These Talented Female Directors Were Snubbed For Oscars, And Fans Wants To Know Why
Greta Gerwig at the premiere of "Barbie" held at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on July 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Conversations and speculations arose after Greta Gerwig, who helmed the top-grossing film of the year, 'Barbie,' did not receive an Oscar nomination on Tuesday for Best Director, questions as to why have increased.
Outcry over women not receiving individual Oscar recognition for their work as directors has been longstanding. In the nearly 100-year history of the Academy Awards, women have won Best Director only three times: Chloé Zhao for 'Nomadland,' Kathryn Bigelow for 'The Hurt Locker,' and Jane Campion for 'The Power of the Dog.'
Justine Triet secured the sole female nomination in the top directing category at this year's Academy Award's for her work on 'Anatomy of a Fall.'
Despite ongoing efforts to enhance diversity, the directors branch of the Academy, comprising of over 500 members, remains predominantly male. The voting dynamics within the branch have historically favored directors of dramas over those in the satire or comedy genre.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17: Filmmaker Ava DuVernay attends the ARRAY Open House at the ARRAY Headquarters on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Some movielovers assert Ava DuVernay's impactful film 'Origin' should have fared well by that standard. The movie, inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson's book, 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,' has generated buzz not only for DuVernay's direction but also for the standout performance of Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, widely acclaimed as the best of her career.
Despite its notable acclaim, 'Origin' directed by Ava DuVernay did not secure any Oscar nominations.
Celine Song at the BAFTA Tea Party held at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on January 13, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
Celine Song, despite her film 'Past Lives' being among the 10 Best Picture nominees, did not receive a nomination in the directing category. However, she did secure a nomination in the Best Original Screenplay category, like Gerwig. Notably, three of the Best Picture nominees this year were directed by women, setting a record.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 30: Kirsten Schaffer attends the WIF Honors Celebrating 50 Years Presented by Max Mara with sponsor ShivHans Pictures, Amazon Studios, Netflix and Lexus at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 30, 2023 in Hollywood, California.
Kirsten Schaffer, CEO of Women in Film, expressed disappointment over the omissions of Gerwig, 40, and Song in the directing and lead performance categories for 'Barbie' and 'Past Lives.' Despite a record number of women-directed films nominated for Best Picture, Schaffer noted that the industry tends to overlook the contributions of women, even those behind the highest-grossing or critically acclaimed films.
