The House of Gucci has joined with the Venice Film festival to create a new award for women in cinema.
The award, which will be presented annually from 2011, will celebrate an outstanding contribution to cinema by a woman: the prize could be awarded to an actor or director but also to a behind the scenes worker such as a screenwriter or costume designer.
Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini said,
“Women have had an indisputable impact on film making since the very early days of cinema, both onscreen and behind the camera.”
Marco Mueller, the artistic Director of the Venice Film Festival, adds:
“The Venice Film Festival is delighted that Gucci is taking on the mantle from the Gucci Group, which has supported the art of film for the past four years. Cinema has also played a vital part in Gucci’s 90-year history and we particularly appreciate the theme of women as their work and contribution to the industry should receive greater recognition.”
Already this year Gucci has worked with Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation to bring the restored version of Barbara Loden’s 1970 film “Wanda” to the Festival.
The winner of the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema will be able to choose a film school which will receive a $25,000 scholarship fund in her name.
