We don’t usually do lists, but when the Academy’s list of Best Director nominees is 100% dudes, an exception seems necessary. Canonball chronicles five female directors “whose direction deserved more attention this year.”
“I really hope I don’t have to do this every year. After this morning’s announcement we feminist film enthusaists, once again, find ourselves frustrated at Hollywood and the Academy’s gross oversight of the work of female directors. This year, the omission of women and people of color from the Best Director category comes as no surprise to most including the key players involved, the directors themselves.”
3 responses
If there were some genuine snubs, I might be on board with this crusade, but I think the frustration this year should be less about the lack of Academy recognition and more about the lack of opportunities in the first place. I don’t think any of the films on that list are any better than the ones nominated, but there should be loads more films directed by women than there are. The same can be said for Black actors (still), especially this year, considering the only nominees are for The Help, and if you know the plot of that movie, you understand why that’s problematic.
I think the takeaway is that it’s not the awards that are a boys club–it’s all of Hollywood.
The Best Director category is almost always white guys. It’s been that way forever. The first female to win Best Director in the history of the Oscars did so ONLY two years ago — and she had to direct an action film with an entirely male cast in order to receive that recognition.
agreed the balance of power is not equitable in hollywood but name all the female-directed movies that got snubbed this year? i think your issue is really w/ those who greenlight films not people handing out awards
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