Greta Gerwig to receive Will Rogers ‘Pioneer of the Year’ award
Barbie director Greta Gerwig will receive Will Rogers’ 2024 ‘Pioneer of the Year’ award, another significant moment for her.
Gerwig has had an exceptional 12 months. While she is known for working on mumblecore films early in her career, including her husband Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha and then the award-winning coming-of-age films Lady Bird and Little Women, things took a different turn last year.
After the Margot Robbie-starring Barbie was released in July 2023, Gerwig experienced immense success. The film grossed $1.4billion, making it the most successful movie of the year, the highest-grossing release ever by Warner Bros and the 14th highest-grossing of all time. It also confirmed Gerwig as the first female director to make $1billion at the box office. Forming one half of the summer’s ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon, the movie was a historic moment for many reasons.
Receiving widespread acclaim, Barbie was also nominated for eight nominations at 2024’s Academy Awards ceremony, including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Original Song’. It won the latter. However, much controversy was stoked when Gerwig was snubbed for ‘Best Director’ and Robbie for ‘Best Lead Actress’, even though Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera were in the running for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’, respectively.
Elsewhere, though, Barbie took home the Golden Globe for ‘Cinematic and Box Office Achievement’.
Now, Gerwig will be receiving another accolade for her successful career so far and inspirational efforts. The recipient of this year’s ‘Pioneer of the Year’ award, she’s the second female auteur to do so after Elizabeth Banks. She will take home the award at the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation’s annual dinner on September 25th. It will be held at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton.
“Greta Gerwig is a dynamic filmmaker with extraordinary vision who entertains and inspires audiences everywhere,” explained Warner Bros domestic distribution president Jeff Goldstein, co-chairman of this year’s dinner.
The award has been running for over 75 years and recognises figures in the industry who have served the community and philanthropy. “The Will Rogers Pioneers Assistance Fund is proud to celebrate Greta’s achievements and present her with the 2024 Pioneer of the Year Award,” said Kyle Davies, President of Distribution at Bleecker Street Media and Chairman of the Pioneers Assistance Fund Committee.
All proceeds from the dinner will go to the Will Rogers Pioneers Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance and support to people in motion picture distribution. The Foundation itself was formed in 1939.
Other previous winners include Barbara Broccoli, Tom Cruise, and Erik Lomis.
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