The Worldwide Communities Led by Female Filmmakers
Earlier this month we had International Women’s Day – some take this day to celebrate how far gender equality has come, while others use this as an opportunity to raise awareness of inequality that exists throughout the world, professional and personal.
Written by Esther Smith
As someone who frequently reads heartbreaking articles on the challenges women still face today, I can find it difficult to see the positive side. However, when given the task of writing about our corner of the industry, I couldn’t bring myself to dwell on the anger and heartbreak. It was important for me to find success stories and to show that progress has been made when it comes to gender equality.
It’s no secret that the film industry is male dominated and, in recent years, many steps have been taken to change the landscape for women. In doing so, I found that something has been given the opportunity to form: diverse communities.
Legislation & Initiatives
When Le Lab Femmes de Cinéma first started their study in 2019, the results were dire: while women made up 50% of film school graduates, over time they were being pushed out of the industry and by their third feature, the ratio of female directors was only 1 in 6.
At Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival 2024, European Women’s Audiovisual Network’s Edel Brosnan said: “It also needs to be DOP’s, it needs to be sound designers, it needs to be editors. If you want a female gaze, you need a female crew.” – and in a male-dominated industry, it’s difficult enough finding female directors, let alone the many other production roles that could be filled with a female crew.
However, there seems to be progress:
In 2016, The Swedish Film Institute successfully filled a quota they’ve had since 2006: to have 50% of female directors in films supported by public funding – proving gender equality is doable in the film industry.
Women made up only 24% of the Spanish film industry in 2017, which led San Sebastian International Film Festival to sign the Charter for Parity in 2018. The festival will now be transparent regarding gender from their submitted and selected films.
In their 2023 report, Le Lab confirms that since the start of their survey, the overall response rate has skyrocketed with 36 out of 37 countries providing statistics and action plans.
Le Lab also found that since 2022, Austria has allowed childcare costs to be included in applications for funding from the Austrian Film Institute – a huge victory since women’s careers are negatively impacted after starting a family.
Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and Baltic Women in Film Mentorship are proving this. They offer a one-to-one mentorship programme in which 5 women from 3 Baltic countries can develop skills within the film industry. Centred around making professional connections and building confidence, but also allowing mentees a safe place to build trust, the initiative is a great example of why female-only spaces in the industry are there to bridge gender inequality.
The Baltic Women in Film Mentorship Programme has allowed a community of women filmmakers to bloom. Speaking at Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in 2024, the Project Manager Rimante Daugelait expressed joy at how mentees stayed in contact with their peers and mentors, forming a small community that will only grow as the years go on. The project has surpassed expectations and has become a community where women are celebrated and supported every step of the way.
Ageism In The Industry
While gender equality already rattles the industry, how does ageism come into play? The sad reality is ageism in the film industry is very much real and women unfortunately take the brunt of it. The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and NextFifty Initiative collaborated on a study and found that: “Characters 50+ are less than a quarter of all characters in top-grossing domestic films and most-popular television shows, from 2010 to 2020.” Among this, only 1 in 4 characters aged over 50 are women.
In an effort to raise awareness of ageism in the industry, however, The Acting Your Age Campaign (AYAC) launched in 2018 asking for more representation for women over 45 in the film and TV industry. In 2022, 194 industry professionals signed an open letter by the AYAC calling for action over this issue. In their plea, they stated: “A woman’s talent isn’t dependent on a calendar and it certainly isn’t the case for men.”
From this state of affairs, the Women Over 50 Film Festival formed to address the issue. Their main aim is Celebrating women behind and in front of the camera who are aged 50 and older. Their highlights video from 2023 shows a full and vibrant event, bringing a community together to beat the stereotypes that are shown on screen, instead sharing real stories.
In their 9th edition they screened 56 short films, all made by or featured women over 50; it’s clear older women have something to say, and it’s time for the film industry to listen. Their 10th edition is set to take place in September, with one month of virtual screenings and a one-day in-person event in Lewes on the 27th September.
Nollywood Making Headway
But what about commercial success? Look no further than Nigerian cinema: where female producers & directors are making headway in Nollywood. Okay, it’s not quite there yet; the industry is still male dominated but female filmmakers are the ones pulling in the money. Despite women only leading 40 out of the top 100 new projects, they’re responsible for pulling in 65% (4.8 billion Naira) of the total 7 billion Naira grossed since 2014.
It's inspiring to see women proving that a male-led industry doesn’t have to stay that way. Some of the top production companies are run by women. An impressive example is EbonyLife Media – where CEO Mo Abudu has created a business that covers film and TV that’s not only expanded the boundaries of Nigerian entertainment, but also earned her the 2024 Businesswoman of the Year Award at Forbes Africa Woman Awards. Now, EbonyLife has a Creative Academy; an education centre for emerging filmmakers which is supported by Lagos State Government and Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative.
It's clear that women are bringing a fresh perspective to Nollywood and the country wants to support that. In Nollywood writes: “Community, promotions, and audience proximity. These components are essential for the success of a Nollywood film, with community being the most crucial factor.”
The figures above reflect this; Nigerian female filmmakers have a strong community supporting their voices and it’s wonderful to see. The result of this is extraordinary; more female-led production companies are growing and the loyalty from communities have helped.
While communities have formed and flourished because of programmes and initiatives, it wouldn’t be right to celebrate the success without acknowledging ongoing struggles. These small pockets of hopeful stories are a step in the right direction but the outlook is still bleak: Forbes reported it would take over 100 years to close the gender pay gap across all industries, women are still fighting for their place in the film industry, and the challenge for women’s rights continues.
I can only hope in time, the studies show more of a positive outlook with figures that reflect true equality and not include pleas for the industry to wake up. Until then, I’m looking at the positive impact that initiatives, festivals, and industries have given the world: a community for women to feel welcome.
Have We Outgrown Female-Only Spaces In Film?
