The actress and director Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Regression for Women
Kristen Stewart has declared she is “furious” that advancements for women in the film industry have gone backwards after a short-lived surge of improvement following the MeToo movement.
Stewart, who directed the upcoming film her latest project, gave an impassioned speech at a women’s luncheon in Los Angeles hosted by the Academy behind the awards.
“The backsliding from a brief moment of progress is statistically devastating,” she told the audience. “A disappointingly low figure of films from the previous year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
A yearly study that tracks the presence of women directors stated that 11 of the top 100 films of 2024 were helmed by female directors, down from sixteen in the year 2020.
‘Male-Dominated Industry Model’
In her address, Stewart remarked: “In a post-MeToo moment, it seemed possible that stories made by and for women were finally getting their due. That we might be allowed or even encouraged to express ourselves and our common stories, every aspect of our lives unfiltered.
“However, I can confirm to the intense struggle that it takes every step when the content is too dark, too controversial, when the frankness with which it presents insights about situations commonly faced by females, often elicits aversion and dismissal.”
She continued: “We can discuss wage gaps and taxes on tampons and measure [inequality] in many measurable forms. But the violence of silencing, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I could devour this stand with a utensil and sharp tool. I’m so angry.”
Attendees listening to Stewart’s address included several prominent actresses.
Stewart was met with several rounds of applause over the course of her brief talk.
“I am thankful to you,” she stated. “I am not grateful a boys’ club business model that pretends to want to associate with us while siphoning our resources and belittling our true perspectives. We must avoid being used as tokens. It’s time to create our own value.”
New films from a few women filmmakers are among those for the forthcoming Oscars race, but the best director category is anticipated again to be dominated by men.
