WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — As the countdown to the Academy Awards reached its final hours, Women in Film hosted a special gathering on Friday. The event celebrated this year’s Oscar nominees while emphasizing the ongoing commitment to achieving gender equality in the film industry.

For over five decades, this organization has championed greater female representation in Hollywood. The celebration took place at the historic former residence of screen icon Bette Davis in West Hollywood, a location that attendees felt was a fitting tribute to the night’s focus on legacy and empowerment.

“Being here at Bette Davis’s house is such an honor,” shared actress Alicia Silverstone. “I’m immensely grateful to be part of this industry and to do what I love.”

Lisa Ann Walter, known for her role in “Abbott Elementary,” expressed her appreciation for events that highlight the contributions of women. “I truly enjoy attending gatherings like these where I can support my fellow women artists,” she remarked.

As the awards season draws to a close, several women remain contenders for Oscars, including Kate Hudson, who is in the running for Best Actress due to her performance in “Song Sung Blue.”

With awards season nearing its end, several women at the event remain in contention for Oscars. Among them is Kate Hudson, nominated for best actress for “Song Sung Blue.”

“For this there was a lot more to prepare for, the accent and the songs,” Hudson said. She added that the experience has felt rewarding on its own. “I know it sounds cliché but this feels like the win already, just being part of this year and the circuit.”

Animation contenders were also represented.

May Hong, who voices Mira in the best animated feature nominee “KPOP Demon Hunters,” said, “Now it’s kind of the final stretch of awards season – final boss.”

She added that she appreciates her character’s emotional depth.

“I love how much she cares and I love how sensitive she is.”

Behind the scenes, women were recognized for their influence across the filmmaking process. Pippa Harris, producer of the best picture nominee “Hamnet,” noted the challenges of bringing the story to the screen.

“It was quite a tough movie to make because it deals with very dark, difficult themes,” she said. She emphasized the significance of female leadership on the project: “The people behind the film… are obviously all women and it was just a joy to work with fantastically creative women.”

Still, the evening included frank conversations about the barriers women continue to face. Writer-directors Julia Aks and Steve Pinder pointed to a decline in the number of women directing films this awards season.

“We’re at an all-time low right now for female directors,” Aks said.

Kirsten Schaffer, CEO of Women in Film, echoed those concerns. “We definitely have seen a backslide in the numbers but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of talent,” she said.

Advocates say the persistently low number of women directing Oscar-contending films underscores why gatherings like this remain important – both to celebrate progress and push for more change.

Hudson said the performances recognized this year reflect the breadth of women’s stories on screen. “This year especially, I have to say all the women I’m nominated with are so phenomenal and the parts are so extraordinarily different,” she said.

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