16% of the highest grossing films released in 2020 were directed by women. This is the highest percentage of female directors of all time.
A recent study proves that more films had female directors in 2020 than ever before. Hollywood is famous for its lack of diversity. During the most recent Oscar ceremony, no woman was nominated for a best director, although great films with directors like Little Women and The Goodbye were directed by directors Greta Gerwig and Lulu Wang, respectively. Fans and industry insiders have demanded more diversity in Hollywood in terms of gender, race and sexuality.
2020 promised a series of films directed by women. Birds of prey (and the fantastic emancipation of a Harley Quinn) directed by Cathy Yan, Mulan directed by Niki Caro, and Wonder Woman 1984 directed by Patty Jenkins were some of the greatest of these films. These were some of the most anticipated films of the year. Due to the closing of cinemas, other films directed by women, such as Black Widow, The Eternals, and The nightingale were postponed to 2021.
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The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University confirmed that more women directed films in 2020 than ever before. Variety presented the results of their study. He revealed that 16% of the 100 highest grossing films of 2020 were directed by women. The same study reported that directors represented only 12% of these films in 2019 and only 4% in 2018. Dr. Martha Lauzen conducted the same study in the past 20 years. Due to the unique circumstances in 2020, Dr. Lauzen also studied the Digital Entertainment Group’s “Table of the 20 best watched at home”. 19% of the directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors and videographers involved in this list were women.
Growth is exciting; however, the Hollywood release schedule was stunted by COVID-19 in 2020, and is probably a contributing factor to this more favorable outcome. Most of the highly successful films that were due to be released this year have been postponed. And of those postponed films, most of the biggest titles, like No Time to Die, Godzilla vs Kong, and Dune were run by men. 2020 did not go as planned and, therefore, the results may not reflect 100% the current Hollywood climate.
However, the results of the project are waiting for 2021. Marvel and DC’s efforts to hire directors have done wonders for gender inclusion. Marvel had five of the best films in 2019 and both became great actors in the Hollywood industry. They used the power of their influence to train directors, and it is likely to have a lasting impact. At least one director, Cate Shortland, will have her bright moment when Black Widow will be released in 2021. Hopefully, the increase in filmmakers is a trend that will continue for years to come.
Source: Variety
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