Female Filmmakers: You may have seen more than you know

By Claire

It's why were all here, really, but female directors are seldom talked about in mainstream media. In effect, the more casual viewer often say to me that they do not know of many women directors. Even in one of my cinema studies classes last year, students, too, had trouble making a list of female directors. 

I stumbled across this list of essential films by female filmmakers last year, and as a budding women in film activist, more titles surprised me than I would care to admit. 

When you really think about it, you may have seen more female-directed movies than you know:

Across the Universe (2007)

Directed by Julie Taymor

The Matrix (1999)
Directed by Lana and Lily Wachowski 

Whip It (2009)

Directed by Drew Barrymore

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Directed by Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton

Thirteen (2003)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke

You've Got Mail/Sleepless in Seattle
Directed by Nora Ephron

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Directed by Gurinder Chada

Wayne's World (1992)
Directed by Penelope Spheeris

Clueless (1995)/
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Directed by Amy Heckerling

An Education (2009)
Directed by Lone Scherfig

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Directed by Lynne Ramsay

American Psycho (2000)
Directed by Mary Harron

Selma (2014)
Directed by Ava DuVernay

You can check out the rest of the list here

Or join the pledge to watch #52FilmsByWomen, along with more lists and resources

What's your favourite film by a female filmmaker?