The nominations for Best Director at this year’s Academy Awards, revealed last month, are literally all men. Predictable, maybe (only five women have been nominated in the category over the award show’s entire history) but definitely disappointing.
Especially disappointing, as well, in a year that saw plenty of films helmed by women that are worthy of recognition. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women being the obvious example – the director herself has talked openly about women being snubbed in the industry – but also Melina Matsoukas’s Queen & Slim, Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers, and more.
Give Her A Break is pushing back against the bias though, with an alternative way to watch the ceremony, which airs tonight (1am in the UK).
The non-profit initiative will provide an online portal to the Oscars live stream, but in place of the usual ads, it will flip to a showcase of female-directed films.
“There’s millions of women who create incredible films, but just don’t get the same break by this misogynistic industry,” says the project founder, Mo Said. “We wanted to fix that.” Honey Boy director Alma Har’el has also spoken out in support of the project on social media.
Visit Give Her A Break to see how it works.
