CELEBRATING SIX YEARS OF SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN FILMMAKERS AT THE FESTIVAL DE CANNES

L’Oréal Paris champions women’s empowerment in cinema through a privileged relationship with the actress ambassadors who embody the values of the brand. L’Oréal Paris goes further in supporting women in cinema with the Lights on Women’s Worth Award. Launched in 2021, the prize aims to rebalance inequality in the movie industry. Underrepresented in the global film industry, only 17% of those in directorial positions on leading films are women, and just 25% of those behind-the-scenes. In response, L’Oréal Paris created the yearly Lights on Women’s Worth Award which includes a €20,000 donation and full support ecosystem for promising female short-film directors.

THE L’ORÉAL PARIS FAMILY RETURNS TO CANNES

Gillian Anderson, L’Oréal Paris ambassador and Lights on Women’s Worth Award Juror, will announce the winner at the award ceremony on May 22^nd. She says,”As a woman who has spent her career fighting to be heard, I know how vital — and how overdue — this award is. The Lights on Women's Worth is about reminding the industry that every woman's story deserves to exist, every woman’s voice deserves to be heard. Being part of this jury is a responsibility I take very seriously. This is the kind of recognition that actually moves things forward”. 

Laetitia Toupet, L’Oréal Paris Global Brand President, adds, “Cannes is where we stand for women. On screen and on the red carpet. Through the Lights on Women's Worth Award, we fight for their visibility in cinema. We fight for every story and every perspective to be told, heard and seen. And through the hands of our expert teams and the power of our products, we reveal each woman's unique beauty and let her be exactly who she wants to be. That is what L'Oréal Paris stands for. That is our mission, year after year." 

ABOUT THE AWARD

Only 17% of directors of leading global films are women—and just 25% of behind-the-scenes creatives. The Lights On Women’s Worth Award was created to help change that. Each year, the winner receives a €20,000 grant and mentorship support from L’Oréal Paris.

A LEGACY OF EMPOWERMENT

Six years. Five unforgettable stories. Countless voices inspired. The Lights On Women’s Worth Award has honored rising talent from across the globe—each winner selected not only for their creative excellence, but for their ability to tell bold, resonant stories. These short films have gone on to win 50 awards and earn more than 220 international selections.

LIGHTS ON WOMEN’S WORTH AWARD WINNERS

This year’s Lights on Women’s Worth Award continues to build on the powerful legacy established since its launch in 2021. To date, the Lights on Women’s Worth Award has celebrated five exceptional filmmakers from around the world, each bringing powerful, thought-provoking stories to life. These five short films have been officially selected over 250 times at international film festivals and have garnered a total of 60 awards. These include:

In her 30-minute film titled "First Summer, South Korean filmmaker Heo Gayoung, depicts Yeongsun, a woman who wants to attend her boyfriend Haksu’s 49^th-day memorial service rather than her granddaughter’s wedding.

Chinese filmmaker Viv Li’s 15-minute film, Across the Waters, depicts the story of a quirky teenage girl, in a remote Chinese mining town without any radio signals, who gets curious about a passing truck driver and his Walkman, discovering music she's never heard before.

Fatima Kaci from France took the top honour in 2023 for her 30-minute film, La Voix des Autres (The Voice of Others), which depicts the story of a Tunisian interpreter in France translating the stories of refugees whose voices raise questions about her own identity.

Vietnamese Mai Vu’s 9-minute film, Spring Roll Dream, was described as “exquisite” by juror Kate Winslet. The film depicts the simple yet profound importance of family tradition.

For the 2021 inaugural award, Aleksandra Odić from Germany took the top honour for her 22-minute film, Frida. The film portrays a powerful encounter between a young nurse and her patient.