This year, the Cannes Film Festival and its partner will present the Women In Motion Award 2023 to actress Michelle Yeoh in tribute to her outstanding career. The ceremony will take place in Cannes during the official Women In Motion dinner, which honors women in cinema. Since its launch in 2015, the program has rewarded and highlighted the creativity and unique contribution of women in culture and the arts.
Malaysian-born Michelle Yeoh is an internationally acclaimed actress and producer who has been breaking conventions for decades. Playing complex, determined women on screen, she has helped challenge gender and age stereotypes in the film industry. For her incredible performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, she won the Golden Globe, the SAG Award and the Oscar for Best Actress. In 2023, she became the first Asian actress to win an Oscar in this category.
On receiving these awards, Michelle Yeoh delivered stirring speeches addressing key issues such as diversity, racism and ageism. Previous editions of the Women In Motion Award at the Cannes Film Festival have recognized the careers and commitment of Jane Fonda in 2015, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in 2016, Isabelle Huppert in 2017, Patty Jenkins in 2018, Gong Li in 2019, Salma Hayek in 2021 and Viola Davis in 2022.
Michelle Yeoh said she was deeply moved to receive the award. François-Henri Pinault, CEO of the partner brand, underlined the actress's significant contribution to cinema and her ability to inspire future generations of talent. Iris Knobloch, President of the Cannes Film Festival, also praised Michelle Yeoh's commitment to changing the representation of women in culture and the arts.
Thierry Frémaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, said he was delighted to honor Michelle Yeoh, an actress who is passionate about her films and has left her mark on the industry in many different ways. He recalled that the actress had been a member of the Cannes Festival jury in 2002.
Michelle Yeoh gained international recognition for her roles in Hong Kong action films of the 1990s, and went on to star in a number of globally acclaimed blockbusters. Her credits include Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek: Discovery, The Witcher: Blood Origins and Avatar.
The Women In Motion program, initiated by the partner group, aims to highlight women in film and other artistic and cultural fields. For
nine years, Women In Motion has been helping to change attitudes and thinking about the place of women and the recognition they receive in the arts and culture.
The partner group, Kering, is a major player in the luxury sector, supporting the development of numerous fashion, leather goods and jewelry houses. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its houses to push back the limits of their creative expression, while building tomorrow's luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. The Group's signature, "Empowering Imagination", reflects these convictions.
In summary, the Women In Motion Award 2023 will be presented to actress Michelle Yeoh at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival in recognition of her outstanding career and her commitment to the representation of women in culture and the arts.
