The actress and director Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Backsliding for Women
Kristen Stewart has stated she is “so angry” that progress for female directors in Hollywood have reversed after a brief period of improvement following the MeToo movement.
Stewart, who helmed the forthcoming film her latest project, gave an impassioned address at a female-focused event in LA hosted by the Academy behind the awards.
“The regression from a short period of advancement is alarming by the numbers,” she informed attendees. “A disappointingly low figure of films from the past year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
A yearly study that monitors the numbers of female filmmakers revealed that eleven of the highest-grossing films of 2024 were helmed by female directors, a decrease from 16 in 2020.
‘Boys’ Club Business Model’
In her address, Stewart said: “In a post-MeToo moment, it seemed possible that narratives made by and for women were at last receiving recognition. That we could be permitted or even supported to share our views and our common stories, every aspect of our lives unfiltered.
“But I can now attest to the intense struggle that it takes every step when the material is too grim, too taboo, when the honesty with which it serves up observations about experiences routinely experienced by women, frequently provokes aversion and dismissal.”
She continued: “We can talk about wage gaps and taxes on tampons and quantify the imbalance in lots of quantifiable ways. But the violence of silencing, it’s like we’re not allowed to feel rage. But I could devour this stand with a utensil and sharp tool. I’m furious.”
Attendees hearing Stewart’s address included several prominent actresses.
Stewart was met with multiple ovations over the course of her brief talk.
“I am thankful to you,” she said. “I do not thank a male-centric industry framework that pretends to want to associate 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.”
New films 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.
