Diane von Furstenberg Debuts Documentary at Tribeca Film Festival: 'If It's Inspirational, It's Worth It'
The legendary designer shared why she finally agreed to make the film, ‘Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,’ which hits Hulu on June 25
Fifty years after her iconic wrap dress hit the shelves, Diane von Furstenberg is opening up about her life and career in a new documentary.
Directed by Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton, Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge debuts on June 25 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
Described in a press release as “an unprecedented look at the non-stop life of a cultural luminary,” the film chronicles the fashion designer’s trailblazing journey from childhood to present day.
“At a time when gender equality and women’s issues are at the forefront, Diane von Furstenberg’s life exemplifies empowerment, resilience, entrepreneurship, and style,” reads the official synopsis.
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The documentary was years in the making, and not just because of the decades of history that it spans.
During a global press conference held at von Furstenberg’s New York City headquarters on Wednesday, June 5, the 77-year-old designer shared that she and the film’s co-director, Obaid-Chinoy (who first met in 2012 when the designer presented the filmmaker with Glamour’s woman of the year award), had originally pitched a docuseries on other inspirational women, but networks expressed interested in a documentary about von Furstenberg herself.
Meanwhile, producer Fabiola Beracasa Beckman had been asking the designer to do a documentary for some time, too.
“One day I was going to the Little Island [park] and I saw Fabiola, and I looked at her and said, ‘Okay, I'm ready for it,’” von Furstenberg told reporters at the conference.
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“If it wasn't inspirational, I didn't want to do it,” she explained. “My fear really came in the last five weeks since I saw the movie. First I saw the movie and I laughed, but laughing for me is a defense system. And then I felt like I was at the gynecologist for 90 minutes. And then after that I freaked out a little bit. But what I feared the most is that people would say, ‘Who the f— is she saying she is?’ [But] if it's inspirational, then it's worth it."
Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, was produced by Beracasa Beckman, Tracy Aftergood and Sean Stuart as well as Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton. The female-led production team was another motivating factor for von Furstenberg to commit to the project.
“I trust these women, and more importantly, I trust their intelligence,” the designer shared. “And so I just gave them access to my archives.”
Von Furstenberg went on to clarify that this is not a “promotional movie” and she allowed the team free reign to tell her story.
“I had nothing to say about the editing,” the designer said. “I mean, the minute I said yes, I told myself I didn't want to be a producer. I didn't want to do anything.”
The designer explained that Woman in Charge is about embracing vulnerability.
“It's not an aggressive statement. It’s a commitment to yourself,” she shared. “It's owning who you are. We own our imperfection, they become our assets. We own our vulnerability, we turn it into strength.”
Watch Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, a Sutter Road Picture Company and Particle Projects/Fabiola Beracasa Beckman Media production, on Hulu on June 25.
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