Indie Women: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women in U.S. Independent Film, 2022-23
EXCERPT
This year’s Indie Women study tracked the employment of behind-the-scenes women working on independently and domestically produced feature-length documentaries and narrative films screening and/or streaming at 20 high-profile film festivals in the U.S. While the fests continue to stream and/or screen more narrative features directed exclusively by men than those with at least one woman director, the margin is narrowing. In 2022-23, the festivals streamed/screened an average of 10 films by male directors and 7 by female directors. In 2021-22, the radio was 10 to 6. In 2022-23, the gender gap disappeared entirely for documentary features, with festivals streaming/screening equal numbers of films directed by men and women. In terms of employment, men continue to comprise the majority of those working as directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers (men 61%, women 39%) on independently produced narrative films and documentaries. While the percentages of women working as producers, editors, and cinematographers remained stable in 2022-23, the percentage of women working as directors increased from 40% in 2021-22 to 42% in 2022-23. The percentage of women writers rose from 35% in 2021-22 to 40% in 2022-23. These are recent historic highs.