Promising overlooked women: shining a light on female directors

by Rebecca Martin

April 20, 2021

1 min read

Share this post

Over a year ago, at Sundance 2020, pre-pandemic, Carey Mulligan spoke with Variety about how Oscar voters overlooked films with female filmmakers, meaning they did not watch these films before they cast their votes for the Best Director category. This discussion circled around her and Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” premiere. I can’t help thinking that since then, going through a pandemic, #BlackLivesMatter, shining a light more on #MeToo, with shows like “I May Destroy You” and films like “TAPE”, we’ve come to a place where diverse and female stories are more important than ever. With that, I wanted to take a look back at this interview and encourage you all to watch the Oscar nominated film, the dark and twisted and profound “Promising Young Woman”.

Congratulations to Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell on your Oscar Best Director nominations. Let’s not forget the female filmmakers that were overlooked for the 2020 Oscars, pre-pandemic. A shout-out to Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”), Céline Sciamma (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”), Jennifer Kent (“The Nightingale”), and Lorene Scafaria (“Hustlers”). Watch all of these films!!!

Share this post

Rebecca Martin

Rebecca Martin is the Managing Editor of Cinema Femme magazine and the Festival Director of Cinema Femme Short Film Fest. She founded her publication in 2018 because she wanted to create a platform for female voices in the film community. She has hosted film screenings in Chicago, led virtual panel discussions, Q&As, is the Cinema Femme Short Films Director, and has covered festivals like the Chicago International Film Festival, Sundance, Tribeca, and the Bentonville Film Festival.

Recommended For You

Explore our latest articles and updates.

Interviews, Uncategorized

11 min read

Paloma Schneideman on Her Cathartic 2000’s Film “Big Girls Don’t Cry”

by Megan Henderson

November 2, 2026

Being a teenage is awkward, uncomfortable, and cringey. It’s a phase of life that once we leave, we hope to never experience again. Yet once we’re far enough removed from

Chicago International Film Festival, reviews

7 min read

CIFF 2026: “I’ll Be Gone in June,” “Finding Your Laughter,” “Ana, en Passant,” “Castration Movie Chapter iii”

by Rebecca Martin

October 31, 2026

We often hear that you view a film through the lens of your own experience. For me, film has always worked the other way around too: it expands my experience

Film Industry, Indie Films, producer

26 min read

CIFF 2026: Keeping the Indie Spirit Alive with Producer Alex Coco (“Club Kid,” “Anora”)

by Rebecca Martin

October 30, 2026

At the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival, I was fortunate to attend an industry event featuring a conversation with producer Alex Coco, whose credits include “Club Kid,” “Anora,” and “Red

Stay Updated on Our Film Festival

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest festival updates, film submissions, and special announcements.

By clicking Join Us, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.