Feature filmmakers

Number and proportion of male and female producers, directors and writers of Australian feature films, 1970–2014

Currently active | Comparison over time

Currently active

Based on analysis of 182 feature films shot over the last five years, there are 322 currently active feature film producers in Australia, 190 directors and 259 writers.

Women account for 32 per cent of the producers, 16 per cent of the directors and 23 per cent of the writers.

Number and gender of filmmakers credited in various roles on Australian feature films, 2008/09–2013/14

Source: Screen Australia analysis of credits of theatrically released Australian feature films shot between July 2009 and June 2014.

Notes:
Gender unknown for eight people: six producers and two directors.
Producers, writers and directors are deemed to be ‘currently active’ if they have been credited on at least one Australian feature film 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 and missing gender data.

Comparison over time

Since 1970, the proportion of women has been highest amongst producers. Over the last 41 years, 269 or 29 per cent of producers of Australian feature films were women, compared to 95 or 16 per cent of directors and 188 or 20 per cent of writers.

The proportion of female producers more than doubled between the 1970s and the 1980s from 10 per cent to 22 per cent, and continued to rise, with women comprising 34 per cent of producers of Australian feature films in the first decade of the 2000s.

Female directors increased even more dramatically, from 4 per cent of total feature film directors in the 1970s to 18 per cent in the 1990s. However, the proportion of female directors fell by 1 percentage point between the 1990s and the 2000s.

The proportion of female writers of Australian feature films rose from 12 per cent in the 1970s to 17 per cent in the 1980s and 1990s, rising again to 21 per cent in the 2000s.

Number and gender of filmmakers credited in various roles on Australian feature films, 1970/71–2010/11

Source: Screen Australia analysis of credits of Australian feature films shot between July 1970 and June 2011.

Notes:
Gender unknown for 35 people: 12 producers, four directors and 19 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 and missing gender data.