Sector warns of barriers still to break…
The Women in Film & Television Awards returned to the London Hilton Park Lane last night with a ceremony that felt as celebratory as it was pointed, highlighting the industry’s progress while underscoring the structural change still urgently needed.
Now in its 34th year, the Sky-partnered event brought together some of the most recognisable names in British screen culture.
Katherine Ryan, hosting for a fourth consecutive year, steered the show with her trademark blend of irreverence and advocacy, as 14 awards recognised achievements across directing, editing, writing, producing, performance and behind-the-scenes craft.
Opening the afternoon, a performance from the West End musical Titanique set a suitably theatrical tone—before a very different kind of icon took the spotlight.
Dame Joan Collins: A lifetime at the centre of screen storytelling
The night’s most emotional moment came with the presentation of The EON Productions Lifetime Achievement Award to Dame Joan Collins, introduced by Sir Stephen Fry. Collins, whose seven-decade career spans more than 70 films, hundreds of TV credits and an array of awards, reflected on the “creativity and talent” that still energises her.
Her recent role as Wallis Simpson in an upcoming Louise Fennell–penned feature, opposite Isabella Rossellini and directed by Mike Newell, became a symbol of the ceremony’s underlying message: when women shape the story, the industry changes.
“It’s an honour to be recognised at an event dedicated to women in our industry,” Collins said. “Our stories are powerful—especially when women are shaping them.”
She joins a formidable lineage of Lifetime Achievement recipients, from Judi Dench and Maggie Smith to Mary Berry and Meera Syal.
Industry leaders, new talent and urgent priorities
Elsewhere, the ceremony showcased both institutional heavyweights and rising voices reshaping the sector.
- Fiona Bruce received The EIKON Presenter Award, acknowledging her work leading Question Time and her high-profile role across the BBC’s election coverage, Fake or Fortune? and Antiques Roadshow.
- Anna Maxwell Martin was honoured with The BBC Studios Best Performance Award for her chilling turn as Delia Balmer in Until I Kill You.
- Heloise Beaton, a major force behind disability inclusion as project lead for the TV Access Project, took home The ITV Studios Achievement of the Year Award, recognised for coordinating an unprecedented alliance of ten UK broadcasters and streamers.
- Nadia Aswani was named Netflix’s New Talent Award recipient, celebrated for her Emmy-nominated work on Our Oceans and major wildlife documentary series for National Geographic and Disney+.
- Gabby Logan MBE was awarded The Paramount Contribution to the Medium Award, marking her leadership as one of the BBC’s most recognisable sporting anchors and a consistent advocate for women in sport broadcasting.
- Hannah Walters received The ENVY Producer Award, recognised for co-founding Matriarch Productions and shaping emotionally charged premium dramas including Netflix’s Adolescence and Disney’s A Thousand Blows.
Awards also celebrated directing, writing, stunt work, editing and executive leadership across UK television, with winners including Chloe English, Elen Pierce Lewis, Janice Okoh, Nikki Berwick and Tanya Shaw.
A sector celebrating success but pushing for change
Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV (UK), struck a determined tone: “2025 has shown incredible creativity across disciplines, but barriers remain. Our mission to support and empower women in the industry continues.”
Ryan echoed the sentiment on stage: “These women are pushing boundaries every day. It’s wonderful to celebrate them—but this is also a reminder of the work still to be done.”
The guest list reflected the ceremony’s status as one of the most important dates in the industry diary. Attendees included Erin Doherty, Clive Myrie, Adjoa Andoh, Laura Whitmore, Lesley Sharp, Tamsin Greig, Morfydd Clark, Carol Vorderman, Helen Fielding, Alison Steadman and Stacey Dooley.
Beyond the annual celebration, WFTV continues to operate year-round: hosting screenings and masterclasses, running a nationwide mentoring programme, driving industry research, and lobbying for gender representation and inclusive work environments across the creative sector.
The 2025 ceremony made clear that while progress is real, the momentum must continue—and that the women shaping Britain’s screen industries are both leading the charge and rewriting the possibilities.
