WRITTEN BY: VANESSA BOUCHER
The film and television industry is an extremely male-dominated field, particularly in executive and decision-making positions like directors and producers. Seeing better representation of women in the media begins with getting more women into high-power, decision-making positions. It is easy to find examples of leading men and male pioneers in the film industry because that’s who has had most of the power in this field since its inception. What is less known is the crucial role women have played in the creation of great cinema and television. Networks of women across the country are dedicated to preserving the history of female filmmakers so that their stories are told as well as working toward a film industry that’s more inclusive.
Alliance of Women Directors Career Advancement Program: AWD is an organization committed to getting more female directors working in film and television by offering career advancement programs that focus on professional development in the industry.
Annenberg Inclusion Initiative: Annenberg is a think tank that studies diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry through research and other projects.
Where to Begin With Early Female Filmmakers: Wondering where to start on the history of women in film? This article provides a jumping off point for those interested in learning how women fit in to the early days of cinema.
Black Women Film Network: This group of women seeks to empower Black women in the media industry providing workshops, screenings, and scholarships.
Lost in Translation: Sofia Coppola’s Poetic Exhibition of Love, Humor, and Understanding
: Understand the process of making a movie with director and actress Sofia Coppola in an interview about her iconic film Lost in Translation.
Cléo
: Cléo is a journal that offers a unique perspective on the industry, specializing in film and film culture through a feminist and intersectional lens.
Couch Film Collective: If you are looking to diversify your crew, Couch Film Collective will help connect you to talented people in the industry that belong to marginalized groups.
Kinetic Camera: The Work of Kathryn Bigelow: Become inspired by the career of Kathryn Bigelow, who was the first woman to win an Oscar for directing.
Film Fatales: This community of female directors works to amplify the voices of underrepresented directors so they are more visible to larger production companies and organizations.
Tackling the Underrepresentation of Women in Media: Discover how 500 BBC shows worked to achieve 50:50 gender representation on their programs.
International Collective of Female Cinematographers: The ICFC advocates for female cinematographers and helps them to find support and make professional connections.
Jill Craigie, Film Pioneer: Learn about the career of British documentary filmmaker Jill Craigie.
Mary Pickford Foundation: Actress Mary Pickford was a star of the silver screen, co-founder of United Artists, and founder of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. Today, her foundation works to preserve her legacy.
Lois Weber, Hollywood’s Forgotten Early Pioneer, Has Two Films Restored: Lois Weber directed more than 130 films in the early days of cinema.
From Alice Guy-Blaché to Barbara Kopple: The Pioneering Women of Documentary Film : Explore the history of women who were influential in documentary filmmaking.
AFI Spotlight: Anna May Wong: Actress Anna May Wong fought against both racism and sexism during her film career.
Geena Davis Institute Research on Gender in Entertainment: The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media researches and evaluates gender bias in family entertainment.
Female Film Pioneers: Look through this resource library dedicated to women in the silent film era to learn about the unsung heroes of these groundbreaking videos.
Women in Film & Television International: WIFTI focuses on achieving gender balance in the film industry.
Women and Hollywood: This initiative advocates for the inclusion of women in Hollywood and raises the visibility of female filmmakers.
Women Who Made the Movies
: Access this in-depth exploration of the women who were instrumental in making films, both on screen and behind the camera.
Women in Film: This organization advocates for women in the entertainment industry.
The Celluloid Ceiling: Employment of Behind-the-Scenes Women on Top-Grossing U.S. Films: A series of research reports has documented the under-representation of women in film.
Women Under the Influence: A network of leaders in the film and television industry share the work of other female creatives through workshops and other events to raise their visibility.
