Top Ten Female Filmmakers

Last year, the world watched as Barbara Streisand announced "the time has come", and for the first time a Best Director Oscar was presented to a woman. Only three women (Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, and Sophia Coppola) had ever been nominated for this honor before 2009. Kathryn Bigelow's win caused people all over the world to shout that the glass ceiling had been shattered.

Although I don't classify myself as an "angry feminist", I start shaking my fist as I jump on board the feminist bandwagon on this one. It's no secret that women are largely ignored as a demographic in Hollywood. Recently, hits like Mama Mia have shown the power of audiences age 30 and above. Critiques agree that studios are beginning to realize the potential of this starved demographic. Many hope that this realization will lead to a creation of films geared towards this group in the future.

However, the problem of gender in Hollywood doesn't end there. According to a study done by San Diego State University, despite the fact that women make up roughly half of film school graduates, just 4% of Hollywood directors are female. The cause of the huge disparity between genders in Hollywood is somewhat shrouded in mystery.

The cause for the disparity is debated upon time and time again. But regardless of the cause, it is important to appreciate women who have made a substantial contribution to film. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this list has been complied not only to honor women, but to inspire a new generation of women to become filmmakers no matter the odds. In the words of Kathryn Bigelow:

"If there's specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies. It's irrelevant who or what directed a movie, the important thing is that you either respond to it or you don't. There should be more women directing; I think there's just not the awareness that it's really possible. It is."

10. Mary Harron

With her offbeat films, Harron holds an important place in art house cinema. A former punk-rock reporter, Harron transitioned into film with the much-anticipated I Shot Andy Warhol. Harron then secured her position as a writer and director with the acclaimed films, American Psycho and The Notorious Betty Page. Harron has been quoted as saying that "I feel that without feminism, I wouldn't be doing this. So I feel very grateful. Without it, God knows what my life would be." Since her success with films, Harron has found success in television writing with The L Word, Six Feet Under, and Big Love. Harron is currently filming the horror flick, The Moth Diaries.

9. Anne Fletcher

A choreographer turned director, Fletcher has had much box office success. Fletcher began her directing career with Step Up, which earned more than $65 million in the United States. Fletcher then went on to 27 Dresses in 2008 and The Proposal in 2009. Both movies added to her already successful box office earnings, with The Proposal earning over $163 million. On top of her impressive directing, choreographing, and dancing career, Fletcher has shown her muscle in other aspects of film including producing (Step Up 2: The Streets and The Wedding Planner) and acting (The Proposal and The Pacifier).

8. Julie Taymor

Although more known for her work in theatre, Julie Taymor has proven that she is a force within the film world. In 1997 Taymor became the first woman to receive a directing Tony for her work on The Lion King. After her win, Taymore focused more on her feature films. In 1999 she wrote and directed Titus, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. Her next project was the critically acclaimed film, Frida. Based on the life of the artists Frida Kahlo, the film went on to garner six Academy Award nominations and two wins (Best Original Song and Best Makeup). Taymor went on to write and direct Across the Universe, a film set to the music of The Beatles. Taymor is currently working on a version of Shakespeare's The Tempest, to be released in December 2010.

7. Betty Thomas

As a actress, Betty Thomas made her entrance into Hollywood in the sketch satire Tunnel Vision along side Chevy Chase and John Candy. After finding success in the police series Hill Street Blues, Thomas made a transition into TV and film directing. Since the transitions, Thomas has directed many box office hits such as The Brady Bunch Movie, Private Parts, Doctor Dolittle, 28 Days, I Spy, and John Tucker Must Die. Thomas has found recent success in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. The film earned more than $219 million domestically and over $443 million worldwide.

6. Sophia Coppola

Although she comes from the famed Coppola family, Sophia made a name for herself within the film industry. Coppola entered the film world as a writer/director with Lick the Star (1998) and The Virgin Suicides (1999). However, Coppola is best known for her film, Lost in Translation, which earned her an Academy Award for screenwriting. Coppola is one of the few women to be nominated for a directing Academy Award for her work in Lost in Translation. Coppola returned to film with the biopic, Marie Antoinette. The film made $60 million worldwide and received mixed reviews. Although she hasn't matched the box office performance of other directors, Coppola has the ability to create buzz. Her new film, Somewhere, is to be released in December 2010. Starring Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning, the film debuted at the 67th Venice International Film Festival and went home with the Golden Lion for Best Picture.

5. Catherine Hardwicke

Before becoming a director and owning the title for biggest movie opening ever for a female helmer, Hardwicke worked as a production designer. Hardwicke made her directorial debut in 2003 with Thirteen. The director collaborated with actress Nikki Reed (then 14-years-old) to write the film in 6 days. The film was based on Reed's teenage experiences, and went on to win a plethora of awards including the Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Directing Award. Hardwicke followed up Thirteen with the critically acclaimed, Lords of Dogtown and The Nativity Story. In 2007, Hardwicke was hired by Summit Entertainment to direct a little vampire flick called Twilight. Although the film became a phenomenon and earned more than $191 million domestically, Hardwicke chose to fore-go the Twilight sequels due to disagreements with the studio. Hardwicke is currently working on Red Riding Hood and Hamlet, both set to come out in 2011.

Although she is most recognized as Laverne from the hit television series, Laverne and Shirley, Penny Marshall has had a multi-faceted and successful career in Hollywood. After going behind the camera for Laverne and Shirley, Marshall went onto feature films with Jumpin' Jack Flash starring Whoopi Goldberg. Her first hit came in 1988 with Big, which made Marshall the first female director to have a film gross more than $100 million in the box office. Marshall went on to direct Awakenings, staring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. Awakenings was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. From there Marshall went of to direct A League of Their Own which became an instant classic. While she hasn't directed a film since 2001's Riding in Cars with Boys, Marshall continues to act in television series and produce films including Cinderella Man and Bewitched.

3. Nancy Meyers

Nancy Meyers is perhaps the most consistent Hollywood contributors on this list. As a writer and director, Nancy Meyers is responsible for some of the most recognized hits of the 80s and 90s. Her films are continuously successful in the box office, appealing to an adult female audience. She began by writing the hits Private Benjamin and Father of the Bride. Meyers then delved into both writing and directing with The Parent Trap (1998), What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give, The Holiday, and It's Complicated. Her commercial success in family-friendly film is unparalleled by any other female director. Her success in film is shown as she currently holds the title for highest grossing female director ever.

2. Nora Ephron

Ephron is not only an acclaimed essayist and novelist, but she is responsible for many popular and iconic films. Ephron's first hit came with When Harry Met Sally…, a romantic-comedy Ephron wrote in 1989. The film was a huge box office success earning more than $92 million domestically. Ephron's script was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1990. Ephron had her directorial debut with This Is My Life in 1992, but it wasn't until 1993 that Ephron had real success as a director. Ephron co-wrote and directed Sleepless in Seattle. The film was a huge hit earning more that $227 million worldwide and was nominated for two Academy Awards (including Best Screenplay). Ephron went on to write and direct Michael, You've Got Mail, and Julie and Julia, which were all successful in the box office.

1. Kathryn Bigelow

In the history of the Academy Awards, 82 Oscars have been awarded for Best Director. In that time four women have been nominated…and only one has won. It was the biggest news to come from the 82nd annual Academy Awards when Kathryn Bigelow secured the Oscar for Best Director for her film The Hurt Locker. The film was nominated in nine categories and went on to win six including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing. But Bigelow earns this top position not only for her Oscar recognition, but also because of her respectable big-budget career. Before the The Hurt Locker, Bigelow broke the mold of women creating romantic-comedies with directing action films like Point Break and Blue Steel. Bigelow has accomplished something that many directors and writers are not able to – she has found the happy median between art and entertainment. This ability combined with her history of strong films makes her a strong force within the entertainment industry, and has convinced many (including myself) that the best is yet to come.