If you judged the world of film by the nominee pool for the 2015 Oscar’s award show, you might assume that most films are written, produced and directed by white men.
Indeed, there wasn’t a single female nominee for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score or Best Sound Mixing. Not a single one.
These embarrassing omissions reveal the way the film industry as a whole continues to exclude women, particularly women of color. Indeed, in 2014, only one of the 100 highest grossing films was directed by a woman, according to IndieWire. That single female director was the already famous Angelina Jolie.
This gender disparity matters — and not just to women trying to make movies in Hollywood. It influences the stories that audiences see onscreen: A 2014 San Diego State University study found that movies with at least one female writer or director were nearly 10 times more likely to have a female protagonist.
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9. “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry”
Directed by Mary Dore, who also co-produced the film alongside Nancy Kennedy, “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry” tells you the story of the feminist movement that you didn’t learn about in American history class. Dore uses present day interviews with scores of activists and fascinating archival footage to bring the many faces of the many factions of the feminist movement together in a powerful, inspiring narrative.
10. “Paolo Alto”
As the latest filmmaker to emerge from Hollywood’s family dynasty, 27-year-old Gia Coppola wrote and directed this dreamy cinematic ode to adolescent angst. “Paolo Alto” was based on a book of short stories by James Franco, who also stars in the film.
