UK film industry still needs to ‘learn how to make equality a reality’, says study

The British film industry is still failing to represent women in its top behind-the-camera roles, according to research.

A study found there had been little change in the number of female directors or cinematographers in the past decade.

Female British directors who have enjoyed success over recent decades include Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha and American Honey’s Andrea Arnold.

But only 14 per cent of all directors and 7 per cent of all cinematographers were women across 3,452 films in production in the UK between 2003 and 2015, the report said. The number of female directors increased by just three percentage points between 2003 and 2015, and female cinematographers rising by five percentage points.

Dr Shelley Cobb of the University of Southampton one of the authors of the study, said: “This data shows very clearly that there is no long-term improvement of gender equality in the British film industry, despite training schemes, funding rules, or best practice statements.”

She added: “There are welltrained, experienced, and talented women filmmakers working now who should be at the top of their careers but they have been left aside by the gatekeepers, tastemakers, and financiers who need to change and learn how to make equality a reality.”

The report says just 10 per cent of directors and 4 per cent of cinematographers were of black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) identity.

It says only 1 per cent of all directors were female BAME.

The University of Exeter’s Professor Linda Ruth Williams, who also carried out the study, said the situation was “unacceptable”.

“Despite initiatives to improve the numbers of more diverse voices and perspectives, we are seeing stagnation. It is time for change.”