Two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot is going to need more room in his trophy case.
The filmmaker is returning from Europe with multiple Cannes Lions for his documentary The Final Copy of Ilon Specht, a film about the woman who created the iconic L’Oréal Paris tagline, “Because I’m worth it.”
Those four words, penned in the early 1970s by Specht as a young copywriter for the ad agency McCann-Erickson (now McCann), “empowered generations of women globally,” McCann notes, “and helped to build L’Oréal Paris into the largest beauty brand in the world.”
The short film’s five honors at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity include the Grand Prix for Film; Gold for Entertainment, Silver for Entertainment, PR, and a Bronze for Film Craft – the latter award recognizing the work of editors Mónica Salazar and Tim Johnson. Proudfoot shot the film with Specht in the last months of her life.
The filmmaker is returning from Europe with multiple Cannes Lions for his documentary The Final Copy of Ilon Specht, a film about the woman who created the iconic L’Oréal Paris tagline, “Because I’m worth it.”
Those four words, penned in the early 1970s by Specht as a young copywriter for the ad agency McCann-Erickson (now McCann), “empowered generations of women globally,” McCann notes, “and helped to build L’Oréal Paris into the largest beauty brand in the world.”
The short film’s five honors at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity include the Grand Prix for Film; Gold for Entertainment, Silver for Entertainment, PR, and a Bronze for Film Craft – the latter award recognizing the work of editors Mónica Salazar and Tim Johnson. Proudfoot shot the film with Specht in the last months of her life.
- 6/28/2025
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
ESPN Films adds “Motorcycle Mary” to its 30 for 30 Shorts lineup, premiering November 3rd at 2 p.m. Et on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The documentary short, directed by Haley Watson and produced by Rachel Greenwald, with Ben Proudfoot and Lewis Hamilton executive producing, profiles motorsports trailblazer Mary McGee. Having premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, […]
“Motorcycle Mary” 30 for 30 Short: A Look at a Racing Pioneer This November...
“Motorcycle Mary” 30 for 30 Short: A Look at a Racing Pioneer This November...
- 10/16/2024
- by Paul M
- MemorableTV
ESPN Films announced today that Motorcycle Mary, as part of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Shorts catalog, will premiere on November 3 at 2 p.m. Et on ESPN and will also be available to stream on ESPN+.
The short documentary is directed by Haley Watson (in her directorial debut), produced by Rachel Greenwald, and executive produced by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot and seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The film made its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival.
Motorcycle Mary tells the untold story of legendary motorsports pioneer Mary McGee, a.k.a. “Motorcycle Mary,” whose racing career spanned thirty years and saw her shatter gender norms while mastering multiple racing disciplines. The documentary short will feature stunning never-before-seen archival footage and photographs from McGee’s life.
“Racing was never just about competition for me—it was about freedom, courage, and pushing myself beyond limits,” said Mary McGee. “I’m proud...
The short documentary is directed by Haley Watson (in her directorial debut), produced by Rachel Greenwald, and executive produced by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot and seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The film made its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival.
Motorcycle Mary tells the untold story of legendary motorsports pioneer Mary McGee, a.k.a. “Motorcycle Mary,” whose racing career spanned thirty years and saw her shatter gender norms while mastering multiple racing disciplines. The documentary short will feature stunning never-before-seen archival footage and photographs from McGee’s life.
“Racing was never just about competition for me—it was about freedom, courage, and pushing myself beyond limits,” said Mary McGee. “I’m proud...
- 10/15/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Exclusive: ESPN Films has acquired the documentary Motorcycle Mary ahead of its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 7.
The 22-minute film by Haley Watson – her directorial debut – tells the story of Mary McGee, known as Motorcycle Mary, a legend in the world of motorsports who became the first woman to compete in road races and motocross competitions in the U.S. The documentary is executive produced by Formula One great Lewis Hamilton and two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot. Rachel Greenwald produced the film. Watch the trailer below.
Motorcycle Mary will feature “stunning never-before-seen archival footage and photographs from McGee’s life,” according to a release. McGee first hopped aboard a 200 cc Triumph Tiger Cub in the 1950s, later trading that in for a Honda C110. She was off and gunning from there.
“Born...
The 22-minute film by Haley Watson – her directorial debut – tells the story of Mary McGee, known as Motorcycle Mary, a legend in the world of motorsports who became the first woman to compete in road races and motocross competitions in the U.S. The documentary is executive produced by Formula One great Lewis Hamilton and two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot. Rachel Greenwald produced the film. Watch the trailer below.
Motorcycle Mary will feature “stunning never-before-seen archival footage and photographs from McGee’s life,” according to a release. McGee first hopped aboard a 200 cc Triumph Tiger Cub in the 1950s, later trading that in for a Honda C110. She was off and gunning from there.
“Born...
- 5/30/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tribeca Festival on Tuesday announced its lineup of short narrative, documentary, and animated films, as well as music videos for 2024.
Across its 12 short film sections, the festival will showcase 87 works from 101 filmmakers in 27 countries, the most ever repped at Tribeca. World premieres include Motorcycle Mary, a profile on motorsports pioneer Mary McGee from director-producer Haley Watson, as well as producers Rachel Greenwald, Ben Proudfoot and Lewis Hamilton; the not-so-straightforward queer love story Ripe!, produced by two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Kelley O’Hara; the Ptsd tale Bite starring Troian Bellisario; and Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia, an intimate look at Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner advocating for athletic inclusion. The New York narrative shorts lineup includes the world premieres of Happy to Help You starring Amy Sedaris and Jeremy Beiler, and Veo Veo A Family, a story of familial bonds starring Carla Gugino and Ko.
Across its 12 short film sections, the festival will showcase 87 works from 101 filmmakers in 27 countries, the most ever repped at Tribeca. World premieres include Motorcycle Mary, a profile on motorsports pioneer Mary McGee from director-producer Haley Watson, as well as producers Rachel Greenwald, Ben Proudfoot and Lewis Hamilton; the not-so-straightforward queer love story Ripe!, produced by two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Kelley O’Hara; the Ptsd tale Bite starring Troian Bellisario; and Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia, an intimate look at Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner advocating for athletic inclusion. The New York narrative shorts lineup includes the world premieres of Happy to Help You starring Amy Sedaris and Jeremy Beiler, and Veo Veo A Family, a story of familial bonds starring Carla Gugino and Ko.
- 4/23/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2024 Tribeca Festival has officially unveiled its shorts lineup.
Presented by Okx, the festival includes short narrative, documentary, and animated films, as well as music videos. This year’s festival takes place June 5 through 16, and boasts 12 short film sections, including 87 total shorts from 101 filmmakers with 65 films in competition and 10 music videos.
The 2024 lineup has a record-breaking number of countries represented ranging from Saudi Arabia, Côte D’Ivoire, Martinique, Chile, Qatar, and more for a total of 27 nations. For the first time, the majority of the program is directed by female filmmakers. The lineup includes 50 world premieres, seven international premieres, six North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, and 22 New York premieres. Seven directors return to Tribeca with their latest projects.
Highlights include the world premieres of “Motorcycle Mary,” directed by Haley Watson and produced by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, Rachel Greenwald, seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton; queer romance “Ripe!
Presented by Okx, the festival includes short narrative, documentary, and animated films, as well as music videos. This year’s festival takes place June 5 through 16, and boasts 12 short film sections, including 87 total shorts from 101 filmmakers with 65 films in competition and 10 music videos.
The 2024 lineup has a record-breaking number of countries represented ranging from Saudi Arabia, Côte D’Ivoire, Martinique, Chile, Qatar, and more for a total of 27 nations. For the first time, the majority of the program is directed by female filmmakers. The lineup includes 50 world premieres, seven international premieres, six North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, and 22 New York premieres. Seven directors return to Tribeca with their latest projects.
Highlights include the world premieres of “Motorcycle Mary,” directed by Haley Watson and produced by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, Rachel Greenwald, seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton; queer romance “Ripe!
- 4/23/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Oscar-winning Breakwater Studios, a leading maker of premium short documentaries, has promoted Nana Adwoa Frimpong to Executive Media and Communications Director and Chief of Staff.
The appointment takes effect immediately. Frimpong, a Ghanaian-Canadian filmmaker, joins Breakwater’s executive management team and will report to CEO Ben Proudfoot, the Oscar-winning director of The Queen of Basketball.
“Frimpong started at Breakwater in the Office of the C.E.O. and quickly moved up the ranks to Chief of Staff before her current position,” a release noted. “She has been a key driver in managing Breakwater’s bustling slate of dozens of original and branded short documentary projects and speaking engagements on behalf of the company.”
Ben Proudfoot attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills.
Led by Ben Proudfoot and backed by Gigi Pritzker among others, “Breakwater Studios is a world leader in short documentaries and often partners with brands to underwrite their projects,...
The appointment takes effect immediately. Frimpong, a Ghanaian-Canadian filmmaker, joins Breakwater’s executive management team and will report to CEO Ben Proudfoot, the Oscar-winning director of The Queen of Basketball.
“Frimpong started at Breakwater in the Office of the C.E.O. and quickly moved up the ranks to Chief of Staff before her current position,” a release noted. “She has been a key driver in managing Breakwater’s bustling slate of dozens of original and branded short documentary projects and speaking engagements on behalf of the company.”
Ben Proudfoot attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills.
Led by Ben Proudfoot and backed by Gigi Pritzker among others, “Breakwater Studios is a world leader in short documentaries and often partners with brands to underwrite their projects,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
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