Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexually harassing or assaulting over 80 women throughout a nearly 30-year period in his career, yet the infamous 67-year-old director recently revealed that he believes he is a “pioneer” for women in film.
“I feel like the forgotten man,” Weinstein told the New York Post. “I made more movies directed by women and about women than any filmmaker, and I’m talking about 30 years ago. I’m not talking about now when it’s vogue. I did it first. I pioneered it.”
Weinstein, whose misconduct energized the #MeToo movement, may feel that he led the movement of women in film, but history shows that women have largely trailblazed their own paths in the world of cinema. Here are 12 female filmmakers who have made strides for women in film — all without the help of one of modern film’s most infamous men.
1. Madam C.J. Walker (December 1867 – May 1919)
A cosmetics and hair product distributor, Walker was one of the first Black millionaires. She owned Indianapolis’ historic Walker Theater, where she produced promotional films and training videos for her cosmetics factory, making her one of the first women to produce commercials.
2. Alice Guy-Blaché (July 1873 – March 1968)
The first woman to direct a full film, the French director was likely the world’s only female filmmaker from the late 1890s to the early 1900s.
3. Zora Neale Hurston (January 1891 – January 1960)
Hurston is a known civil rights activist and novelist, but she also directed “Children’s Games” (1928), the first non-silent film to be directed by a Black woman.
4. Dorothy Azner (January 1897 – October 1979)
Arzner was the only female director during Hollywood’s “Golden Age” of cinema from the 1920s to early ‘40s. The openly lesbian filmmaker was the first woman inducted into the Directors Guild of America and is said to have launched the careers of Katherine Hepburn and Lucille Ball.
5. Esther Eng (September 1914 – January 1970)
One of the first Chinese women filmmakers, Eng entered the international film scene in her early 20s. The queer director, writer, producer and distributor is known for her social commentary films, including “It’s a Women’s World” (1939) which was the first Hong Kong produced film with an all-female cast.
6. Katherine Bigelow (November 1951 – Present)
Bigelow is known for stepping out of the female director’s box into predominately male led film genres, including science fiction, action and horror. She became the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director in 2010.
7. Julie Dash (October 1952 – Present)
Dash became the first Black female filmmaker to have a full-length general theatrical release in 1991 for “Daughters of the Dust,” a film that has since joined 400 other American-made films on the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, a list of preserved national treasures.
8. Ava DuVernay (August 1972 – Present)
In 2012, DuVernay became the first Black woman to win the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival. She was also the first black woman director to be nominated for a Golden Globe.
9. Haifaa al-Mansour (August 1974 – Present)
Known for her culturally controversial films, she is the first Saudi Arabian female film director. Her short film “Women Without Shadows” brought awareness to the issue of opening public cinemas in Saudi Arabia.
10. Céline Sciamma (November 1978 – Present)
This French filmmaker has made headlines this year for her 2019 film “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” which was heralded for depicting an 18th century abortion and a lesbian relationship through the “female gaze,” a feminist film term that refers to films showing situations unique to women from a different perspective than the hyper-sexualized “male gaze.”
11. Greta Gerwig (August 1983 – Present)
Gerwig made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film “Lady Bird” in 2017, making her the fifth woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. She recently directed the soon-to-be-released film adaption of a beloved women’s coming of age classic, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott.
12. Olivia Wilde (March 1984 – Present)
Wilde recently made waves through her directing debut, “Booksmart,” which was noted as offering a fresh, female-centered perspective to the high school comedy genre.
Entertainment
12 Women Who Pioneered the Film Industry – Without Harvey Weinstein
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
0 comments
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexually harassing or assaulting over 80 women throughout a nearly 30-year period in his career, yet the infamous 67-year-old director recently revealed that he believes he is a “pioneer” for women in film.
“I feel like the forgotten man,” Weinstein told the New York Post. “I made more movies directed by women and about women than any filmmaker, and I’m talking about 30 years ago. I’m not talking about now when it’s vogue. I did it first. I pioneered it.”
Weinstein, whose misconduct energized the #MeToo movement, may feel that he led the movement of women in film, but history shows that women have largely trailblazed their own paths in the world of cinema. Here are 12 female filmmakers who have made strides for women in film — all without the help of one of modern film’s most infamous men.
1. Madam C.J. Walker (December 1867 – May 1919)
A cosmetics and hair product distributor, Walker was one of the first Black millionaires. She owned Indianapolis’ historic Walker Theater, where she produced promotional films and training videos for her cosmetics factory, making her one of the first women to produce commercials.
2. Alice Guy-Blaché (July 1873 – March 1968)
The first woman to direct a full film, the French director was likely the world’s only female filmmaker from the late 1890s to the early 1900s.
3. Zora Neale Hurston (January 1891 – January 1960)
Hurston is a known civil rights activist and novelist, but she also directed “Children’s Games” (1928), the first non-silent film to be directed by a Black woman.
4. Dorothy Azner (January 1897 – October 1979)
Arzner was the only female director during Hollywood’s “Golden Age” of cinema from the 1920s to early ‘40s. The openly lesbian filmmaker was the first woman inducted into the Directors Guild of America and is said to have launched the careers of Katherine Hepburn and Lucille Ball.
5. Esther Eng (September 1914 – January 1970)
One of the first Chinese women filmmakers, Eng entered the international film scene in her early 20s. The queer director, writer, producer and distributor is known for her social commentary films, including “It’s a Women’s World” (1939) which was the first Hong Kong produced film with an all-female cast.
6. Katherine Bigelow (November 1951 – Present)
Bigelow is known for stepping out of the female director’s box into predominately male led film genres, including science fiction, action and horror. She became the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director in 2010.
7. Julie Dash (October 1952 – Present)
Dash became the first Black female filmmaker to have a full-length general theatrical release in 1991 for “Daughters of the Dust,” a film that has since joined 400 other American-made films on the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, a list of preserved national treasures.
8. Ava DuVernay (August 1972 – Present)
In 2012, DuVernay became the first Black woman to win the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival. She was also the first black woman director to be nominated for a Golden Globe.
9. Haifaa al-Mansour (August 1974 – Present)
Known for her culturally controversial films, she is the first Saudi Arabian female film director. Her short film “Women Without Shadows” brought awareness to the issue of opening public cinemas in Saudi Arabia.
10. Céline Sciamma (November 1978 – Present)
This French filmmaker has made headlines this year for her 2019 film “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” which was heralded for depicting an 18th century abortion and a lesbian relationship through the “female gaze,” a feminist film term that refers to films showing situations unique to women from a different perspective than the hyper-sexualized “male gaze.”
11. Greta Gerwig (August 1983 – Present)
Gerwig made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film “Lady Bird” in 2017, making her the fifth woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. She recently directed the soon-to-be-released film adaption of a beloved women’s coming of age classic, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott.
12. Olivia Wilde (March 1984 – Present)
Wilde recently made waves through her directing debut, “Booksmart,” which was noted as offering a fresh, female-centered perspective to the high school comedy genre.