In honor of International Women’s Day I wanted to dedicate my column this week to some of the world’s greatest filmmakers. Women are responsible for some of the best films we have and often are the driving force behind many great male directed films as well. Women are rarely given the same opportunities as men and that’s true in the film world too unfortunately. Thankfully this list of women account for some of best artists humanity has ever produced and I encourage anyone reading this who is curious to take a look at their work. You will be better for it.
Here’s my list of favorite female directors, a link to a catalogue of their work as well as my favorite of their films.
Chantal Akerman - Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Claire Denis - Beau Travail
Jane Campion - The Piano
Penny Marshall - A League of Their Own
Greta Gerwig - Lady Bird
Agnes Varda - Cleo From 5 to 7
Debra Granik - Winter’s Bone
Kathryn Bigelow - K19: The Widowmaker
Lilly and Lana Wachowski - The Matrix
Sofia Coppola - The Virgin Suicides
Lynne Ramsay - You Were Never Really Here
Elaine May - Mikey and Nicky
Mary Harron - American Psycho
Ava DuVernay - Selma
Chloe Zhao - The Rider
Julie Dash - Daughters of the Dust
