1]

The WIN Awards are a production of Women's Image Network (WIN), a 501c3 non-profit charity which has also supported other charities including The Mary Magdalene Foundation, Women’s Care Cottage, The Mission, Gilda’s Club, The American Cancer Society. WIN supports charities whose efforts range from fighting homeless, rehabilitating prostitutes, curing HIV/AIDS and cancer, eliminating poverty, biodiversity conservation and wild animal rescue.^[2] In some years, proceeds from the WIN Awards Gala have been used to fund other WIN events, such as in 2006 when the charity created the Day in the Life program designed to mentor at-risk girls.^[3]

WIN Founder & Advisory Board

WIN current logo

^[4][5] Women's Image Network Founder and President, Phyllis Stuart said The Women's Image Awards were designed to honor media artists and serve as media advocacy to expand the role of women in the world.^[6]

Since its inception, WIN has benefited from guidance from seasoned industry professionals Current (a few former and deceased) WIN Advisory Board members include: Tamara Asseyev, Todd Black, Candace Block, Helen Gurley Brown, David Brown, Blake Edwards, Eizabeth Forsythe-Hailey, Elaine Hastings Edell, Mariette Hartley, Arthur Hiller, Henry Jaglom, Norman Jewison, Alan Landsburg,Sherry Lansing. Lauren Lloyd, Bryan Lourd, Dan Lupovitz, Amanda Mackey Johnson, Laurence Mark, Jayne Meadows, Baroness Kimberly Moore, Peter Newman, Bonnie Palef, Sarah Pillsbury, Polly Platt, Peggy Rajski, Alyse Rosenberg, Fred Schepisi, Linda Shayne, Lauren Shuler Donner, Paula Silver, George Stevens, Jr., Allyn Stewart, Ellen Travolta and Lili Fini Zanuck.^[7]

History

Women's Image Network only presents its awards to work that enters the competition (via studio or network publicists) so not all deserving film and television work is adjudicated by the WIN jury.^[8]

The awards have been presented (non-consecutively) since 1993, and are currently awarded in multiple categories.^[15] They present awards to movies, television, video games and advertising.^[16] In some cases, the awards are given to supporters of women rather than entertainment industry participants, as in 2006 when US Senator Barbara Boxer received a Woman of the Year award.^[7] Stuart has stated Women's Image Network only gives awards to work that enters (via studio or network publicists) and not all deserving film and television work is adjudicated by the WIN jury.^[17]

• The WIN Awards 1993

In 1993, WIN held its first awards ceremony honoring Tichi Wilkerson Kassel with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Tichi was the first female publisher of The Hollywood Reporter and co-founder of Women In Film. Her friend Charles Champlin (a former Los Angeles Times arts editor and film critic) presented her award. Film producer Laura Ziskin, (Spider-Man) (who also founded Stand Up to Cancer before she succumbed to the disease at age 61), was honored that same year and her former boss, producer Jon Peters presented her Woman of The Year tribute.^[1][9][10]

• 1994

In 1994, WIN created and Executive Produced the ABC Primetime Special "Fifty Years of Funny Females" starring John Ritter, Annie Potts, Paula Poundstone, Debbie Allen and Pam Stone.^[11] This clip show aired again on ABC and then on Lifetime Television.

• The WIN Awards 1999

WIN launched The WIN Femme Film Festival with support from emerging or first-time filmmakers like Shona Auerbach to seasoned directors like Arthur Hiller a founding WIN Advisory Board member.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17]}

For the next four years The WIN Awards were incorporated into The WIN Femme Film Festival which programmed independently produced short, documentary and feature films with female protagonists (made by men or women).^[18][19][20] Best documentary wen to Paolo di Florio for her film, Speaking In Strings..^[21] WIN created this festival to help filmmakers find distribution,^[22][23] get agents and win other awards;^[24] Speaking In Strings went on to win an Academy Award nomination. Director John Putch (son of Jean Stapleton) won best feature with Valerie Flake starring Susan Traylor (wife of Bob Dylan's son director, Jesse Dylan) who also garnered a Spirit Award for best actress.^[25][26]

• The WIN Awards 2000

Actress Lauren Bacall accepted WIN's first Living Legend tribute. That night New Zealand film director, Jane Campion was also honored but her Piano film star Sam Neill accepted her tribute on her behalf.^[27][28]

• The WIN Awards 2001

Still part of The WINemme Film Festival both Lynn Redgrave (Living Legend) and Pierce Brosnan (Humanitarian) were WIN Awards honorees.^[29]

• The WIN Awards 2002

Actress Lily Tomlin was honored as a Lifetime Achievement honoree, but not wanting an honoree video tribute reel, she was applauded with Lily's Love Letters sent from famous friends and read by Director, David O. Russell (American Hustle) who posed as an opera singer serenading her on bent knee. Ruth Buzzy her friend from Laugh In presented.^[30]

• The WIN Awards 2003

Director Vicky Jensen was honored with WIN's first Kiera Chaplin Limelight directing award for co-directing DreamWorks blockbuster film, Shrek.^[31] British model and actress Kiera Chaplin is the granddaughter of film legend Charlie Chaplin and great-grand daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill.

ILauren Shuler Donner received her Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenters and guests included Carrie Fisher, Dick Donner, Rachel Weisz (who presented to Lauren Shuler Donner), Bonnie Palef, Peter Gruber, Eric Roberts, Yeardley Smith, Melissa Joan Hart, Brittany Snow, Hollston Coleman, Al Jean, Sarah Ramos, Sean Patrick Thomas, Jane Anderson, Valarie Pettiford, Dayna Devon, Neal McDonough, Charlie Robinson and Suzanne Sena.

• 'The WIN Awards 2004'

WIN added advertising awards with advertising industry artists judges like Charlotte Moore, Sally Hogshead, Amee Shah, Ellen Steinberg, Joyce King Thomas, Liz Paradise (Jury Chair) and David Oakley.^[32][33]

• The WIN Awards 2005

Gurinder Chadha picked up the Chaplin Limelight Award for directing presented by Charlie Chaplan's granddaughter Kiera Chaplin for whom this award was created. The animated series Kim Possible, and Kathy Najimy also won this WIN Awards year.^[31][34]

• The WIN Awards 2006

British actress Helen Mirren won 2 WIN tributes which Katie Holmes accepted on her behalf.^[35] Senator Barbara Boxer accepted WIN's Woman of the Year tribute. Event co-chairs were Martha Luttrell, Jane Fonda and Susan Sarandon.^[36] American Idol performer Ace Young sang and Harry Shearer hosted.

• The WIN Awards 2007
• Angelina Jolie accepted (via a pre-taped speech) best actress in a feature film award for A Mighty Heart. Diane Ladd accepted her Lifetime Achievement Award. Army Wives star, Sally Pressman and Tracee Ellis Ross co-hosted. Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk, Co-Chief Creatives, Ogilvy-Toronto were honored with the first WIN Harriett Abbott Advertising Award.
• Though the category no longer exists, 2007 was one of two years at this awards show where male actors won. Actor Seth Rogen attending an he won a best actor award in a feature film. Rogen also picked up a trophy on behalf of his Judd Apatow film, Knocked Up film producer, Shauna Robertson.^[37] For television actor in a comedy series category, Alec Baldwin won for his work in 30 Rock. This year, Angelina Jolie won best actress in a film for her role in A Mighty Heart and gave a pre-recorded acceptance speech.
• The WIN Awards 2008

WIN honored Cloris Leachman with its Living Legend Tribute and added interactive awards (video games) giving a tribute to IDG World Expo CEO, Mary Dolaher.^[38] Patty Smyth and her band Scandal performed.^[39] Comic Judy Tenuta hosted and Tig Notaro also performed. Presenters included Timothy Bottoms, Rick Overton, Hannah Simone, Bob Carrigan, Diane English, Annie Wersching, Keith David and Eric Roberts.^[40][41]

* 'The WIN Awards 2009

WIN honored The Hollywood Reporter editor, Elizabeth Guider.^[42] Judy Tenuta hosted.

The WIN Awards 2010 Glee, Claire Danes, Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Aniston,^[43]Diane Lane, Joey King, Selena Gomez, Jane Lynch, Susan Sarandon and Maggie Smith were among the many WIN Awards nominees.^[44] Show presenters included Carl Reiner, Lea Thompson, AJ Michalka, Sara Rue, (who served as show co-host with Will Sasso in 2003). That same year Mickey Rooney presented to Honoree Elizabeth Taylor an HIV AIDS supporter, and who Kathy Ireland reported 'ran and AIDS safe house'.^[45]

In addition, Suzanne Fleisher Roberts (wife of Ralph Roberts owner of Comcast, NBC/Universal) and mother to Brian Roberts, was presented by her sons and husband, with WIN's lifetime-achievement award for her long career of patronage of the arts.^[46][47][48]

The WIN Awards 2011 WIN created two new lifetime achievement awards. Elizabeth Taylor was presented with a special "Living Legend" WIN Award to celebrate her lifetime work in Hollywood and with AIDS activism.^[49][50][51] Other former WIN honorees include Lauren Bacall, a tough iconic cinema legend who was moved to tears by her tribute i by heartfelt remarks made by her three children., (Sam Robards, Leslie Bogart, Sam Bogart). Other WIN honorees are Laura Ziskin, Lauren Shuler Donner,^[52] Ambassador Swanee Hunt, ^[53]Senator Barbara Boxer, Pierce Brosnan, Rosalind Jarrett, Diane Ladd, Jane Campion, Lily Tomlin, Catherine Hardwicke and Cecilia DeMille Presley,^[54] among others.^{[55][56][57][58]}

The WIN Awards 2012 At The Paramount Theater on Paramount Studios Lisa Kudrow from Friends presented to Humanitarian Honoree, producer and philanthropist, Maria Arena Bell.^[59][60] American Idol singer / songwriterDiana DeGarmo^[61] sang. Melissa Peterman and writer / comic Bruce Vilanche co-hosted.

In 2013, sixteen-time Grammy winner, David Foster and Ruben Studdard, performed at The WIN Awards.^[62] Cecilia DeMille Presley grand daughter to Cecil DeMille, Ambassador Swanee Hunt and Rosalind Jarrett were all honored, while Oprah and Kerry Washington were nominees, among others.^[63] Presenters included Anne Heche, Collette Burson, Kelsey Scott, Yolanda Foster, Kathy Connell (SAG AWARDS), Carlos Gomez and Kearann Giovanni.^[64] In 2012, WIN approached its gender parity goal with humor by creating a logline SEE US IN 3D, NOT JUST DOUBLE D, which many WIN nominees recorded including Selena Gomez and Jane Lynch. Because if women and girls are portrayed well in the media, girls and women everywhere may one day be well-treated.^[65]

The WIN Awards 2013

The 2013 WIN Awards nominees were as follows:^[66]

The WIN Awards 2014

In 2014, Grey's Anatomy star, Chandra Wilson won a directing award.^[67] Julia Roberts, Whoopi Goldberg and Cicely Tyson were nominees.^[68] Melissa Rivers, (who was also nominated as a producer) attended to accept a posthumous WIN award for her mother, Joan Rivers, who competed and won in the OUTSTANDING REALITY SERIES category for Fashion Police.^[69] Fashion designer Sophie Simmons collaborated with WIN to promote self-confidence with her Twitter campaign, 'Send Us Your Selfie' which advanced fashion as means for self-esteem.^[70] Baroness Kimberly Moore received its Humanitarian Honor.^[71] Writer Caprice Crane (daughter of Tina Louise (Gilligan's Island)) and comic Gary Shapiro co-hosted. The show opened with a posthumous Joan Rivers tribute and featured guest comics Brittany Furlan and T. J. Miller who discussed and demonstrated how Joan influenced their comedy. WIN also honored filmmakers Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson, with its first Community Service tribute for having created Finding Kind, a documentary film about middle school female bullying. Their film launched a movement and school program based upon the powerful belief in KINDness, that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl crime. Wife of Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, Lauren was bullied in middle school and contemplated suicide.^[72]

Discrepancies with finances

A former jib operator who was hired for this job was not paid after services were rendered. They claim that of the $1000 invoice that was to be paid, Phyllis instead sent the jib operator a written letter saying "Hey, Here is $150 for helping at our last awards show. This charity no longer has funds - Sorry we cannot complete your invoice - this charity no longer operates, I wish we could - Phyllis Stuart".^[73] This would not be the only complaint about the supposed "charity", in March 2015 another employee who ran sound for her movie "Elephant DaZe" was also not paid, they then threatened to take her to court, which she did not attend, and have yet to be paid.^[74]

The WIN Awards 2014 winners:^[75]

The WIN Awards 2015

The 2015 WIN Awards are being held on February 10, 2016. This will be the Women's Image Network's 17th awards show. Philanthropist and activist, Irena Medavoy and documentary filmmaker and Philanthropist Abigail Disney will be accepting its Woman of the Year tributes.^[76][77]

The Starz series Outlander has received five nominations, including a nomination in the Drama Series category. Caitriona Balfe, who plays the leading character in the show, also received a nomination in the Actress Drama Series category.^[78]

Fox Searchlight's He Named Me Malala also received two nominations, including Best Documentary and Best Producer. Fox Searchlight also received nominations for Mistress America, Far from the Madding Crowd, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and Brooklyn. Twentieth Century Fox received nominations for New Girl, Modern Family, Empire, and Fresh Off the Boat. National Geographic received a nomination for a role played by Emmanuelle Chriqu in Killing Jesus.^[79]

The WIN Awards 17 Nominees

References

External links

• Official website