Happy New Year...Except for Women Directors

I had hoped so much that I wouldn’t have to keep writing about the lack of opportunities for women directors, particularly women of color, but alas, the powers don’t want to let me off this beat. While the numbers are still abysmal, there were some good signs from last year:

1- BARBIE- I don’t think more needs to be said except that this was the first solo woman directed film to top the yearly box office. #InGretaWeTrust

2- Nia DaCosta was the first black woman to direct a Marvel movie. I actually thought The Marvels was quite funny. Just noting that it sucks that superhero fatigue is being felt now that we have women in leads and women directing.

3- Several new black women writer/directors burst onto the screen with films distributed by major studios. One Thousand and One - written and directed by AV Rockwell. Earth Mama- written and directed by Savanah Leaf. All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt- written and directed by Raven Jackson.

BUT, according to research dropped this week from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University (CSWTF), the numbers of women directing films is not going up, in fact it went down in 2023. According to the CSWTF, the number of women directing the top 250 grossing films of the year was 16%, down from 18% in 2022. And women made up 22% of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors and cinematographers working on the 250 top-grossing films. Down from 24% in 2022.

The numbers from the Annenberg Initiative shows that women directed 12% of the top grossing 100 films of the year, and only 4 women of color a whopping 3.4% were included. An important quote from their report:

“One film or one director are simply not enough to create the sea change that is still needed behind the camera. Until studios, executives and producers alter the way they make decisions about who is qualified and available to work as a director on top-grossing films, there is little reason to believe that optimism is warranted.”

This is a reminder that the work is far from done. Onward!

PS- Thanks to everyone who is a paid subscriber to the Friday newsletter of films and TV by and about women opening/streaming. Your support helps us continue to bring this resource which we have been doing for over a decade.

Dig in Deeper:

Celluloid Ceiling- Center for the Study of Women in TV and Film at San Diego State

Report from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/women-directors-2023-gender-diversity-reports-1235777982/