Alice Guy-Blaché
A pioneer of French and American film, Guy-Blaché is widely recognised as not only the first woman to direct a film, but the first filmmaker to produce a narrative story film. A visionary of her time, she rescripted the genre of contemporary film, replacing the documentary-style films with her 1986 fantastical fiction ‘La Fée aux Choux’ or ‘The Cabbage Fairy’.
Agnès Varda
Widely considered one of the most influential directors, Varda has been named the “Godmother of the French New Wave”. Her first film, Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), remains ever relevant in its playful direction and striking examination of women’s beauty as commodity, this feminist undercurrent flowed throughout her career as a filmmaker. Varda continued to write and direct until her 90s, with a repertoire of at least 40 films, her final work Varda by Agnès (2019) was released just a month before her death. This TV miniserieswas an autobiographical reflection on her prolific career of photography and filmmaking.
Mary Harron
Harron began her career with biographical drama I Shot Andy Warhol (1996), which centres around radical feminist Valerie Solanas’ attempted murder of famed pop artist Andy Warhol. Pitching this film came with great difficulty, with critiques of misandry continuing into Harron’s adaptation of the dark comedy American Psycho (2000). The gruesome horror satirises the figure of the ambitious hyper-masculine, eventually reaching cult-classic status despite initially ‘bombing’ at Sundance. Harron’s films focus on societal outcasts on the edge of sanity, playfully examining tropes of character and culture with tongue-in-cheek nuance.
Sofia Coppola
Despite carrying the weight of her father’s Hollywood mega-fame, Coppola has managed to prove herself as a creative visionary amidst the continued nepo claims. Her dreamy directorial debut of The Virgin Suicides (1999) established the introspective, nostalgic style that characterises her movies as a celebration of girlhood. Coppola’s use of strong visual coherence to intimately highlight complexities of character and mood are best seen in Marie Antionette (2006). Her influence is indisputable as the first American woman to be nominated for Best Director in the Academy Awards.
whether you’re into dreamy nostalgia, biting satire or existential heartbreak, watch out if your next favourite film is directed by a woman
Ava Duverney
Filmmaker, screenwriter and producer, Duverney’s career began with a self-funded short film Saturday Night Life (2005), based on her mother’s experience as a single parent. Her multi-award-winning work often centres around real life experiences of systematic racism in America, from the voting rights marches in Selma (2014) to the Central Park Five in When They See US (2019). Duverney continuously champions Black voices in film, even founding her own company, the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement to distribute films made by or focusing on Black people after facing her own difficulties as a Black woman in the industry.
Greta Gerwig
Starting her career starring in independent ‘mumblecore’ movies, Gerwig quickly rose to fame after the success of her directorial debut LadyBird (2017). Greta loosely based the Oscar-nominated film on her own experiences of growing up in Sacramento, perfectly capturing the painful beauty of being on the cusp of adulthood. Gerwig continued to make blockbuster hits, Little Women (2019) and Barbie (2023), each earning Oscar nominations for Best Picture, solidifying her status as one of the greatest directors of the current moment.
Celine Song
Her directorial debut, Past Lives (2023) gained Song immediate renown after winning multiple awards including an Academy Award. Based on her own experiences, the film is a retrospective love story that pans the bruising pain of pursuit regret, whilst centralising on the protagonist’s experience as an immigrant. Her storytelling is carefully projected by her directive choices, with purposeful character framing and use of space. She is directing an upcoming rom com starring Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal titled Materialists, set to be released this year.
This list is just a small selection of female directors whose influence on cinema is impossible to ignore (as much as certain award bodies might try). So, whether you’re into dreamy nostalgia, biting satire or existential heartbreak, watch out if your next favourite film is directed by a woman.