“Bridgerton” breakout Simon Ashley, Apple TV+’s “Surface” lead star Gugu Mbatha-Raw and the USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith are set to lead the lineup at the upcoming Women in Film Conference, to be held at Oxford University.
The day-long event at the university’s Sheldonian Theater will, according to organizers, celebrate change and urge further progress.
Ashley, recently seen in Amazon Prime’s “Picture This,” will be interviewed on stage by Smith, whose Annenberg Inclusion Initiative is co-sponsoring the event alongside Oxford University’s Cultural Programme and the Ghetto Film School.
“Simone is a multi-hyphenate who is clearly the future of the entertainment industry,” said Smith. “As we celebrate women’s work across entertainment, Simone’s voice represents the newest and next generation of leaders. Giving her the stage to talk about her career, her ambitions, and her vision of success will undoubtedly inspire our audience and elevate the conversation on women in film.”
Ashley is set to appear on stage after the BIFA Award-winning Mbatha-Raw, who rose to prominence across film with roles in “Belle,” “Concussion,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Fast Color,” and “Motherless Brooklyn.”
“Gugu brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to her work and conversations like these,” added Smith. “She has embodied film and television roles across the U.S. and U.K., and worked with incredible talent on screen and behind the camera. By joining us at Oxford, Gugu can share her unique knowledge of the entertainment ecosystem by discussing her career journey, how she has navigated the industry, and provide our audience with insights on what it is like to be an artist in the film and television business today.”
The event will also feature a panel conversation from industry names including Oriane Pick (“The Date”), two-time Oscar-nominee and BAFTA-winning producer Finola Dwyer (“Brooklyn,” “An Education”), and casting director Lucy Bevan (“Barbie,” “The Batman”). Additionally, the day will feature a screening of shorts by Ghetto Film School students and an evening screening of the BAFTA-winning documentary “For Sama” with a Q&A with director Waad Al-Kateab.
Smith, meanwhile. will be presenting new research on the status of women in global film.
“There has been significant progress for women in cinema and for content focused on women,” she said. “Through research and data, we can see where there is more to do, particularly for women of color in entertainment.”
The Women in Film Conference will take place on May 12.
“As we build our programme towards the opening of the new Schwarzman Centre at Oxford University we passionately believe in bringing together incredible artists, creatives and thinkers to help address some of the biggest issues facing the world at this time,” said Josie Bamford, executive producer, Oxford University Cultural Programme. “It is an honour to welcome Simone Ashley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Dr. Stacy L. Smith and many others to Oxford’s iconic Sheldonian Theatre for a day that celebrates how women are shaping change and progress in the film and television industry.”
