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Oprah Winfrey to Present DVF Awards in Venice
VENICE AWARDS: The DVF Awards are returning to Venice.
On Thursday, Diane von Furstenberg will once again celebrate the work of extraordinary women, with Oprah Winfrey joining as a presenter. This year’s DVF Awards in Venice align with the 60th Art Biennale and the 81st Venice Film Festival, adding to the event’s grandeur.
The 15th edition of the DVF Awards will honor several remarkable women. These include Jacinda Ardern, former prime minister of New Zealand; Yael Admi, cofounder of Women Wage Peace; Reem Al-Hajajreh, cofounder and director of Women of the Sun; Xiye Bastida, climate justice activist and cofounder of Re-Earth Initiative; Alessandra Kustermann, reproductive rights advocate and president of SVS Donna Help Donna; and Graça Machel, women’s and children’s rights advocate and founder of the Graça Machel Trust and the Foundation for Community Development.
Italian actress and director Paola Cortellesi will also take part in presenting the awards. Diane von Furstenberg expressed her admiration for the awardees, stating, “It is a great privilege to know and to honor these incredible women who have the courage to fight, the strength to survive and the leadership to inspire.” She added, “This is a special milestone, the 15th anniversary, and I am so happy to celebrate in Venice, a city that is close to my heart and is herself an extraordinary woman.”
Established in 2010 by Diane von Furstenberg and the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, the DVF Awards are designed to recognize and support extraordinary women committed to transforming and inspiring the lives of others. Each honoree receives $100,000 for their nonprofit organization to continue their impactful work.
Over the years, the DVF Awards have amplified the voices of women from more than 30 countries. These grants have enabled work in areas such as climate change, immigration, fighting human trafficking, promoting gender equality, and preventing violence against women.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will honor five past honorees with additional grants. These distinguished women are Susan Burton, Nadia Murad, Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, Maria Pacheco, and Veronika Scott.
The event will also feature a performance by the talented Freya Ridings. Last year’s awards drew notable attendees, including human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband George Clooney, U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and singer Rita Ora. Amal Clooney was honored, while Rita Ora presented an award to actor, producer, writer, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lilly Singh. Emma Thompson presented the DVF Leadership Award to Helena Gualinga, an advocate for environmental and human rights who passionately defends the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous people’s rights.
Source: WWD, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
