L’Oreal Paris announces launch award for rising female filmmakers with ambassador Kate Winslet

L’Oreal Paris has announced the launch of the Lights On Women Award for rising female filmmakers.

The award, which will be announced by L’Oreal ambassador Kate Winslet, is in partnership with the Short Films competition of the 74th Cannes film festival. 

The winner will be hand-picked from a selection of the Festival de Cannes’ Short Films competition and from international film schools’ short film programs, with the final decision down to Kate – the Award’s first Juror. 

The recipient of the prize is to be announced at the Jeune Cinéma dinner in Cannes on July 16th by the Titanic actress.

Speaking of her new role, Kate said: ‘What an honour to preside as Juror over this remarkable recognition for women film-makers and to have an opportunity to celebrate such incredible talent. 

‘It is essential that we work together as a community to pursue gender parity within our industry and I am delighted to support the L’Oréal Paris family on this important initiative.’ 

Meanwhile, Thierry Frémaux, Director of the Festival international du film de Cannes, added: ‘This exciting partnership with L’Oréal Paris represents a natural extension of the brand’s ongoing support for Cannes and the wider cinema community.

‘The Lights On Women Award will offer a much-needed opportunity to honour a deserving creator and aligns with the broader commitment of the Short Films competition and international film schools’ short film programs to recognize the female talent of tomorrow.’ 

L’Oreal has said that it hopes to ‘hope to empower and spotlight talented women’ amid the statistics that of the directors working on the 100 highest-grossing films in 2020, just 16% were women. 

Further under-representation of women in the industry saw just 10.7% of directors in Hollywood were female in 2019, while just seven women have ever been nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.

Addressing the disparity, Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, Global Brand President at L’Oréal Paris said: ‘L’Oréal Paris is a feminine and feminist brand; we believe in empowering women to overcome barriers and to have a long-term positive social impact within their communities.

‘The massive under-representation of women in film requires large-scale support and I am proud to use our brand platform and resources to stand up for women’s visibility, with the help of the incredible female actors who represent our brand.

‘I firmly believe in advocating for talented women and holding space for them to shine.’