Diane von Furstenberg Awards return in Venice for the second time during the 60th Art Biennale and the 81st Venice Film Festival. Diane von Furstenberg and The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation founded The DVF Awards in 2010 to recognize and support extraordinary women who are dedicated to transforming the lives of other women; women who have had the courage to fight, the power to survive, and the leadership to inspire. This year the event will be presented by Oprah Winfrey, with Italian actress and director Paola Cortellesi.

The honorees of the 15th edition of the prize include New Zealand politician Jacinda Ardern; founder of Women Wage Peace Yael Admi; cofounder and director of Women of the Sun Reem Al-Hajajreh; Mexican climate justice activist Xiye Bastida; Alessandra Kustermann, president of SVS Donna Help Donna, and African stateswoman and international advocate for women's and children's rights, founder of the Graça Machel Trust and the Foundation for Community Development, Graça Machel.

“It is a great privilege to know and to honor these incredible women who have the courage to fight, the strength to survive and the leadership to inspire,” said von Furstenberg. “This is a special milestone, the 15th anniversary, and I am so happy to celebrate in Venice, a city that is close to my heart and is herself an extraordinary woman.”

Each year, five awards are bestowed to women who have demonstrated leadership, strength, and courage in their commitment to women’s causes. The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation grants each honoree $100,000 for their non-profit organization in order to further their important work.

To mark the anniversary, the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, with the funding support provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will honor five past honorees with an additional grant. They are Susan Burton, Nadia Murad, Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, Maria Pacheco, and Veronika Scott.

Photo: Diane von Furstenberg during the DVF Awards 2023 celebration in Venice