International Women's Day: Women in Film

March is Women's History Month, and March 8th is International Women's Day. We thought we'd mark the occasion by celebrating women in film! Actresses get all the fame and fortune, but it's important as film lovers to recognize the contributions made by those behind the camera, whether it be as filmmakers, screenwriters, cinematographers, animators, editors, producers, composers, even film critics. They all contribute to this crazy and wonderful industry, and many of them are true groundbreakers and pioneers in this field. Here's a list of women (in no particular order) who deserve recognition...sorry if we forgot anyone!

Frances Marion, screenwriter/director (The Love Light)

June Mathis, screenwriter (The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse)

Rachel Portman, composer (Emma, Cider House Rules, Chocolat)

Ida Lupino, actress/director (The Trouble With Angels)

Thelma Schoonmaker, editor (Raging Bull, The Aviator, The Departed)

Mary Pickford, actress, co-founder of United Artists, co-founder of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Lina Wertmuller, director/writer (Seven Beauties)

Verna Fields, editor (Jaws, American Graffiti, Paper Moon)

Maya Deren, director (Meshes of the Afternoon)

Agnes Varda, director (Cleo from 5 to 7)

Chantal Akerman, director (Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles)

Kathleen Kennedy, producer (Schindler's List, Back to the Future, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial)

Dede Allen, editor (Bonnie and Clyde, Dog Day Afternoon)

Sofia Coppola, screenwriter/producer/director (The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette)

Jane Campion, screenwriter/producer/director (The Piano, Portrait of a Lady, Bright Star)

Kathryn Bigelow, director/producer (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty)

Lone Scherfig, director (An Education)

Nora Ephron, screenwriter/director/producer (When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, Julie & Julia)

Lena Dunham, writer/director/actress (Tiny Furniture)

Elaine May, writer/director (The Heartbreak Kid, Ishtar)

Allison Anders, writer/director (Grace of my Heart, Mi Vida Loca)

Marcia Lucas, editor (Taxi Driver, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Star Wars)

Nicole Holofcener, writer/director (Walking and Talking, Lovely & Amazing, Friends With Money)

Catherine Breillat, director (Fat Girl, Romance)

Claire Denis, director (White Material, Bastards)

Pauline Kael, film critic

Rose Troche, director (Go Fish, The Safety of Objects)

Ellen Kuras, cinematographer (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Away We Go)

Mary Harron, director (The Notorious Bettie Page, American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol)

Catherine Hardwicke, director (Thirteen, Twilight)

Kimberly Peirce, director (Boys Don't Cry, Stop-Loss) 

Amy Taubin, film critic

Jennifer Lee, writer/director (Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen)

Brenda Chapman, director (The Prince of Egypt)

Dorothy Arzner, director (The Bride Wore Red, Craig's Wife)

Lisa Cholodenko, director (The Kids Are Alright, Laurel Canyon, High Art)

Manohla Dargis, film critic

Lois Weber, actress/screenwriter/producer/director (The Merchant of Venice)

Jodie Foster, actress/producer/director (Little Man Tate, Home for the Holidays)

Jamie Babbit, director/producer/screenwriter (But I'm A Cheerleader, Itty Bitty Titty Committee)

Mary Blair, animator (Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan)

Kasi Lemmons, director (Eve's Bayou, The Caveman's Valentine, Talk To Me)

Mira Nair, director/producer (Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay!)

B. Ruby Rich, film critic

Gillian Armstrong, director (Little Women, Charlotte Gray, Oscar and Lucinda)

Penelope Spheeris, director (Wayne's World, The Decline of Western Civilization)

Penny Marshall, director (Big, Awakenings, A League Of Their Own)

Anita Loos, screenwriter (Red Headed Woman, The Women)

Amy Heckerling, director (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Clueless)

Megan Ellison, producer (American Hustle, Her, Zero Dark Thirty, The Master)

Sally Menke, editor (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds) 

Miranda July, director/screenwriter/actress (Me and You and Everyone We Know)

I can't tell you how fun this was to put together! Here's to these wonderful women and their excellent work, and to many more prominent women in the industry!