Documentary filmmakers

Number and proportion of male and female producers, directors and writers of Australian documentaries, 1980–2014

Currently active | Comparison over time

Currently active

Based on analysis of 910 documentaries shot over the past five years, there are 579 currently active producers in Australia, 430 directors and 417 writers.

Women account for 46 per cent of the producers, 33 per cent of the directors and 38 per cent of the writers.

Number and sex of filmmakers credited in various roles on Australian documentaries, 2009/10–2013/14.

Source: Screen Australia analysis of credits of theatrically released and television broadcast Australian documentaries shot between July 2009 and June 2014.

Notes:
Gender unknown for 25 people: nine producers, eight directors and eight writers.
Producers, writers and directors are deemed to be ‘currently active’ if they have been credited on at least one Australian documentary in the last five years.
Figures include credits for co-productions but exclude overseas productions made by Australian producers, directors and writers.
Percentages may not total exactly due to rounding.

Comparison over time

The proportion of female producers of Australian documentaries has risen each decade, from 31 per cent in the 1980s to 40 per cent in the 1990s and 44 per cent in the 2000s. However, the overall number of female producers of Australian documentaries fell between the 1990s and the 2000s from 486 to 444.

The proportion of female directors of Australian documentaries rose from 28 per cent in the 1980s to 35 per cent in the 1990s, remaining at 35 per cent in the 2000s. The total number of female directors of Australian documentaries fell between the 1990s and the 2000s, from 357 to 294.

The proportion of female writers of Australian documentaries rose from 27 per cent to 37 per cent between the 1980s and the 1990s. This proportion fell by 1 percentage point between the 1990s and the 2000s.

Number and sex of filmmakers credited in various roles on Australian documentaries, 1980/81–2010/11

Source: Screen Australia analysis of credits of theatrically released and television broadcast Australian documentaries shot between July 1980 and June 2011.

Notes:
Gender unknown for 109 people: 40 producers, 26 directors and 43 writers.
Figures include credits for co-productions but exclude overseas productions made by Australian producers, directors and writers.
Percentages may not total exactly due to rounding.