Last fall, Women in Film, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, launched a new advocacy campaign, 52 Films by Women.
Although female directors make up a very low percentage of those directing top grossing films (6.8% in 2014) and only four have received Academy Award nominations for directing, there are many women creating films for us to watch and enjoy.
Women in Film’s campaign is a result of their research into female directors, but it also comes at a good time, as gender inequality in Hollywood is going to be investigated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC investigation was stemmed by a complaint to the American Civil Liberties Union from director Maria Giese.
“It’s important that this battle is fought on all fronts, and I think the [EEOC’s involvment] is one of many ways we can move for change,” says Ava DuVernay to EW. “Asking hasn’t gotten us anything.”
“When I started, I never believed there was a bias against me, I was so naïve,” said Catherine Hardwicke. “Then Twilight hit and it made $400 million, and that’s when doors slammed even harder. It’s been empowering to understand this unconscious bias and to realize it’s not just me.”
This has led to a rallying cry, rounding up not only Hollywood directors, but academics, critics, and audiences. Social media is buzzing about representation on and behind the screen and 52 Films by Women has become a hashtag on Twitter, #52filmsbywomen, where you can check on what films people are watching.
Join in!
Interested in signing up? WIF asks that you sign the pledge on their website, which you can then share on social media, and the rules are simply to watch 52 films by women in 2016! Sounds like a fun project, right?
WIF has listed a few places where you can find recommendations, including The Director List, a database of female directors.
Personally, I’ve spent the past year watching, reviewing, and writing about the female directed films I’ve watched. You can find a list of directors here at my blog or simply browse my posts.
Other great resources are Letterboxd where you can search for “52 Films by Women” to see people’s curated lists. Ava DuVernay curated a list of films by or about women of color for IndieWire. MUBI has a list of Latin American directors. You can also check out the Women Direct Trailers Youtube channel for inspiration.
Tell me if you’re taking the pledge and what you’re planning on watching!
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.