ARTS LEADER HONOREE

Multi-award winning Nyikina creative, Sam is the Los Angeles US member rep for APRA AMCOS, a co-founder of Australian Made USA with Garry Gary Beers (INXS), co-founder of United Stages Collective - Aboriginal creatives in Hollywood and non-founding member of Artivist Entertainment with Grammy artists including; Aloe Blacc. A retired musician, Sam directed The Dreaming Festival and programmed the Woodford Folk Festival. In the US, she made history as the producer of the Grand Opening of Los Angeles iconic Sixth Street Bridge. She has toured and produced work globally including the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Brazil and India.  She is a playwright, author, screenwriter, visual artist, designer and publisher, having worked at Magabala Books and as CEO of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company. As a celebrated entrepreneur, she founded 

KMBA Creative and Honey Ant Press. Sam’s visionary work has earned international accolades, enriching both cultural narratives and industry landscapes.

ACTOR HONOREE

Danielle Macdonald was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. At the age of 18, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time.

Audiences know Danielle for her breakout role as ‘Patti’ in Fox Searchlight’s PATTI CAKE$, as well as for her portrayal of the titular character opposite Jennifer Aniston in Netflix’s DUMPLIN’.

Macdonald currently stars in the Nicole Kidman-produced Australian drama series for AMC+, THE LAST ANNIVERSAY, alongside Teresa Palmer and Miranda Richardson. She will next star alongside Rose Byrne and A$AP Rocky in A24’s upcoming IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU which will release this fall, and in XYZ’s SACCHARINE, set to release next year.

Macdonald recently worked alongside Jamie Dornan in the captivating thriller THE TOURIST. The first season debuted on HBO Max, Stan in Australia and BBC in the UK and the second season on Netflix last February to rave reviews. Macdonald also won the Breakthrough Actor award for her role in THE TOURIST at the Edinburgh TV Festival’s TV awards.

Additional credits include starring opposite Sandra Bullock in Netflix’s runaway hit, BIRD BOX and in Fox Searchlight’s Oscar-winning short film, SKIN, opposite Jonathan Tucker.

She also appeared in the feature version of A24’s SKIN opposite Jamie Bell. Macdonald was a guest lead in Rian Johnson’s new Peacock anthology series POKER FACE alongside Natasha Lyonne. She also starred in in the romantic comedy FALLING FOR FIGARO from director Ben Lewin which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in the Industry Selects section as well as appearing in PARADISE HILLS with Emma Roberts and Awkwafina.

She starred in Netflix’s UNBELIEVABLE which garnered critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Limited Series as well as an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Limited Series. The Savannah Film Festival honored Macdonald in 2019 where she received the Rising Star Award. Macdonald played the iconic role of Lillian Roxon in the film I AM WOMAN which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019 and was recently released on Stan in Australia and in the US on Quiver. Macdonald also appeared in the Sony Pictures Classics’ film FRENCH EXIT, where she starred alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, and Tracy Letts.

Danielle currently resides in Los Angeles.

DIRECTOR HONOREE

Benita de Wit (they/them) is an Australian director based in New York whose career spans Sydney, London, and New York City. Their versatile directorial expertise has put them in collaboration with an impressive range of talent—from emerging artists to Broadway legends and international celebrities. Currently serving as Associate Director for Jamie Lloyd's ‘Sunset Blvd’ on Broadway starring Nicole Scherzinger, de Wit recently collaborated with Ralph Fiennes as Assistant Director for ‘Straight Line Crazy’  at The Shed.  They have worked as the Resident Director for ‘SIX’ on Broadway in its opening season and as the Associate Director for ‘Bat Out of Hell’ in the US and UK.

Benita is an SDC Member, a New Georges affiliated artist and a Barbara Whitman Award Finalist. Previous directing credits include ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ (Circle in the Square),  ‘Lunch Bunch’ (Theatre Row) and the Australian premieres of Anchuli Felicia King’s ‘Slaughterhouse’ (Belvoir St Theatre) and Kate Mulley and Andy Peterson’s ‘Razorhurst’ (Hayes Theatre Co). In Australia they championed new work and helped build opportunities for Australian artists in their arts administration work at Griffin Theatre Company, New Musicals Australia and The Sydney Fringe. 

In the US they have worked on projects at Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Playwright’s Realm, Gingold Theatrical Group, Classic Stage Company, National Sawdust, New York Public Library, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Exquisite Corpse Company and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. They have an MFA in Directing from Columbia University and are on Faculty at Circle in the Square Theatre School.

Benitadewit.com