Despite the producers of the Academy Awards proclaiming 1992 the "year of the woman," things have not exactly taken off for the gender since then, at least not when it comes to working as power players ‑- directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors. More than 90 percent of directors are men, and the numbers are even worse in the other disciplines. In the last 12 years, only two women have been nominated for a best director Oscar (Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola), and none have been nominated for best cinematographer (ever).
The longer Hollywood continues to hold women back, the more we want to celebrate the ones who are taking control. This year, Mira Nair got plenty of attention for Vanity Fair, and while women didn't even get to be in charge of all the "girl" movies that came out, Martha Coolidge chimed in with The Prince and Me, Cheryl Dunye had My Baby's Daddy and Sara Sugarman brought us Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.
In the indie film world, women have been able to make their mark more easily than when they must fight the hierarchy in Hollywood. Nancy Savoca's Dirt, Lynn Hershman-Leeson's Teknolust and Toni Kalem's A Slipping-Down Life all made it to major markets before heading to DVD. There were also a few big documentaries, including Jehane Noujaim's Control Room and Ondi Timoner's Dig!
Which brings us to now.
We'll be regularly spotlighting "power women" in Hollywood, so look for our marker throughout iVillage Entertainment, or come back and find out who's new on our list.
Anjelica Huston Shainee Gabel, director of A Love Song for Bobby Long Nicole Kassell, director of The Woodsman Film editor Thelma Schoonmaker Indie rock mogul Alana Davis Sundance Power Women The Women of The Ballad of Jack and Rose
