FEMALE DIRECTORS ARE still too few and far between, rarely afforded the same opportunities as their male contemporaries. Slowly but surely, however, they are beginning to make some headway.
Let’s celebrate some for the day that’s in it, shall we?
1. Appropriate Behaviour
Directed by Desiree Akhavan
A charming-as-hell indie comedy about a bisexual woman getting over a recent break-up and faced with the prospect of coming out to her Iranian family.
Available to stream on Netflix
2. Boys Don’t Cry
Directed by Kimberly Peirce
Oscar-winning film about the life and death of Brandon Teena, a young trans man who was raped and murdered in Nebraska in 1993.
Available to stream on Netflix
3. The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Directed by Marielle Heller
One of the most acclaimed films of 2016, The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a coming-of-age tale set in 1970s San Francisco. Without spoiling anything, we’ll say that it’s not afraid to make the viewer uncomfortable, so might not be one to watch with your Mam.
Available to stream on Netflix
4. Paris Is Burning
Directed by Jennie Livingston
A seminal documentary about drag ball culture in New York and the African-American, Latino, gay and trans communities in the late 1980s. A must watch.
5. Clueless
Directed by Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling may not be a household name, but you sure as hell know her films. She directed Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Look Who’s Talking and, of course, Clueless, making her one of the most successful writer-directors in Hollywood history.
All together now: As if.
6. Girlhood
Directed by Liz Garbus
A powerful documentary about two teenage girls serving time in a juvenile detention centre in Maryland.
Available to watch on Netflix
7. American Honey
Directed by Andrea Arnold
American Honey follows a teenage runaway who sets off on a road trip across the midwest with a motley crew of other teenagers. One of the most acclaimed films of 2016, even if got snubbed at the Oscars.
When you’re finished watching it, revisit Andrea Arnold’s back catalogue, including Fish Tank.
8. Divines
Directed by Houda Benyamina
Two teenage girls run riot and cause trouble on the outskirts of Paris. Divines was nominated for tons of awards last year, including a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.
Available to watch on Netflix
9. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
An exquisitely shot, exhilarating vampire movie that bills itself as “the first Iranian vampire Western”. If that doesn’t sell it you, we don’t know what will.
10. In A World
Directed by Lake Bell
A truly delightful comedy about a woman’s attempts to break into the male-dominated voiceover industry.
11. Bridget Jones’s Diary
Directed by Sharon Maguire
Is it a coincidence that the best romantic comedy of the 2000s is directed by a woman? We think not.
12. A League of Their Own
Directed by Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall is a trailblazer. With Big, she became the first woman to direct a $100 million-grossing film. We have a special soft spot for A League of Their Own, though. “There’s no crying in baseball.”
13. 13th
Directed by Ava DuVernay
A powerful, enraging documentary about mass incarceration and how it disproportionately targets people of colour. (Make sure you watch Ava DuVernay’s other films, Selma and Middle of Nowhere, too.)
Available to watch on Netflix
14. Stories We Tell
Directed by Sarah Polley
An autobiographical documentary about director Sarah Polley unearthing family secrets and discovering who her biological father is.
15. Wayne’s World
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
One of the greatest comedies of all time was directed by a woman. The same woman also directed The Little Rascals. Erect a statue in her honour, tbh.
16. Obvious Child
Directed by Gillian Robespierre
A sweet, funny, pro-choice film about a woman who falls pregnant after a messy one-night stand and takes the decision to have an abortion. Starring the forever luminous Jenny Slate.
17. The Kids Are All Right
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko
Oscar-nominated film about a lesbian couple whose lives are upended when their children seek out their biological father. Touching, funny and features lots of shirtless, sweaty Mark Ruffalo.
18. Winter’s Bone
Directed by Debra Granik
The film that launched Jennifer Lawrence as star-in-the-making. Gritty and utterly compelling.
19. The Square
Directed by Jehane Noujaim
Oscar-nominated documentary that offers a close-up look at the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 in Tahrir Square. More relevant than ever.
Available to watch on Netflix
20. Enough Said
Directed by Nicole Holofcener
An unbelievably charming romantic comedy starring the late, great James Gandolfini alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus as two divorced people who unexpectedly find love. Watch this and then watch Nicole Holofcener’s other movies, Please Give, Walking and Talking, and Lovely and Amazing.
21. Citizenfour
Directed by Laura Poitras
Arguably the most important, significant documentary made in recent years, Citizenfour is the inside story of how Edward Snowden leaked classified information from the National Security Agency and shocked the world.
