WIFTA Gala A Great Success
Women in Film & Television Atlanta’s 2010 Gala Awards
An Evening of Inspiration
ATLANTA, November 5, 2010 – It was a night of inspiration as well as glamour at the Women in Film and Television Atlanta’s 36th Anniversary Gala Awards held November 1st at the Woodruff Arts Center. At the aptly titled event, “A Night of Inspiration,” WIFTA honored: Actor/Director/Producer Kim Fields with the prestigious “Industry Trailblazer Award” for excellence in film and television; Headline News Anchor Robin Meade with the “Creative Excellence Award” in the field of journalism; and the Georgia Production Partnership with the “Outstanding Contribution to the Georgia Film Industry Award”.
The evening was filled with inspiring success stories within Georgia’s growing film and television industry. Guests and honorees walked the red carpet, bid on silent auction fundraising items and feasted on a formal dinner before the awards ceremony, conducted by Mistress of Ceremony Ms. Elle Richardson.
“I am extremely overwhelmed by your thinking of me as a trailblazer and I thank you for that,” Kim Fields said upon accepting her award presented to her by Tyler Perry Studios Vice President Roger Bobb. Fields currently works as a director on Tyler Perry’s television shows “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne.”
Robin Meade acknowledged her team and the huge role they play in producing her morning show. “They’re the reason why our show comes across as so creative,” Meade said. “Because of the team themselves and this table is just a small representative portion of all the people that help put the news together.”
Georgia Production Partnership Co-Presidents and founders Steve Mensch and William Vanderkloot accepted the award on behalf of GPP and said that the organization is extremely honored to be recognized by WIFTA for its effort over the past 15 years to become the “Voice of Filmmaking in Georgia.”
GPP is a not-for-profit coalition of companies and individuals who are active in the state’s film, video, music, and interactive game industries. They have been instrumental in the grass roots organization of the production community and the development of key legislative incentives including the now all important Georgia Tax incentive bill, known as the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act of May 2008.
The evening also included an announcement of WIFTA’s 2010 Student Scholarship winner, Ms Jessica Guerra and premiered WIFTA’s United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Public Service Announcement, “One Person at a Time”.
Special Thanks: WIFTA Special Events Director Beatrice Allen; WIFTA Board and Volunteers.
Gala Sponsors: The Woodruff Arts Center, Xfinity, Raleigh Studios Atlanta, Film Finish, Liquisound, and Feral Kitty Music.