The entertainment industry is considered to be dominated by men, but behind the scenes women have been climbing the ranks to become executives, producers, and directors. There’s a good chance that the blockbuster you saw last summer (Wonder Woman!) was directed by a woman. Here are the female directors that have been making a huge impact in Hollywood and why you should be checking out their films:
1. Sofia Coppola(Photo source: Wikipedia)
Even though she’s the daughter of Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia has more than made a name for herself in the film industry. She won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for her 2003 film Lost in Translation. Her films often explore themes of loneliness, femininity, and youth. From this year’s historical thriller The Beguiled to her existential exploration of the icon Marie Antoinette, Coppola’s films are incredibly memorable and well-written. However, even more spectacular is the cinematography and pastel landscape that Coppola utilizes in her films.
2. Amma Asante(Photo source: Wikipedia)
Though less well-known than Coppolla, Asante’s films have explored issues of race and femininity in a largely historical context. In her spectacular film Belle, Asante follows the true story of a black woman raised in the household of her white aristocratic father. Her second film A United Kingdom, released just last year, stars Rosamund Pike and David Ogeluwu as the King of and his British wife. Asante’s upcoming film Where Hands Touch stars Amandla Stenberg as a mixed race girl living in Nazi Germany who falls in love with a member of the Hitler Youth.
3. Patty Jenkins(Photo source: Wikipedia)
Wonder Woman was the breakout hit of 2017. More importantly, however, it ushered Jenkins (who had directed the terrific Monster back in 2003 ) to the filmmaking spotlight. She is already set to direct a sequel, though Jenkins has also paved the way for more women to take on directing jobs for big budget Hollywood films (not a small feat!) This time, Jenkins will be in the writer’s room for the film as well.
4. Ava DuVernay(Source: Wikipedia)
DuVernay’s upcoming Disney live action film A Wrinkle in Time stars Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling. Need I say more? DuVernay shot to the spotlight as the first African-American woman to win the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. She took home the prize in 2012 for her film Middle of Nowhere. DuVernay also directed the Oscar-nominated film Selma which garnered critical acclaim. DuVernay also directed the Netflix documentary 13th which was lauded for highlighting the discrimination in the United States criminal justice system.
(Thumbnail photo source: www.masterfile.com)