It’s been a great year for women behind the camera, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association still didn’t nominate a single woman in the Best Director category for this year’s Golden Globes.
That omission flummoxed some commentators, who noted strong films this year by female directors such Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”), Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”) and Dee Rees (“Mudbound”).
“Not a single woman nominated for Best Director in a year where women killed it behind the camera. Disappointing as hell,” tweeted one user.
Instead, the Globes nominated Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”), Ridley Scott (“All the Money in the World”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Post”).
“No @PattyJenks #GoldenGlobes? Another year, another 5 men nominated for best director. Shame on you,” tweeted another, while a third disappointed Twitter user added, “Women being shut out of the Golden Globes director category is pretty much 2017 wrapped up in a s— bow.”
Gerwig directed “Lady Bird,” which is the best-reviewed film on Rotten Tomatoes in the history of the site, and the film scored various other nominations on Monday morning including Best Screenplay and Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan). And Jenkins of course helmed “Wonder Woman,” which captured audiences all over the world and gave hope to many women and young girls. And Rees directed “Mudbound,” which was also nominated in two other Globes categories.
The only female director to have one a Golden Globe is Barbra Streisand for 1984’s “Yentl.” Other nominees in the past have included Kathryn Bigelow, Sofia Coppola and Ava DuVernay.
After Margot Robbie snagged a nomination for her performance in “I, Tonya,” she told TheWrap, “In some ways we’ve really taken a step forward this year with women in this industry, from Sofia Coppola winning Best Director for the first time at Cannes and “Wonder Woman” crushing it at the box office. Obviously we’ve got a long way to go, but we really need to recognize and appreciate the wins along the way.”
In response to the nominated, Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Women In Film, LA, said to TheWrap, “We are excited to see that Greta Gerwig’s film, ‘Ladybird,’ was nominated for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy – but disappointed that Gerwig wasn’t nominated for best director. Missing from the best director list are also Dee Rees and Patty Jenkins. There is a surprising lack of nominations for women behind the camera – given the critical response to films written and directed by women and TV shows created by women.”
See reactions to the snubs below.
https://twitter.com/JamieRighetti/status/940216817456435200
The main thing the Golden Globes give a nominee is visibility. Another reason why it’s depressing they went with an all male director category. Few women directors will achieve power of Spielberg, Nolan, Scott without the opportunity to be seen.
— Rebecca Keegan (@ThatRebecca) December 11, 2017
No Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele for Best Director at the Golden Globes? No thank you, you learned nothing. Goodbye.
— Clarisse Loughrey (@clarisselou) December 11, 2017
At least the lack of women is noticed now
Female Directors Shut Out of Golden Globes Nominationshttps://t.co/ibDynNCWsD— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) December 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/wyattyhalpert/status/940251713960738817
https://twitter.com/frankpallotta/status/940234006720843777
https://twitter.com/harleivy/status/940221590024916992
https://twitter.com/_elena/status/940227525325750274
Women being shut out of the Golden Globes director category is pretty much 2017 wrapped up in a shit bow.
— celia (@_celia_bedelia_) December 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/TrevellAnderson/status/940224741025001473
The biggest disappointment of the morning: No Greta Gerwig. No Dees Rees. No Patty Jenkins. The #GoldenGlobes nominated five men for best director.
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) December 11, 2017
No @PattyJenks #GoldenGlobes? Another year, another 5 men nominated for best director. Shame on you.
— Karina 🏳️🌈 (@kalucas) December 11, 2017
Five men nominated for #GoldenGlobes best director. #WhereAreTheWomen
— Sandy Cohen (@YouKnowSandy) December 11, 2017