American Airlines Recognizes Female Filmmakers at the Independent Spirit Awards with a $50,000 Grant
The Bonnie Award, in its inaugural year, is inspired by Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline—when she was hired by American Airlines in 1973. The company created the award to champion female filmmakers by donating a $50K unrestricted grant to a woman with unique vision. The 2017 award winner, Chloe Zhao was nominated for her sophomore film, The Rider, which follows a real-life cowboy in search of his identity in rural South Dakota. Chloe is well known for the use of real-life subjects in her screenplays.
American Airlines has extended the award by building a platform within their in-flight entertainment called The Bonnie Channel, created to shine a spotlight on female-directed films.
This content was created in paid partnership with American Airlines. For more information on Open Air: Creatives Welcome, please go to openair.hollywoodreporter.com.