Ariana Grande, Laura Karpman and Selena Gomez; Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Days before announcing the appointment of new creative director Matthieu Blazy, Chanel and The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosted its annual Academy Women’s Luncheon, celebrating the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women. Attended by a who’s who of the entertainment industry, the event drew in A-listers, including Amy Adams, Rita Wilson, Eve Hewson, Gal Gadot, Ariana Grande and the recently engaged Selena Gomez.
Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell; Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Academy President Janet Yang welcomed the well-heeled group, who dined on a light lunch of chicken or lobster salad, French fries and crudite while soaking in the L.A. sunshine. “Today, we celebrated the power and unity of women in film as we came together from every discipline within our industry to honor emerging women filmmakers who are inspiring the future of cinema,” Yang said. “A special thank you to our partner Chanel for its generous support and shared commitment to amplifying the voices of talented women filmmakers worldwide. Together, we continue to break barriers and empower the next generation of women in our industry.”
Eve Hewson and Awkwafina; Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Following Yang’s remarks, Academy Executives Branch governor Pam Abdy presented Raha Amirfazli (U.S. fellow) and Shadi Karamroudi (non-U.S. fellow) with this year’s Gold Fellowships for Women. Amirfazli, an Iranian writer, director and producer based in New York, is the award-winning director of In the Land of Brothers, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. “When I started making films in Iran, I cautiously started to represent myself as more masculine, to be taken seriously in a male-driven environment,” she said. “Back then, I could only dream of being a part of communities like this one, being surrounded by women in arts and celebrating women. I see this fellowship as powerful proof that no dream is too big and that cinema has the power to transcend boundaries.” Karamroudi could not attend the event as she was denied a U.S. visa. But following her speech, Amirfazli received a phone call from her, eliciting an impromptu moment of joy that reverberated throughout the room.
Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Cleo Wade, Mila Kunis, Hallie Meyers-Shyer and Dree Hemingway; Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Several women donned Chanel clothing and accessories, including Sarah Paulson, who wore a white waffle jacquard top and skirt from the Cruise 2024/25 collection, plus the brand’s shoes and bag. Awkawafina chose a relaxed look: a yellow cashmere pullover from the Métiers d’art 2023/24, blue coated denim jeans from the Fall-Winter 2024/25 Ready-to-Wear collection and a white fantasy tweed jacket. Actress Amy Adams wore a black embroidered wool tweed jacket and skirt from the Fall-Winter 2022/23 Ready-to-Wear pre-collection, along with “Coco Crush” earrings and rings in 18K yellow gold from the Chanel fine jewelry collection.
Amy Adams and Sarah Paulson; Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Emmy and Grammy-nominated actor, recording artist and producer Selena Gomez delivered a keynote presentation, the final speech of the day. Fresh off the heels of working on the Golden Globe-nominated film Emilia Pérez, Gomez related the collaborative spirit on set to the robust network of women in the room that day. “I know firsthand how isolating this industry can feel at times, but moments like this and rooms like this and talking to all these amazing women, it just reminds me that I’m not alone,” she said. “When we stand together, we create a ripple effect that stretches far beyond our own lives. That’s why events like the Academy Women’s Luncheon are so important. They are a celebration of our collective achievements but also a reminder of the work we still have to do. That’s also why partnerships like the Academy and Chanel are so important. It’s their programs, like the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, that we can provide resources and opportunities to empower the next generation of women filmmakers,”
Justine Lupe, Erin Foster and Sara Foster; Photo by Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
She continued, “To the young women watching, I just want you to know that you are heard and you are seen, and your perspective matters deeply. And if you ever feel lonely at any event, I’m usually on my phone playing some sort of weird game, so just come up to me, I’d be happy to chat. Whether you’re a director, a writer, an actress, a designer or just starting to dream about being a part of this industry, know that there is a place for you. And more than that, know that we are here to make sure that place is welcoming, inclusive and supportive.”
Photography by: Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
