Through partnerships with nonprofit
organization Women In Film, Los
Angeles (WIF) and streaming platform MUBI, the Johnnie
Walker brand aims to inspire future generations of women
storytellers and provide greater access to women-told
stories
NEW
YORK, March 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women
filmmakers make up only 24%* of the top filmmaking roles in the
industry, so as a brand with a longstanding commitment to
progressing gender equity, this awards season, Johnnie Walker is
celebrating women trailblazers who changed the fabric of film, and
enabling future generations of women filmmakers, by leaning into
one of Hollywood's most iconic
symbols – the red carpet.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release
here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9145351-johnnie-walker-honors-women-filmmakers-on-red-carpet/
As part of the Johnnie Walker First Strides initiative, and in
time for the pinnacle of awards season, the brand has crafted a
piece of art symbolizing the red carpet in honor of the many women
who have broken and continue to break barriers so future
generations of women will be seen and celebrated walking the red
carpet.
The avant-garde work spotlights seven filmmakers for their
boundary-pushing contributions to culture, including:
- Ana Lily Amirpour made
her directorial debut in 2014 and immediately tore the mainstream
to shreds with her distinctive creative vision and stylistic sense
of adventure.
- Janicza Bravo is an acclaimed writer and director known
for breaking boundaries in both cinema and television.
- Christine Choy is an
electrifying artist behind and beyond the camera.
- Julie Dash was the first African American woman to have
a feature film receive a wide theatrical release and has continued
to innovate in the worlds of cinema, television, and fine art ever
since.
- Claire Denis has created
an inventive body of work and is widely recognized as an inspired
director and screenwriter with a vivacious and trenchant
perspective.
- Wanuri Kahiu is an acclaimed filmmaker, speaker, and
science fiction writer whose work champions the need for fun,
fierce and frivolous African art.
- Gina Prince-Bythewood is
a wildly prolific director, writer, and producer, and longtime
advocate for equal representation in the industry. Her films are
known for their authentic, character-driven narratives.
The carpet will debut at the 16th Annual WIF Oscar Party, which
Johnnie Walker is a presenting sponsor of to help honor all 65
women, in front of and behind the camera, who have been nominated
for an award this year. Learn more about this year's nominees and
how WIF is recognizing their work by visiting
womeninfilm.org/voteforwomen.
"The stories being told by women deserve to be celebrated, and
we need to see and hear more of them," said Sophie Kelly, SVP Whiskies at Diageo North
America. "As we roll out our own red carpet in partnership with
WIF, Johnnie Walker is proud to recognize all the incredible
trailblazers, whose voices are shaping culture and the
entertainment industry, and we hope our continued work
inspires others to join us in taking steps towards a more equitable
future."
To further uplift women in the industry and inspire future
generations of bold women storytellers, Johnnie Walker is
supporting the mission of WIF, the nonprofit organization dedicated
to advocating for gender equity in the screen industries. Tied to a
larger initiative to be announced by WIF next month, the
partnership will set out to dismantle barriers and carve paths to
spotlight and support women storytellers.
"We recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in the
industry to encourage and inspire more women to become filmmakers,"
said Kirsten Schaffer, the Chief
Executive Officer of WIF. "Johnnie Walker is a brand that has shown
its commitment to advancing gender equity and we're proud to have
them as our partners helping to build a world that values women by
empowering them to tell the stories that shape our culture."
Johnnie Walker's support will help WIF equip emerging women
filmmakers with the experience, skills, and connections needed to
achieve their goals. The collective ambition is to build the
pipeline, sustain careers and advocate for industry change that
closes the gender gap, fosters safe working environments and
ultimately achieves parity for women.
Understanding women-led films get made when more people watch
them, Johnnie Walker teamed up with MUBI, the global distributor,
streaming service and production company, to offer unlimited,
30-day free subscriptions. Consumers 21+ can start watching and
discover new women-made films by visiting
www.mubi.com/johnniewalker.
To learn more about Johnnie Walker's support for women in the
film industry and the filmmakers featured on the carpet, please
visit www.johnniewalker.com/firststrides.
*Lauzen, M. M. (2023, January 2).
Employment of Behind-the-Scenes Women on Top Grossing U.S. Films
in 2022.
ABOUT JOHNNIE WALKER
Johnnie Walker is the world's
number one Scotch Whisky brand, enjoyed by people in over 180
countries around the world. Since the time of its founder,
John Walker, those who blend its
whiskies have pursued flavor and quality above else.
Six generations of skilled Master Blenders have pioneered and
crafted bold new flavors that have transformed a small Scottish
grocery store business, founded in 1820, into an international
whisky business selling stylish, authentic, and iconic blends.
Today's range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker
Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Johnnie Walker
High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky, Gold Label Reserve, Aged 18 Years
and Blue Label. Together they account for nearly 19 million cases
sold annually (IWSR, 2019), making Johnnie Walker the most popular
Scotch Whisky brand in the world.
ABOUT DIAGEO NORTH
AMERICA
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol
with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker,
Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel
One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don
Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and
Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO)
and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are
sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and
performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global
responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information,
initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and
Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America:
@Diageo_NA.
ABOUT WIF
Founded in 1973 as Women In Film,
Los Angeles, WIF advocates for and
advances the careers of women working in the screen industries, to
achieve parity and transform culture. We support women and people
of marginalized genders in front of and behind the camera and
across all levels of experience. We work to change culture through
our distinguished pipeline programs; we advocate for gender parity
through research, education, and media campaigns; and we build a
community centered around these goals. Membership is open to all
screen industry professionals, and more information can be found on
our website: womeninfilm.org. Follow WIF on Twitter, Instagram,
Facebook, and YouTube.
ABOUT MUBI
MUBI is a global streaming service,
production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating
great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions
visionary films, connecting them to audiences all over the
world.
MUBI is a place to discover ambitious films from iconic
directors to emerging auteurs. A new hand-picked film arrives on
the platform every day, each carefully chosen by MUBI's curators.
Notebook explores all sides of cinema culture — both in print and
online. And with MUBI GO, members in select countries can get a
free ticket every week to see the best new films in
cinemas.
MUBI is the biggest community of film lovers, available across
190 countries, with more than 12 million members around the world.
MUBI acquired renowned sales agent and production company The Match
Factory and Match Factory Productions in January 2022.
Media contact:
HUNTER
whisky@hunterpr.com
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnnie-walker-blended-scotch-whisky-marks-red-carpet-season-with-a-tribute-to-trailblazing-women-filmmakers-and-a-call-to-watch-more-women-made-films-301768951.html
SOURCE DIAGEO North America