Each year, Greenwich International Film Festival is proud to honor humanitarians who use their voices for positive social change. We are proud to highlight the accomplishments of these Changemakers, as part of our mission to support causes that relate to basic human rights, education, the environment and health care.
Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television: Seinfeld. The show ran on NBC for nine seasons, winning numerous Emmy, Golden Globe and People’s Choice awards, was named the greatest television show of all time in 2009 by TV Guide, and in 2012 was identified as the best sitcom ever in a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll. His latest Emmy nominated Netflix projects include Jerry Before Seinfeld and 23 Hours to Kill along with the highly acclaimed web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Seinfeld has also starred in, written, and produced movies (Comedian, Bee Movie), directed and produced a Broadway hit (Colin Quinn: Long Story Short), and wrote three best-selling books (Is this Anything?, The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book, and Seinlanguage) and a children’s book (Halloween). He stars in the Emmy-nominated comedy film, Unfrosted, which he directed, co-wrote, and produced. Seinfeld continues to perform both nationally and internationally.
Jessica Seinfeld is the New York Times bestselling author of six cookbooks. She is founder and chair of the board of Good+Foundation, a leading national nonprofit that works to dismantle multigenerational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for low-income parents and caregivers, creating an upward trajectory for the whole family. She recently executive produced the Netflix documentary Daughters. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and their three children.
EGOT winner John Legend, Emmy and Tony winner Mike Jackson, and Emmy winner Ty Stiklorius, are the producers and co-founders of the production company Get Lifted Film Co., a Los Angeles based production company dedicated to bringing elevated multicultural content across film, television, and books to global audiences. Get Lifted has partnered with Zando to form Get Lifted Books, which builds upon Get Lifted Film Co.’s mission of spotlighting stories from dynamic creatives.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning songwriter, actor and director. He is the creator and original star of Broadway’s Tony-winning Hamilton and In the Heights. His additional Broadway credits include Freestyle Love Supreme (Co-Founder, Guest Star, Special Tony Award Recipient), Bring It On: The Musical (co-composer/co-lyricist, Tony nomination for Best Musical), and West Side Story (2009 revival, Spanish translations). Miranda is the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award, the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors and the 2019 Portrait of a Nation Prize. He received an Emmy Award with Tom Kitt for their song, “Bigger” from the 67th Annual Tony Awards. Mr. Miranda, and The Miranda Family, are active supporters of initiatives that increase people of color’s representation throughout the arts and government, ensure access to women’s reproductive health, and promote resilience in Puerto Rico.
As a journalist, author, and empowerment advocate, Gretchen Carlson has paved the way for the #MeToo movement, with her historic 2016 sexual harassment complaint against the chairman of Fox News, Roger Ailes. Named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” Carlson is the celebrated author of the New York Times bestseller “Be Fierce.” In December 2019, Carlson founded the organization “Lift Our Voices” with former Fox News colleagues Julie Roginsky and Diana Falzone. Its mission is to end the practice of Non- Disclosure Agreements, confidentiality provisions and forced arbitration clauses that have prevented employees from publicly discussing and disclosing toxic workplace conditions, including sexual harassment and assault.
Eva Longoria Bastón is an award-winning actor, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Eva is a committed advocate for gender equality and the representation of women and people of color in the entertainment industry. She is a co-founder of the Time’s Up movement. She founded the Eva Longoria Foundation in 2012 to help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship. Her entrepreneurial activities include serving as a Global Brand Ambassador for L’Oreal Paris, CEO of UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, fragrances EVA and EVAmour, a New York Times-bestselling cookbook Eva’s Kitchen, and a home collection line with JCPenney. Eva received her master’s degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge, writing her thesis on “Success STEMS from Diversity: The Value of Latinas in STEM Careers.
Nominated for several Golden Globe and Emmy awards, Actress & Author Ashley Judd received the “Changemaker Award” for her work as the Global Goodwill Ambassador with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). As a feminist and social justice humanitarian, Ashley has been working internationally, with NGO’s, grass roots organizations, governments, and supranational bodies since 2004. In 2018 Ashley was named one of TIME Magazine’s Person of The Year for her activism and leadership in the feminist movement.
Academy Award-winning actress Renée Zellweger received the “Changemaker Award” for her leadership and support in the search for effective treatments and a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in honor of her dear friend Nanci Ryder, veteran publicist and co-founder of BWR Public Relations who was diagnosed in 2014, as well as her work with the SIMS Foundation, a charitable foundation dedicated to support those in the Austin music industry, suffering from depression and mental health illnesses.
Humanitarian, maternal health advocate and model Christy Turlington Burns received the “Changemaker Award” for her work as Founder & CEO of Every Mother Counts, an organization working toward making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. The organization is dedicated to raising awareness about the global maternal health crisis and links mothers to providers of essential care, by addressing these three barriers to maternal health: transportation, education, and supplies.
Actress and Humanitarian Freida Pinto accepted the Changemaker Award on behalf of her work and advocacy for Girl Rising.
Actress, Producer and Director Trudie Styler accepted the Changemaker Award for founding the Rainforest Fund.
Actress and Humanitarian Abigail Breslin accepted the Changemaker Award on behalf of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Singer, Songwriter, Actor and Social Activist Harry Belafonte accepted the Changemaker Award for serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
Accepted the Changemaker Award for her work with UNICEF.
Will Reeve is an actor and journalist, as well as a philanthropist who is committed to furthering his parents’ work to cure paralysis. Reeve has served on the Board of Directors for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation since 2013. The Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
Bobby Walker, Jr. is CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich. After graduating from Williams in 1995, Mr. Walker returned to his Texas home at St. Mark’s as a teacher, coach and administrator. After five years as Dean at McDonogh School in MD, he and his wife became Middle School Heads in Southwestern Fairfield County. He held that position at King Low Heywood Thomas in Stamford for 9 years. His wife is the current Head of Middle School at Greenwich Academy. In July 2014, Mr. Walker accepted the role of CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich. This move has allowed him to continue to help young people, some of whom come from backgrounds similar to his, and who are all seeking ways to access life’s greatest opportunities.
Duncan Edwards has been a leader in our educational community and is the current Executive Director for Waterside School. “The School represents courage, determination, and resolve”, Edwards said. Waterside conceived as a model for future efforts, is an independent school in Stamford, CT, serving children and families regardless of limitations in income or circumstances. The School empowers its students with the knowledge, skills and virtues required to enable them to excel as students. GIFF was humbled to honor Duncan Edwards as our 2018 Community Changemaker.
Andrew Niblock is a leader in the educational community and is the current head of the lower school at Greenwich Country Day School. He has inspired thousands of students and instilled in them a love of learning that will last throughout their lives. Andrew was recently diagnosed with ALS and is continuing to inspire his students and the entire community. Andrew has become a committed advocate for the fight against ALS and has demonstrated strength and grace as he confronts this disease. GIFF is humbled to honor Andrew Niblock as our 2017 Community Changemaker.
