Tarantino. Nolan. Kurbick. Hitchcock. 

Male directors have dominated the film industry for years with blockbusters like “Pulp Fiction” and “Psycho.” 

I’ve been trying to gain a deeper knowledge of cinema and the industry. While doing this, a startling fact came upon me: there are few women directors and even fewer with the same renown and admiration as their male counterparts. 

I don’t believe this is due to subpar films. 

In fact, women have directed some of my very favorite films like “Mamma Mia!” (directed by Phyllida Lloyd) and “Clueless” (directed by Amy Heckerling). 

Some films that seem to only grow in popularity have also been directed by women, like “American Psycho.” 

“American Psycho” was directed by Mary Harron and the screenplay was written by Harron and Guinevere Turner. 

The cult classic is said to have established “its insidious balance of humor and aestheticized gore” by critic Stephen Holden. 

It’s obvious that women haven’t played a minimal role in the film industry, but in terms of acknowledgment they are still fighting for equal admiration. 

Out of almost 600 nominations for Best Picture in the Academy Awards, only 18 of those have been for women-directed films. 

I’m seeing more and more movies that are directed by women, but with hardly any acknowledgment. 

The 2023 Oscar’s went without a single woman nominated for Best Director. 

In fact, only seven women have been nominated for Best Director in the history of the Academy Awards. 

There are plenty of outstanding female directors that I’m hopeful will begin to get the same praise as male directors. 

The first woman to win Best Director was Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” in 2009. 

Since then, the other two female director winners were in 2020 and 2021 with Chloé Zhao for “Nomadland” and Jane Campion for “The Power of the Dog.” 

Greta Gerwig got her solo directorial debut after years of acting with the 2017 film “Lady Bird.”

The Golden Globe winner and A24 movie developed wide popularity. 

In the 2018 Academy Awards, “Lady Bird” earned five nominations but left without a win.

Gerwig also directed “Little Women,” which earned six Academy Award nominations in 2020, and directed upcoming blockbuster “Barbie,” which will be released July 21. 

Gerwig is an extremely talented director and shifted from actress to director seamlessly. 

I’m excited for Gerwig to continue to grow in popularity and skill. 

It’s disheartening to see so many amazing women in directorial positions continue to be looked over by audiences and the Academy.

Other than “Barbie,” there aren’t many women-directed films scheduled for release in 2023. 

Regardless, be on the lookout for the few films that there are. 

Celine Song directed the A24 film “Past Lives,” which was released in January, and Nia DaCosta directed “The Marvels,” which is to be released in November. 

Female representation is important in every field, but I would argue that it’s even more important in an industry with as much cultural significance as film has. 

Supporting women directors is pivotal to increase women in the film industry. 

Outstanding directors deserve fair acknowledgement and recognition regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. 

So instead of picking between “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on July 21, go support both and enjoy a double feature.