At the annual banquet of the charity organization in September, the filmmaker behind the iconic "Barbie" will be celebrated with great honor. Greta Gerwig has been selected as the recipient of this year's prestigious Pioneer of the Year Award, becoming only the second female director after Elizabeth Banks to receive this esteemed accolade.
On September 25, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Gerwig will be feted at the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's annual dinner. All three of her solo directorial ventures - "Barbie," "Lady Bird," and "Little Women" - have garnered Oscar nominations for Best Picture, while Gerwig herself has been nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for "Lady Bird," Best Adapted Screenplay for "Little Women," and again for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Barbie."
Last year, "Barbie," which Gerwig co-wrote with Noah Baumbach for Warner Bros., achieved a milestone, becoming the first film from a solo female director to gross over $1 billion at the global box office.
For over 75 years, the Pioneer of the Year award has recognized individuals in the motion picture industry who exemplify exceptional leadership, community service, and dedication to philanthropy. The proceeds raised from this September dinner will directly benefit the Will Rogers Pioneers Assistance Fund, a charity that provides financial aid and supportive counseling to those in the motion picture distribution and exhibition community facing difficult times.
"Greta Gerwig is a vibrant filmmaker with a captivating vision that captivates and inspires audiences worldwide," said Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. and co-chairman of this year's Pioneer dinner. Kyle Davies, President of Bleecker Street Distribution and Chairman of the Pioneers Assistance Fund, echoed these sentiments.
Gerwig's early acting credits include indie gems like "Hannah Takes The Stairs," which she co-wrote, and "Nights and Weekends," where she took on the role of co-director, co-writer, and co-producer. Her breakout role came in Noah Baumbach's "Greenberg," followed by their collaboration on "Frances Ha" (the two are now married). Most recently, Gerwig starred in Baumbach's "White Noise" and will soon be seen in his upcoming untitled film alongside George Clooney and Adam Sandler.
Currently, Gerwig is adapting C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia" book series for Netflix, continuing her illustrious journey as a filmmaker and storyteller. Among the esteemed list of past Pioneer of the Year honorees are Tom Cruise, Erik Lomis, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Donna Langley, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Elizabeth Banks, Jim Gianopulos, Dick Cook, Michael D. Eisner, Alan Horn, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Sherry Lansing, Frank G. Mancuso, Sumner Redstone, Terry Semel, Tom Sherak, Jack Valenti, Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, and Cecil B. DeMille.
