Since this list includes foreign films, I went to 1966 because there were just too many amazing movies made by women in 1966 to cut it off before then. And, yes, 1966 is sort of an arbitrary cutoff. 1965 is a date that’s often mentioned as the end of classic Hollywood. “Classic” is a difficult word to nail down.Pretending that offensive films weren’t made would not only erase chapters of film history, but also deny viewers the opportunity to confront the evils of the past. For better or for worse, they’re part of a larger body of work by women directors. Some of them (like Leni Riefenstahl’s propaganda films) are morally repugnant to me. I do not necessarily endorse the content of these films.If I’ve overlooked a film that you think should be listed here, and it’s available in the U.S., please let me know in the comments, and I’ll add it. This is NOT intended to be an authoritative list of movies made by women. I’ve limited myself to movies that are available to watch online for free or to buy (digital or hard copy) in the United States.But if copyright owners want us to pay for movies, they should damn well release those movies! It’s ridiculous when anonymous Internet uploaders care more about sharing film history than studios care about monetizing that content. If a film has a legit release, you should buy it. I leave the search to you. I, ahem, suspect that you can find some of these films online without too much trouble. Some of the films without direct links may not be available legally.As far as I know, all films to which I’ve directly linked were made available legally. (If you own the rights to any of the films I’ve featured and want them removed from this list, please contact me I will voluntarily take them down.).I have not seen all of these films-but I plan to! As I watch or rewatch them this year, I’ll probably add a few lines about each film. I look forward to discovering many of these movies along with all of you!.Remember: with every film you watch, you’re reclaiming a bit of movie history and eroding a boys-only narrative that’s stood unquestioned for way too long. There has never been only one “kind” of movie directed by women. This list of over 60 films includes elegant melodramas, trashy exploitation flicks, avant-garde shorts, sophisticated comedies, groundbreaking documentaries, and gritty films noirs. I’ve decided to post this resource, even in its current bare-bones form, as a starting point for those who want to discover women’s contributions to cinema from 1896 to 1966. To create a space for today’s women filmmakers, we have to recognize the female filmmakers of yesteryear, discuss their movies, and break down the persistent myth of “directors were always men.” I was overwhelmed-and overjoyed-by the interest I got in response. Nowhere near enough.Īfter I pledged to watch 52 films by women this year ( sign up here!), I offered to give classic film recommendations to other people on Twitter doing the challenge. So, I asked myself, “What have I done to spread the word about women who shaped early and classic cinema?” Yet, it saddens me that only 7 movies made before 1970-and none made before 1935-got enough votes to make the list. Gates, creator of A Year with Women, crowdsourced a list of essential films directed by women, I found the end result diverse and inspiring. ![]() Too few viewers and film-lovers know these women’s movies, their stories, and even their names. Many believe that women directors are a relatively new phenomenon-although Alice Guy directed her first film in 1896, Lois Weber was one of the most acclaimed directors of the 1910s, and Dorothy Arzner directed films featuring major stars at Hollywood studios from the 1920s to the 1940s. ![]() In fact, the quote is from Lois Weber, who made the remark in 1921 and directed her first film in 1911. “The feminine influence is needed in film.” This statement sounds like something you might read in a contemporary article, as Hollywood’s lack of opportunities for female filmmakers comes increasingly (and rightfully) under scrutiny.
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