At the Girls On Film Awards ceremony held in London, Chloé Zhao was honored with the Best Director award for her work on the film Hamnet. The event celebrated women-led filmmaking, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and representation throughout its selections and recognitions.
The film Hamnet emerged as a significant winner, claiming three major awards including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Performance in a Leading Role. In addition, Teyana Taylor received Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her role in One Battle After Another, while Geeta Gandbhir’s documentary The Perfect Neighbor was awarded Best Documentary.
Highlights from the Ceremony and Award Recipients
The awards also recognized films promoting strong female relationships, with Brides and Lollipop both receiving the Best Female Friendship Award. The Best Ensemble Award was presented to Goodbye June, which saw actress Andrea Riseborough attend to accept the accolade.
Technical and craft categories were equally celebrated. Tamara Deverell, the production designer for Frankenstein, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw, cinematographer for Sinners, earned honors for their exceptional work behind the scenes. The Girls On Film Ally Award, which recognizes a male director who creates complex female characters and champions women’s representation, was awarded to Jon M. Chu for Wicked: For Good. Furthermore, Daisy-May Hudson, the director of Lollipop, was honored with the Activist Impact Award for her advocacy supporting gender equality in the film industry.
Purpose and Vision of the Girls On Film Awards
Girls On Film co-founders Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold hosted the event, which shines a spotlight on women-led projects while underscoring the importance of inclusivity and fair representation in cinema. The co-founders emphasized the significance of acknowledging female and non-binary creatives in the filmmaking landscape.
“Our diverse list of winners shows what an incredible year it’s been for women-led storytelling, with heartfelt collaborations resulting in emotive work exploring heartbreak and healing,”
Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold said in a joint statement.
“Hamnet resonated deeply with our voters, as did The Chronology of Water, Goodbye June, and Dreamers. The themes of Lollipop have even sparked meaningful discussion in Parliament, and we are pleased to have honoured Daisy-May Hudson in the Activist Impact category.”
— Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold
They added,
“Our dream is for all awards ceremonies to recognise the great work of women and non-binary creatives in all fields, and we thank everyone who supports us and enables Girls On Film to pave the way for a fairer and more equitable future in film. If she can see it, she can be it.”
Complete List of Nominations and Winners at Girls On Film Awards
Best Feature Film (Sponsored by EON Productions)
- Hamnet
- Die My Love
- A House of Dynamite
- If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Sorry, Baby
Best Director
- Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
- Mary Bronstein – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Lynne Ramsay – Die My Love
- Kristen Stewart – The Chronology of Water
- Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
Best Performance in a Leading Role
- Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good
- Jennifer Lawrence – Die My Love
- Imogen Poots – The Chronology of Water
- Andrea Riseborough – Dragonfly
Best Performance in a Supporting Role
- Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
- Naomi Ackie – Sorry, Baby
- Rebecca Ferguson – A House of Dynamite
- Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
- Clara Pacini – The Ice Tower
- Maxine Peake – I Swear
Best Documentary
- The Perfect Neighbor – Geeta Gandbhir
- Come See Me in the Good Light
- The Extraordinary Miss Flower
- Prime Minister
- Twiggy (commendation)
Best Cinematography (Sponsored by CrewHQ)
- Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC – Sinners
- Hélène Louvart, AFC – Palestine 36
- Alice Brooks, ASC – Wicked: For Good
- Mia Cioffi Henry – Sorry, Baby
- Vanessa Whyte, BSC – Dragonfly
Best Composer
- Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – H is for Hawk
- Hildur Guðnadóttir – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple; Hedda
- Laura Karpman – Captain America: Brave New World
- Rachel Portman – The Return
- Nala Sinephro – The Smashing Machine (commendation)
Best Production Design
- Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy – Kave Quinn
- Hamnet – Fiona Crombie
- One Battle After Another – Florencia Martin
- Sinners – Hannah Beachler
Best Editing (Sponsored by DISAUTHORITY)
- The Chronology of Water – Olivia Neergaard-Holm
- Cover-Up – Amy Foote and Laura Poitras (with Peter Bowman)
- On Falling – Helle le Fevre (with Francisco Moreira)
- The Perfect Neighbor – Viridiana Lieberman
- The Voice of Hind Rajab – Kaouther Ben Hania (with Qutaiba Barhamji and Maxime Mathis)
Intimacy Award (Sponsored by Intimacy on Set)
This award recognizes responsible and authentic portrayals of female pleasure on screen, celebrating the collaborative effort of actors, directors, writers, producers, and intimacy coordinators who contribute to creating meaningful intimate scenes.
- Dreamers – Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ and Ann Akinjirin with Intimacy Coordinator El Wood
- Black Bag – Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender with Intimacy Coordinator Ita O’Brien
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy – Renée Zellweger and Leo Woodall with Intimacy Coordinator Adelaide Waldrop
- Sinners – Wunmi Mosaku and Michael B. Jordan with Intimacy Coordinator Amanda Peek
- Wicked: For Good – Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey with Intimacy Coordinator Yarit Dor
Best Female Friendship on Screen
- Brides – Safiyya Ingar & Ebada Hassan
- Lollipop – Posy Sterling & Idil Ahmed
- Eleanor the Great – June Squibb & Erin Kellyman
- Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor & Naomi Ackie
- Wicked: For Good – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
Best Ensemble Cast
- Goodbye June – Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Toni Colette, Helen Mirren, Johnny Flynn, Timothy Spall, Fisayo Akinade
- Brides – Safiyya Ingar, Ebada Hassan
- Hedda – Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots
- Left-Handed Girl – Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Mah, Nina Ye
- Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Louis Cancelmi, Lucas Hedges
Recognition for Male Allies and Activist Figures
The Girls On Film Ally Award celebrated Jon M. Chu for his direction of Wicked: For Good, rewarding his dedication to creating nuanced female characters and promoting their empowerment. Other nominees included Ryan Coogler for Sinners, John Maclean for Tornado (commendation), Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, and Paul Andrew Williams for Dragonfly.
The Activist Impact Award was given to filmmaker and activist Daisy-May Hudson, honoring her work toward gender equality in the film industry. This award highlights those who campaign for fair treatment, challenge power imbalances, and amplify the voices of women and non-binary creatives. Additional nominees were Female Film Club, intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien, Reclaim The Frame, and We Are Parable, each contributing significantly to advancing gender justice and representation.
Implications and Future Outlook
The Girls On Film Awards demonstrated a passionate commitment to celebrating and amplifying women’s contributions to cinema, while holding space for discussions about intersectionality, inclusion, and equity in the industry. The recognition of films like Hamnet, and individuals such as Chloé Zhao and Daisy-May Hudson, signals progress toward acknowledging diverse storytelling and socially conscious filmmaking.
As the film sector continues to evolve, the visibility and advocacy fostered by Girls On Film may help reshape industry practices and inspire more inclusive narratives. The encouragement of male allies and the honoring of activism reflect a broader movement to encourage collaborative change, aiming for a more equitable and representative film culture in the years ahead.
