Words by Sofia Laboy
Costume designer Ruth E. Carter was given the prestigious Coolidge Award on Sunday night at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, where she gave remarks tracing her life from growing up in Springfield, MA to an Oscar-winning career in the film industry, going “toe to toe” with Denzel Washington and being mentored by Spike Lee.
Established in 2004, the Coolidge Award aims to honor film artists across disciplines whose work is “specifically original and challenging,” according to Katherine Tallman, CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation. Previous award winners include Meryl Streep, Viggo Mortensen, and Jane Fonda.
Carter is a two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer known for her work on such films as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Malcolm X” and “Do The Right Thing.”
“Ruth Carter epitomizes the intent of the Coolidge Award,” Tallman said. “Over the past 30 years, she has shaped the story of the Black experience in cinema, television, and theater through costume design.”
Established in 2004, the Coolidge Award aims to honor film artists across disciplines whose work is “specifically original and challenging,” according to Katherine Tallman, CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation. Previous award winners include Meryl Streep, Viggo Mortensen, and Jane Fonda.
Carter is a two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer known for her work on such films as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Malcolm X” and “Do The Right Thing.”
“Ruth Carter epitomizes the intent of the Coolidge Award,” Tallman said. “Over the past 30 years, she has shaped the story of the Black experience in cinema, television, and theater through costume design.”
