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Women in the Director's Chair

By Sharon Weinberg

Here is a short list of movies directed by women and featuring awesome women. All are from the 2000s and most are quite recent.

  • American Experience: The Codebreaker

    2021

    The remarkable, and for decades untold, story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Her genius for breaking codes saved countless lives during WWll. I can't help but be amazed by this pioneer cryptanalyst. Directed by Chana Gazit.

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  • The Broken Hearts Gallery

    2020

    This breezy rom-com, noted for its inclusion and diversity, is a refreshing take on the genre. I loved the cast, and Geraldine Viswanathan, in the lead role, delivers a charming performance from beginning to end. Natalie Krinsky wrote the screenplay and it is also her directorial debut.

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  • Chavela

    2018

    Who was Chavela? Creating a new persona, she broke the mold of the traditional ranchera singer and opened a door for the LGBTQ community in Mexico and beyond. Co-directors Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi examine the complicated life of a trailblazer. Her concerts were legendary and cathartic, which you will see when you watch this doc.

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  • Fly Like a Girl

    2020

    Women working in the male-dominated industries of aviation and aerospace tell their stories of why, how, and what. They are truly inspirational and unstoppable, forging opportunities for future generations. Directed by Katie McEntire Wiatt.

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  • Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)

    These girls attend Skateistan, a school located in Kabul, to become expert skateboarders and confident students. Several of them hope to pursue more education and careers. This doc is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s not easy to be female in Afghanistan. Directed by Carol Dysinger, it won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).

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  • Lucky Grandma

    2020

    A comedy heist movie that’s destined to become a cult favorite. It’s directed by Sasie Sealy and based on a story she co-wrote with Angela Chen. Filmed in New York City's Chinatown, the dialogue is in Cantonese, Mandarin, and some English. Veteran actor Tsai Chin takes center stage as Grandma Wong--a grouchy, chain-smoking rebel octogenarian.

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  • Miss Juneteenth

    2020

    This is definitely one of my favorite movies of 2020 and I can’t wait to see what writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples does next. It comes from a very personal place and the strong cast completes her storytelling.

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  • Real Women Have Curves

    2003

    Directed by Patricia Cardoso and starring America Ferrera, in her feature movie debut, this 2002 well-observed coming-of-age dramedy was one of the most influential independent films of the 2000s. It was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry (NFR) in 2019. Thus Cardoso became the first Latina director to be included in the NFR.

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  • A Thousand Cuts

    2021

    Documentary filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz follows journalist Maria Ressa, CEO of the Philippine online news site Rapple. Under attack from the government, Ressa’s mission is to hold the line for free press within a democracy in crisis. The subject is sobering and more relevant than ever.

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