Julianne Moore to receive the 2026 Women In Motion Award from Kering and the Festival de Cannes | Margherita Spampinato 2026 Emerging Talent Award

Both Awards will be presented during the official Women In Motion Awards ceremony on May 17th,
as part of the 79th edition of the Festival de Cannes.

Kering and the Festival de Cannes will present the 2026 Women In Motion Award to Academy Award, Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning actress Julianne Moore at the official Women In Motion Awards ceremony, held as part of the Festival. The Award, presented in Cannes since 2015, celebrates female artists whose careers and commitment have advanced the role of women both in cinema and in society.
 

Julianne Moore is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and multifaceted actresses of her generation. She is also celebrated for championing women’s voices and diversity in the film industry, and for advocating greater representation and equality, values that lie at the heart of the Women In Motion program. Beyond her work on screen, she is deeply committed to social causes, including as founding chair of Everytown for Gun Safety’s Creative Council, where she advocates for ending gun violence in America.
 

“Julianne Moore fully embodies the spirit of Women In Motion. Through the consistency of her artistic choices, the depth and complexity she brings to her performances, and her longstanding dedication to advancing meaningful representation both on and off screen, she has helped redefine what it means to be a leading woman in cinema. Her career and her commitment clearly mirror the values Women In Motion has championed since its inception.”
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman of Kering

“I’m genuinely grateful for this recognition from Kering and the Festival de Cannes. Being part of Women In Motion’s legacy is incredibly meaningful to me. I’ve always believed that visibility matters, that the stories we choose to tell can widen the space for women, and for a richer diversity of voices, both on screen and behind the camera. Continuing to work together to amplify female and diverse voices and to support the next generation of creators helps build a cinema that is more open, more representative, while driving real change.”
Julianne Moore

"Julianne Moore does not use cinema to reassure. For forty years, she has chosen characters who destabilize, who suffer without resolution, who refuse easy sympathy and in doing so, she has claimed territory on screen that did not exist before she walked into it. The Women in Motion Award recognizes not only what she has achieved, but what she has made possible for every actress who comes after her."
Iris Knobloch, President of the Festival de Cannes

“Julianne Moore is one of the great actresses of contemporary cinema. Across an uncompromising and richly diverse filmography, she has built her work with remarkable intelligence and patience, delivering performances of rare emotional precision. Working with some of the most important filmmakers of our time, she brings to each role a profound sensitivity, an extraordinary sense of nuance, and a fearless engagement with complex characters. Film after film, she has portrayed women in all their strength, contradictions, and freedom, leaving an indelible mark on the history of cinema.”
Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Festival de Cannes

Julianne Moore is an Academy Award, Emmy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA winning actor celebrated for her wide-ranging performances across film and television. Known for her acclaimed roles in Still Alice, Far From Heaven, The Hours, The Kids Are All Right, and Boogie Nights, she has built a career defined by versatility and depth. Moore is the first American woman to receive top acting honors at the Berlin, Venice, and Cannes film festivals, cementing her status as one of the most respected performers of her generation.
 

Recent credits include Todd Haynes’ May December—which earned her a Golden Globe nomination— Apple TV’s Echo Valley, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door, Netflix’s limited series Sirens, and historical miniseries Mary & George. Coming up, Moore will star in Jesse Eisenberg’s untitled A24 musical comedy.

Beyond the screen, Moore is a New York Times bestselling children’s author of the Freckleface Strawberry series and the founding chair of Everytown for Gun Safety’s Creative Council. With over 70 films to her name, Moore continues to deliver work that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Margherita Spampinato, 2026 Emerging Talent Award
 
Each year, Women In Motion also recognizes a female director for her first feature film through its Emerging Talent Award, accompanied by a €50,000 grant to support the creation of the laureate’s second feature project. In 2026, the Award is presented to Margherita Spampinato, whose movie Gioia Mia reflects the vitality and originality of a new generation of filmmakers shaping the future of cinema.
 

Through this story of a young boy discovering love, memory, and mystery during an unexpected stay in a seaside Sicilian town, the film captures the freshness of childhood while exploring themes of transmission, hidden histories, and the unseen. Poetic and deeply human, this project embodies the spirit of the Emerging Award.
 

Margherita Spampinato was selected by her predecessor, Brazilian director Marianna Brennand, who received the Award in 2025.

The Women In Motion Emerging Talent Award aims to concretely support emerging female filmmakers whose singular vision and storytelling enrich contemporary cinema. By accompanying directors in their next projects at a decisive stage of their development, the Award encourages bold, intimate narratives that open new perspectives.

“I am grateful and happy to receive the 2026 Women In Motion Emerging Talent Award, and it is a great honor to receive it from Marianna Brennand, a director I deeply admire. This award moves me because it supports the creativity and freedom of new female voices in cinema and the arts around the world.”
Margherita Spampinato

“Like its title, Gioia Mia felt like a jewel to me. Margherita is a flawless storyteller. She has such a unique, precise way of turning everyday moments into something magical. I loved how much empathy she has for her characters. A tender bond between two people from different generations: a boy and his great-aunt unfolds through heartbreak and impossible love. But beneath the tenderness lies something heavier: the silent violence of a patriarchal world, carried in the body and soul of an older woman who was never allowed to fully exist. I’m really excited to see what Margherita does next.”
Marianna Brennand

About Margherita Spampinato
Margherita Spampinato is an Italian director, screenwriter, and editor.
She was born in Palermo and raised in Rome, where she graduated in Literature from La Sapienza University. After a period of study in Paris, she began working in the film industry in Rome, first as a script supervisor and later focusing on casting.
She has written and directed two short films, Tommasina and Segreti, both of which have won awards at numerous international festivals.
Gioia Mia is her first feature film. It premiered at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, where it won two Pardi in the Cineasti del Presente section. Following the Locarno Festival, Gioia Mia has received more than 20 awards at both Italian and international festivals.

About Women In Motion
Kering's commitment to women is at the heart of the Group's priorities and, through Women In Motion, extends to the arts and culture, where gender inequalities persist, even though creation is one of the most powerful vectors for change.
In 2015, Kering launched Women In Motion at the Festival de Cannes with the ambition of highlighting the talent of women in cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. The program has since been extended to other artistic fields, including photography.
Through its Awards, the program salutes the influence of inspirational figures and provides concrete support for emerging talent. Its Talks and Podcasts provide a forum for personalities to share their views on the representation of women in their professional environment.
A pioneering program, Women In Motion highlights the talent and diversity of the voices shaping the artistic world. Last year’s tenth anniversary of the initiative marked a milestone; reinforcing the Group’s commitment to creating space for dialogue and action, and to continuing to promote the recognition and influence of women in creation.
 

For further information, visit the Women In Motion section on Kering.com.
 

About Kering
Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy.
 

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