Reprinted from The Hollywood Reporter by Carolyn Giardina on February 12, 2021.
A trio of female engineers will be among the honorees during the Academy’s virtual Scientific and Technical Awards — particularly fitting given that Kathleen Kennedy will lead a tribute to women who work in the science and technical aspects of filmmaking.
The awards, to be handed out February 13 at a virtual ceremony streamed on the Oscars website, will honor 17 technologies representing 55 total individuals.
This is a field still largely dominated by men. Since 1961, only 23 SciTech Awards have been given to 20 women, including the Award of Commendation to Mary Ann Anderson (environmentally responsible efforts) and multiple honors for Hildegard Ebbesmeier (cinema projection lenses), Diane Kestner (developments in motion picture film) and Jean Messner (color video-assist camera technology). …
