In writing a piece like this, a phrase from Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse comes to mind: “Women can’t paint, women can’t write.” Charles Tansley’s words echoed throughout the novel (and in Lily Briscoe’s thoughts) the way another phrase has been echoing throughout the film world over the last few years: “Women don’t direct.” It’s difficult to dignify that statement with a response, to actually construct an argument about how women, everywhere, are clearly making films (whether those films are getting deserved recognition or not). Luckily, a few brave souls like Lexi Alexander have recently taken up the task, and others are even highlighting another point—that not all creatives in the film world want to direct And while this is important to consider, today we look at the professionally creative women who do want to direct. These ten filmmakers have either successfully completed a recent project deserving of some buzz, or they have one forthcoming—in many cases, they have both. One thing they all have in common is that they have managed to ignore the whisperings of the Mr. Tansleys of the world long enough to make a movie. And for that, we thank them. Here are ten of the many women directors (some others of whom made our list of ten black directors we’re excited about ) to look out for in 2014.
1. Lucy Mulloy
Last year, Mulloy told Paste about how she used to sneak into Spike Lee’s NYU classes—she eventually went on to become his protégée. His grant helped her create last year’s award-winning film, Una Noche. Set in Cuba, Mulloy cast two untrained actors in the lead roles and primarily worked from an outline rather than a script. She also refused to shoot at the typical Cuban landmarks and locations, using the homes of actual residents and creating an inspired rawness that captivated audiences. When the film first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2012, Mulloy won the award for Best Director and the film also won Best Cinematography and Best Actor. (Javier Nunez Florian and Dariel Arrechada shared the award.) She’s currently at work on a new project centered on a male protagonist who leaves Rio to come to New York.
Follow Mulloy on Twitter.
2. Ava DuVernay
The first black woman to win Best Director at Sundance (for her second feature, Middle Of Nowhere), DuVernay has a big year ahead of her, taking on the much buzzed about film Selma, which will focus on Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 landmark voting rights campaign. Oprah Winfrey is producing, and David Oyelowo will be taking on the lead. When she’s not behind the camera, DuVernay is running the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, an organization she started back in 2011, in an attempt to give more visibility to black cinema.
Follow DuVernay on Twitter.
3. Eliza Hittman
