Baftas mocked for equality call after creating all-male shortlist
IN WHAT might have almost passed for the script of a dark comedy, Bafta yesterday urged the film industry to finally stamp out what it called the scourge of inequality, before unveiling a shortlist of best director nominees that was exclusively male.
The organisation that will hand out the “British Oscars” next month, said there had been a culture shift since the allegations levelled against the American film mogul Harvey Weinstein, but that the fight against historic inequality had not ended.
Dame Pippa Harris, a producer who is Bafta’s deputy chair, said the birth of the “time’s up” movement had been a powerful force for change.
But the list of nominations for the Academy’s main awards is the sixth in a row to include no women in the category for best director.
Among those snubbed is Josie Rourke, whose film, Mary Queen of Scots, had been tipped for several awards.
Its leading lady, the Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, was also passed over, although her co-star, Margot Robbie, was shortlisted for her supporting role.
Only one woman – Kathryn Bigelow, who triumphed in 2010 with The Hurt Locker – has ever won Bafta’s award for best film director. Lynne Ramsay shares a nomination this year in the best British film category for You Were Never Really Here, which she wrote and directed, but she missed out on a separate nomination for best director.
The award was introduced in 1969, since then there have been only seven occasions on which a woman was nominated.
Filmmakers vying for its awards must adhere to principles of behaviour, diversity and opportunity laid out by the organisation throughout the production process.
Despite the male bias on the directorial list, Bafta said “femaledriven” films such as The Favourite will be at the centre of this year’s awards.
The comedy is nominated for 12 awards, including that of best actress for its star, Olivia Colman.