Greg Kinnear, Noah Schnapp, Dan Levy, and Hannah Einbinder attended the gala in person
The Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television gala was held at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, marking one of the year’s most important events dedicated to recognizing LGBTQ+ creators and allies in the film and television industry.
By Virág Vida
Throughout the evening, several outstanding artists were honored, including Dan Levy, who rose to international fame as the creator of Schitt’s Creek, Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, and Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp, who received the Breakthrough Performance Award for his work in the acclaimed series.
Many of the honorees emphasized in their speeches how uplifting and meaningful it was to be recognized as members of the LGBTQ+ community. They also praised the Critics Choice Association for acknowledging the importance of honoring LGBTQ+ artists through a dedicated awards event.
“I’m very nervous,” said American actor and comedian Brandon Scott Jones while accepting the Supporting Performance Award. “And this is exactly the place where I should feel the safest.” His remarks served as a reminder that members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to face discrimination and prejudice, both in Hollywood and in everyday life. Many artists still feel they must work twice as hard to receive the same recognition as their peers.
The gala was opened by Oscar-nominated actor Greg Kinnear, who introduced his friend, director Dearbhla Walsh (Margot’s Got Money Troubles), before she received the Director Award. In her acceptance speech, Walsh reflected on the challenges she faced growing up in a conservative Irish Catholic family and how those experiences shaped her journey toward finding her artistic voice and embracing her authentic self.
We also had the opportunity to speak briefly with Greg Kinnear, who shared personal memories of Europe. The actor recalled studying in Greece during his youth and taking a train journey to Hungary. Although many years have passed since then, he remembered the experience fondly.
Noah Schnapp earned the Critics Choice Breakthrough Performance Award in television for his portrayal in Stranger Things. Just a week and a half earlier, we had encountered the young actor in Cannes, where he was escorted from his hotel to the Palais des Festivals under heavy security. As a Critics Choice journalist, however, I had the opportunity to exchange a few words with him during the cocktail reception before the ceremony. We reminisced about our experiences in Cannes, and Schnapp warmly accepted congratulations before later receiving a standing ovation from the audience for his work in the hit Netflix series.
It was also wonderful to see Hannah Einbinder again, whose remarks I had recently heard during the emotional final press conference for Hacks. The series has become one of the most acclaimed television productions of recent years, and its cast and creators spoke movingly about the end of a significant chapter in their lives.
At the gala, Einbinder delivered the sharp wit and refreshing stand-up style for which she is known. During her acceptance speech, she referenced fellow honoree Bre-Z, who had brought her therapist as her guest for the evening.
“I didn’t know you could bring your therapist as your plus-one,” Einbinder joked. “If I had known, I would have brought mine too. Then everyone on the red carpet would have been trying to figure out which one of us was the actress, because she’s so beautiful!”
Yet the second half of her speech revealed a more emotional side, as she was visibly moved while reflecting on the significance of the honor.
Clea DuVall was another familiar face. The prolific actress has appeared in iconic productions such as The Handmaid’s Tale, American Horror Story, Veep, and the Academy Award-winning film Argo. DuVall introduced her friend Dan Levy—while humorously referencing his famously memorable sweaters—before he accepted the Vanguard Award.
Another highlight of the evening was seeing Karim Diané, Gina Yashere, and Kerrice Brooks take the stage to accept the Ensemble Award on behalf of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. (Tig Notaro was unable to attend in person.) Their humor energized both the ceremony and the after-party that followed.
The third annual CCA LGBTQ+ Gala was about much more than awards. It served as a celebration of diversity and a reaffirmation that the film and television industry continues to create space for voices from underrepresented communities, ensuring that a wider range of stories can be told and heard.
