Dear Academy President Janet Yang and members, it’s time for you to understand that the year is 2024 and accordingly expand your Best Director Category.
In recent years, the Oscars have faced scrutiny (and rightfully so) for their lack of diversity and inclusion. The 2024 nominations have once again brought attention to the issue.
Yes, Justine Triet is nominated this year in the category for Anatomy of Fall, and that probably checks off a box in some Octogenerian members’ minds but there are ridiculously notable omissions – specifically Greta Gerwig for Barbie and Celine Song for Past Lives from the Best Director category.
As both films have earned Best Picture nominations and, in the case of Barbie nominated in every other major category, it raises a critical question: Is it time for the Academy to expand the Best Director category to better represent the diverse talent within the film industry?
In a word, Yes.
Both Gerwig and Song have earned a Best Director nomination for their films. Both are nominated for DGA Awards. Those are voted on solely by members of the guild.
Directors.
Gerwig’s nomination for Barbie adds to the 13 times a woman has been recognized in this category by the DGA. Her prior nomination in 2018 for Lady Bird further solidifies her impact on the industry.
I was a huge fan of Past Lives and Song is nominated by the DGA for The Michael Apted Award. So are Manuela Martelli for Chile ‘76 and Noora Niasari for Shayda. Right now, the guild is more progressive than the Academy. Not opinion. Facts.
To be honest, I thought Barbie was somewhat mid and preachy. But I can’t ignore the film has 8 nominations in major categories and the omission of both Gerwig and actress Margot Robbie in their categories leaves me scratching my head.
The Current Landscape
The gender disparity in the Best Director category has been a long-standing concern. With only eight women nominated by Academy members for Best Director over its 96-year history, it’s essential to acknowledge the accomplishments of past women directors who have broken barriers.
Icons like Kathryn Bigelow, who made history by winning for The Hurt Locker in 2009, Jane Campion for Power of the Dog in 2021, Chloé Zhao, who won in 2020 for Nomadland and Gerwig herself, nominated for Lady Bird, show that women, when given the opportunity, have excelled in the director’s chair. Below is a full list of Women nominees and winners:
- 1977 Lina Wertmüller, “Seven Beauties” – Nominated
- 1993 Jane Campion, “The Piano” – Nominated
- 2003 Sofia Coppola, “Lost in Translation – Nominated
- 2009 Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker – Winner
- 2017 Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird” – Nominated
- 2020 Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland’ – Winner
- 2020 Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman,” – Nominated
- 2021 Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog,” – Winner
- 2024 Justine Triet, “Anatomy of a Fall”
Wertmüller became the first woman to be nominated in the category a whopping 47 years after the Oscars began — and it took another 32 years before a second woman, Bigelow was nominated and won.
32 years. Come on this is the very definition of egregious. It’s time to stop taking one step forward and two back.
Recognizing Intersectionality
The fact is, there can not be a Best Picture without a Best Director nominated. Expanding the Best Director category would not only address gender disparities but also open the door for greater representation of filmmakers from various backgrounds. An expanded category might have seen Ava DuVernay nominated for Selma, which was also nominated for Best Picture.
Chloé Zhao, who made history by winning for Nomadland which also won Best Picture, exemplifies the intersectionality that enriches storytelling.
Recognizing directors from different walks of life contributes to a richer tapestry of cinematic narratives. It’s time for the Academy to acknowledge that diversity goes beyond gender and extend the category to embrace the multitude of voices within the film industry.
An important precedent for change within the Academy Awards was the expansion of the Best Picture category. In 2009, the Academy made a significant move by increasing the number of Best Picture nominees from five to a maximum of ten. This expansion was a response to the desire for a more inclusive representation of the diverse films being produced. It allowed for a broader range of genres, styles, and voices to be recognized, reflecting the evolving landscape of cinema.
And of course, an attempt to lift sagging ratings.
So, why not do the same for directors?
REELated:
Impact on Industry Perception
The Oscars have a significant influence on the film industry’s perception and can shape the narratives that dominate the cinematic landscape. By expanding the Best Director category, the Academy would send a powerful message that it values and celebrates the diversity of talent. This, in turn, could encourage studios and production companies to invest in a more inclusive range of projects and directors, ultimately reshaping the industry for the better.
Awards ceremonies like the Oscars have the potential to be catalysts for change. By recognizing and rewarding a broader spectrum of directors, the Academy can inspire the next generation of filmmakers. Pioneers like Sofia Coppola, nominated for Lost in Translation, and Greta Gerwig, whose Lady Bird received acclaim, serve as inspirations for aspiring directors. Expanding the Best Director category would contribute to breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive film industry.
So, President Yang. So, Academy Members. You have the power to shape the narrative that lies in the hands of those who hold the golden statuettes, and it’s high time to use that power to redefine what excellence in filmmaking truly means while avoiding unnecessary divisions.
Expand The Director Category.
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Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on X at @colinthewriter1
