Examining the Gender and Race/Ethnicity of Narrative Directors from 2017-2019

Film Festival Findings: Study commissioned by the TIME’S UP Foundation released found that 2019 was a banner year for female filmmakers and other underrepresented directors. However, progress still needs to be made. However, progress still needs to be made.

The study (January 27, 2020) found that 2019 was a banner year for female filmmakers and other underrepresented directors. However, despite the important progress underway, the study reinforces an all-too-common pattern: women and people of color are vastly underrepresented at film festivals worldwide, which are often the point of entry to the industry for emerging filmmakers.

Commissioned by the TIME’S UP Foundation, the study analyzed the demographic makeup of film directors and festival programmers and executives across the top five global film festivals and the top 10 North American film festivals. Globally, the study found that only 25 percent of directors in competition sections across the last three years were women. For

“Film festivals play a critical role in shaping our culture, which is why representation and access is so critical,” said Tina Tchen, president and CEO of the TIME’S UP Foundation. “While some festivals are taking the lead in featuring the voices of women and women of color, this study drives home the need to expand opportunities for women festival programmers — and, in so doing, women directors — of all backgrounds. We can do better.”