The actress and director Expresses Fury Over The Film Industry's Backsliding for Women
The renowned actress and filmmaker has stated she is “furious” that progress for female directors in Hollywood have gone backwards after a short-lived surge of improvement post the #MeToo era.
Stewart, who helmed the upcoming film her latest project, delivered an emotional address at a women’s luncheon in Los Angeles organized by the Academy behind the awards.
“The regression from a short period of advancement is statistically devastating,” she informed attendees. “Such a pitiful number of films from the past year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
A yearly study that monitors the numbers of women directors revealed that eleven of the highest-grossing films of 2024 were helmed by female directors, a decrease from 16 in 2020.
‘Male-Dominated Industry Model’
In her address, Stewart remarked: “After the MeToo movement, it appeared likely that narratives created by and for females were finally getting their due. That we could be permitted or even supported to share our views and our common stories, all of our experiences without filter.
“However, I can confirm to the bare-knuckle brawling that it requires at each stage when the material is too dark, too taboo, when the frankness with which it presents insights about situations routinely experienced by women, often elicits disgust and rejection.”
She added: “We can talk about wage gaps and menstrual product taxes and measure [inequality] in many measurable forms. But the act of muting voices, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I could devour this stand with a fork and [expletive] knife. I’m furious.”
Attendees hearing Stewart’s speech featured a number of well-known female stars.
Stewart was met with multiple ovations over the course of her seven-minute speech.
“I am thankful to you,” she said. “I do not thank a boys’ club business model that claims to desire to hang out with us while draining our assets and belittling our true perspectives. We must avoid being used as tokens. Let’s start printing our own currency.”
Upcoming projects from several female directors are in the running for the forthcoming Oscars race, but the best director category is anticipated again to be male in majority.
