After two years of planning, Women in Film and Television India (WIFT India) in collaboration with WIFT International presented the 2018 WIFT India Awards held in Washington DC, on Saturday, September 8, at the Hyatt Regency. This year’s awards were truly special because, for the first time in history, WIFT presented the Meryl Streep Award for Excellence to an artist who showcased distinction in her craft and has expanded the role of women within the entertainment industry.
It’s the first and only award in the world and from the WIFT global network of over forty chapters to be named in honour of perhaps the single-greatest actress in the world - Meryl Streep. Streep herself was honoured with the Women In Film Crystal award in 1998. The Meryl Streep Award for Excellence is exclusive to WIFT India. The recipient of the first Meryl Streep Award for Excellence was Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for her versatility as an International artiste, persistent charitable undertakings and for expanding the role of women in all facets of film and television. Meryl extended her wishes and special congratulations to Aishwarya on receiving the honour.
Petrina D’Rozario, Founding President of WIFT India, said, “Whether it is her extraordinary body of work or her charitable endeavours, Ms. Streep is an inspiration for all. In fact, the Meryl Streep Award is so special to WIFT that it has its own dedicated department, headed by WIFT India’s newly appointed Director, British-Canadian, Joe S. Khera. In promoting diversity, this year, we have selected a director with global sensibilities to spearhead various WIFT initiatives. Our aim here is to encourage others to think outside the norm of gender-based hiring practices and give females of all nationalities an equal chance to vie in fields dominated by men.”
Meryl is a well-known actress who has won been nominated for the Academy Awards for a record twenty one times, out of which she won the Oscar three times.
