HOLLYWOOD SIGNS: NBCUniversal mogul Donna Langley, whose Hollywood studio turned out the Oscar-sweeping film “Oppenheimer,” is to receive Kering‘s 2024 Women In Motion Award at next month’s Cannes Film Festival.
The award is in recognition of “a lifelong career committed to steadfast leadership and the fostering of a more inclusive industry that has helped shape diversity both in front [of] and behind the camera,” according to Kering.
Calling her a “singular force in the business,” the French luxury group said Langley has gained global recognition by supporting films “that capture the cultural zeitgeist and provide a platform for women and diverse voices globally…She has been part of the vanguard of change in Hollywood, challenging the status quo and proving that inclusive casting, hiring and storytelling is smart business.”
The award will be bestowed at the annual Women in Motion dinner on May 19 to honor women in cinema at the Cannes festival, which runs from May 14 to 25.
François-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive officer of Kering, said Langley has “dedicated herself to demonstrating on and off-screen that gender equality and diversity are absolutely essential. It highlights the collective effort of people working behind the scenes, tirelessly confronting and knocking down gender barriers and racial prejudice.”
As chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group and its chief content officer, Langley is the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio and was named a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2020.
She is an ambassador for Vital Voices – an NGO dedicated to economic empowerment, women’s political participation and human rights – and has served on its board of directors since 2013. She is also a founder of The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Film Mentorship program.
Previous recipients of the prize, launched in 2015, include Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis, Salma Hayek, Gong Li, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon and Jane Fonda.
“Donna Langley’s brilliant career and commitment to a better representation of women in all their diversity make her a natural choice for this award,” said Iris Knobloch, president of the Cannes Film Festival.
Langley called the Women In Motion recognition “an immense honor” and she lauded the work being done by the festival, Kering and industry peers “to propel women forward, amplify their voices, create opportunities, and push boundaries.”
Langley built her career in the U.S., working as a production executive at New Line Cinema before joining Universal in 2001 as senior vice president of production, and going on to hold several leadership positions at the vast studio behind myriad film and television projects.
