11 Lesbian Directors You Should Know About

Estimated read time 10 min read

In an industry predominantly controlled by male filmmakers, it remains a challenging endeavor for women to establish themselves and gain recognition for their work. This situation is further compounded for lesbian filmmakers who often encounter even more hurdles in securing funding and widespread distribution for their films and TV projects. Céline Sciamma sheds light on the fact that women in creative professions are subject to the ebb and flow of trends in a manner that is not as prevalent for men. In an interview with Vox, she notes that despite the rhetoric about progress and opportunities for women, the reality is quite different, with recurring cycles of challenges.

While we, as consumers, may have limited influence in a long-standing biased industry, we can play a significant role in supporting and celebrating our favorite lesbian directors. By sharing their work and promoting their projects, we can help them reach new audiences that might otherwise be missed due to insufficient promotional efforts. Despite the formidable obstacles they face, there are numerous lesbian directors engaged in innovative and progressive projects. Here, we introduce 11 of these remarkable lesbian directors, both from the past and the present, whom you should be aware of.

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11 Lesbian Directors You Should Know About

Clea DuVall

Clea DuVall is recognized by many for her acting career, with notable roles in films like “But I’m a Cheerleader,” “Girl, Interrupted,” and “Argo.” In 2016, she ventured into directing, kicking off her directorial journey with “The Intervention.” However, she is most famous for her work on “Happiest Season,” a delightful romantic comedy featuring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as the central couple.

Furthermore, she co-created and directed the series “High School,” which revolves around the lives of Tegan and Sara, lesbian musicians and twins. DuVall’s work beautifully blends humor and genuine emotion, making her a director to keep an eye on.

Lisa Cholodenko

Lisa Cholodenko, a versatile director, has showcased a remarkable range in her career. Her debut feature film, “High Art,” skillfully explored the intricate and intense relationship between Ally Sheedy and Radha Mitchell, delving into themes of addiction, power dynamics, and sexuality.

Subsequently, she directed “Laurel Canyon,” starring Frances McDormand, and the critically acclaimed “The Kids Are All Right,” which received an Oscar nomination. Each of these projects marked a departure from the previous, consistently pushing creative boundaries. In addition to her film work, Cholodenko has also directed episodes for various television series, including “Six Feet Under” and “Unbelievable.” Notably, she helmed the Emmy-winning miniseries “Olive Kitteridge.”

Cheryl Dunye

Cheryl Dunye is a multi-talented artist renowned for her groundbreaking film “The Watermelon Woman,” a genre-defying work where she portrays a fictionalized version of herself embarking on a documentary project to explore the life of a 1930s actress known as “The Watermelon Woman.” The film seamlessly weaves documentary elements with personal aspects of Cheryl’s life, offering a sincere and genuine tone without coming across as overly ironic or self-aware.

In addition to her iconic work, Dunye has also directed films like “The Owls” and “My Baby’s Daddy.” Since 2018, she has shifted her focus towards television, contributing her talents to popular shows such as “The Umbrella Academy,” “Bridgerton,” and “Claws.”

Angela Robinson

Angela Robinson, a versatile talent in lesbian cinema, has made significant contributions as a writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her work on the lesbian spy romantic comedy “D.E.B.S.,” starring Jordana Brewster, which exudes a delightful campy charm. Additionally, Robinson left her mark on “The L Word” by directing eight episodes spanning four seasons, and she also contributed as a writer to “How to Get Away With Murder,” featuring Viola Davis.

One of Robinson’s less-publicized films is “Professor Marston & the Wonder Women,” which delves into the life of William Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman. Notably, the movie adeptly handles the portrayal of a polyamorous relationship, presenting it with authenticity and depth, rather than using it as a mere shock factor.

Jamie Babbit

Jamie Babbit, known for directing the groundbreaking lesbian romantic comedy “But I’m a Cheerleader” featuring Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall, has also worked on other films like “The Stand In” with Drew Barrymore and “Addicted to Fresno” starring Lyonne once again. However, the majority of Babbit’s work has been in television, where she has directed episodes of a wide range of popular shows.

She has experience in directing dramedies such as “Gilmore Girls,” “A League of Their Own,” and “Girls,” as well as sitcoms like “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “Silicon Valley.” This list only scratches the surface of Babbit’s extensive and impressive television directing career, making her one of the most prolific and skilled directors in the TV industry at the moment.

Dorothy Arzner

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, aside from Lois Weber, who released a single movie during that era, Dorothy Arzner was the sole female director, and her body of work is quite remarkable. She directed a total of 21 films spanning from 1922 to 1943, crossing the transition from silent films to “talkies.”

One of her notable works is “Christopher Strong,” featuring Katharine Hepburn as a pilot determined to set aviation records but who finds herself in love with a married man. This unconventional love story is just one example of the recurring theme of non-traditional relationships in Arzner’s films. It is suggested that these themes might have been a means for Arzner to express her own unconventional sexuality through her art. Arzner’s lifelong partner was Marion Morgan, a choreographer, and they collaborated on films like “Dance, Girl, Dance.”

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Chantal Akerman

Chantal Akerman, a prominent Belgian director active from the 1970s until her passing in 2015, has left a profound and pioneering impact on the world of cinema. Her films notably break away from conventional narrative structures and the expectation of constant action. Instead, she employs monotony and repetitive sequences as deliberate artistic choices. This characteristic is prominently exemplified in her most renowned work, “Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles,” where she delves into the complex connection between women and domestic life.

In an article for the British Film Institute, Laura Mulvey characterizes “Jeanne Dielman” as undeniably a film centered on women’s experiences, with a conscious feminist perspective rooted in the avant-garde. Mulvey goes on to highlight that Akerman’s unique approach transforms cinema, which has often been an instrument of women’s subjugation, into a medium that empowers and liberates women.

Dee Rees

Dee Rees is a highly regarded writer and director who gained recognition with her debut feature, “Pariah.” This film explores the challenges faced by a teenager as she grapples with expressing her true gender and sexuality in a society marked by homophobia. Rees skillfully crafted a heartfelt and effective coming-of-age narrative, addressing a gap in this genre.

Rees also made a Bessie Smith biopic, starring Queen Latifah, which garnered four Emmy wins and an impressive eight nominations. Her contributions to this film earned her acclaim in the categories of directing and writing.

Her subsequent work, “Mudbound,” delved into the post-World War II Mississippi landscape, highlighting the struggles of two men confronted by racism. Rees’ writing in this film was so exceptional that it earned her an Oscar nomination. She possesses a remarkable ability to create characters that evoke empathy, allowing viewers to gain insight into their inner thoughts and emotions without relying on excessive exposition.

Alice Wu

After completing her computer science studies at university, Alice Wu took a different path and pursued a career in filmmaking following her graduation. Her debut film, “Saving Face,” centers around a mother and daughter involved in non-traditional relationships – the daughter with another woman, and her widowed mother unexpectedly pregnant despite not being remarried. While primarily a comedy, Wu skillfully weaves in profound observations about cultural norms and traditional values.

Nearly two decades later, Wu released “The Half of It,” a captivating and loosely inspired adaptation of the classic story of Cyrano. The film tells the story of a teenage girl hired to correspond on behalf of a jock trying to win over his crush, and in the process, she finds herself falling for the same person. Although Wu has directed just these two films to date, they showcase her remarkable talent, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating more of her work.

Céline Sciamma

One of the most renowned directors on this list is Céline Sciamma, who gained widespread recognition following the success of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” In addition to her directing prowess, she’s a talented writer and penned the screenplay for “My Life as a Zucchini,” which was later directed by Claude Barras. Much of Sciamma’s filmography delves into themes of gender and sexuality, as seen in movies like “Girlhood,” “Water Lilies,” and “Tomboy.” These three films also explore the complexities of childhood and adolescence, a period marked by intense emotions and profound transformations.

Sciamma’s films stand out for their keen and astute observations, particularly when it comes to the nuanced interplay between gender and sexuality, which are often treated as entirely distinct aspects of one’s identity and experiences.

Rose Troche

Rose Troche is a versatile filmmaker with notable contributions to both television and feature films. Her debut project, “Go Fish,” co-written by Troche and Guinevere Turner, explores the lesbian community in Chicago, offering a heartfelt mix of comedy and profound self-reflection. This film quickly established Troche as a compelling and promising talent.

In the realm of television, she directed episodes for series like “Vida,” “Shameless,” and “Six Feet Under,” and she played a significant role in shaping “The L Word.”

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