In 1896, Alice Guy-Blaché became the first female director with her film, “La Fée aux Choux” in France. In 1912, Lois Weber became the first female director in Hollywood with her film, “The Merchant of Venice.” Since these two pioneers, women have been making a name for themselves behind the camera in the film industry. From writing to editing to directing, women have been fighting for a spot behind the camera now more than ever. Today’s focus is on honoring some of the greats in female directing and filmmaking, women who have pushed away from the norm of the male-dominated position.
Chloé Zhao:
During the 2021 Oscars, Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color, first Chinese woman, and second woman ever to win the Oscar for Best Director. Her award-winning film for that year, “Normandland,” won the Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Directors Guild Awards for Best Director.
Zhao was born in Beijing, China, and got her start in the industry after graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her early works include two short films, “The Atlas Mountains,” released in 2009, and “Daughters,” released in 2010. Her first feature film, “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” was released in 2015. The film follows the story of a brother and sister living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The film was developed at the Sundance Institute workshops and put Zhao on the map for years to come.
Greta Gerwig:
Since Gerwig’s 2017 debut film, “Lady Bird,” Gerwig has become a household name. Gerwig started in the industry as an actress, starring in multiple low-budget films such as “LOL” in 2006 and “Hannah Takes the Stairs” in 2007. One of her most famous roles took place in Noah Baumbach’s 2012 comedy, “Frances Ha.”
So far, Gerwig has directed by herself three movies– “Lady Bird,” “Little Women,” and the 2023 box-office hit, “Barbie,” which she co-wrote with her now-husband, Baumbach. Gerwig’s work has been nominated for a total of four Oscars, and she is currently working on her new film based on the “Chronicles of Narnia,” set to hit theatres sometime in 2026.
Ava DuVernay:
“Selma,” “When They See Us,” and “13th” are all big title movies, all directed by one powerful woman. Ave DuVernay began her filmmaking career at age 32 with her short film, “Saturday Night Life,” in 2006. Since then, DuVernay has gone on to make some big-name films in the industry. Her most acclaimed film “Selma” takes place in the segregated South during the time of the signing of the Voting Rights Act.
She is the first Black woman to direct a film nominated for the Best Picture at the Oscars with “Selma.” She was also the first Black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for the same film.
Sofia Coppola:
Daughter to Francis Ford Coppola, sister to Roman Coppola, and cousin to Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman, Sofia Coppola is no stranger to the film industry. She started her film journey at one year old in 1972 in her father’s film, “The Godfather.” Following in her father’s footsteps, she directed her first film, “The Virgin Suicides,” in 1999. The film starred James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Kristen Dunst, Josh Harnett, and many others. The film went on to become a cult classic and cause Coppola to have a name away from her father’s.
She has been directing films that center on themes of femininity, isolation, and alienation ever since. Her most popular film, “Lost in Translation,” was awarded the 2004 Oscar for Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. Her most recent film, “Priscilla,” came out in 2023, giving modern audiences a taste of the signature Coppola style.
Kathryn Bigelow:
Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to ever win Best Director at the Oscars for her work in her 2008 project, “The Hurt Locker,” a film that follows a Sergeant and his army bomb quad during the Iraq War. Before this, Bigelow got her start in 1981 with “The Loveless,” which she directed with Monty Montgomery. She graduated from San Francisco Art Institute, where she studied painting.
Some of her other projects include “Point Break” (1991), “Strange Days” (1995), “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012), and “Near Dark” (1987). Since then, Bigelow has become a household name and arguably one of the most important females in the film industry.
Emma Seligman:
Being the youngest person on this list, Emma Seligman has already appealed to a large group of film fans and has gained a dedicated following. Sligman was born in Toronto, Canada in 1995, and is a NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduate. As of now, she has two feature films, “Shiva Baby” (2020), based on her short film of the same title, and “Bottoms” (2023). Seligman is also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and incorporates this into each of her films, creating gay female characters. She has been noticed for her directing, with nominations at the Gotham Awards and Directors Guild of America. At 30 years old, Seligman is already making a name for herself in the film industry.
