(PHOTOS) Issa Rae Honored; Viola Davis Presents at Women in Film Annual Gala

Some of the most outstanding women in the entertainment industry were recently celebrated at the 2019 Women in Film Annual Gala, including Issa Rae, who received the “Emerging Entrepreneur Award.”

When accepting the award, Rae drew comparison between the humility of women and the boisterousness of rappers.  “As women we tend to downplay ourselves, to dim our light, and we are kind of conditioned socially to be humble. I grew up being a huge hip hop fan, and none of my favorite artists are humble,” she said.

Formerly known as the Crystal + Lucy Awards, and held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event raises funds to support Women In Film, Los Angeles’ efforts to advance women’s careers and promote gender parity.

The gala also honored Amy Poehler (Entrepreneur in Entertainment Award); Elizabeth Debicki (Max Mara Face of the Future Award) and Cathy Schulman, who was presented with the “Crystal Award for Advocacy in Entertainment” by Viola Davis.

Davis hailed Schulman’s work as a producer and film executive. “In a world that has a bad habit of erasing us girls — of denying our history, our voices, our very personhood — we need champions like Cathy Schulman to drag that world kicking and screaming into the present, and on to the future,” she said.

See photos from the 2019 Women in Film Gala below.