This one, compiled by Film Fatales, a collective of female film directors based in NYC, names 58 films directed by women that are necessary viewing for all filmmakers and cinephiles looking to expand their knowledge about the craft of filmmaking. The lists are separated into two categories: recent films and ones that inspired the work of those in Film Fatales. Check them out below, and continue on to see my "top" 10:

Recent Women-Directed Films That Everyone Should See

  • A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night by Ana Lily Amirpour
  • A Teacher by Hannah Fidell
  • Advantageous by Jennifer Phang
  • Apartment Troubles by Jess Weixler & Jennifer Prediger
  • Appropriate Behavior by Desiree Akhavan
  • Belle by Amma Asante
  • Beyond the Lights by Gina Prince-Bythewood
  • Caught by Maggie Kiley
  • Concussion by Stacie Passon
  • Diary of a Teenage Girl by Marielle Heller
  • Honeytrap by Rebecca Johnson
  • I Believe in Unicorns by Leah Meyerhoff
  • It Felt Like Love by Eliza Hittman
  • Kelly & Cal by Jen McGowan
  • Little Accidents by Sara Colangelo
  • Lucky Them by Megan Griffiths
  • Obvious Child by Gillian Robespierre
  • Pariah by Dee Rees
  • Selma by Ava Duvernay
  • She’s Lost Control by Anja Marquardt
  • Sleeping with Other People by Leslye Headland
  • Stray Dog by Debra Granik
  • The Midnight Swim by Sarah Adina Smith
  • There Is A New World Somewhere by Li Lu
  • Vessel by Diana Whitten
  • Your Sister’s Sister by Lynn Shelton

Women-Directed Films That Inspired the Work of Film Fatales

  • American Psycho by Mary Harron
  • Beau Travail by Claire Denis
  • Boys Don’t Cry by Kimberly Peirce
  • But I’m a Cheerleader by Jamie Babbit
  • Cleo from 5 to 7 by Agnes Varda
  • Daisies by Vera Chytilova
  • Daughters of the Dust by Julie Dash
  • Down to the Bone by Debra Granik
  • Fat Girl by Catherine Breillat
  • Fish Tank by Andrea Arnold
  • Gas Food Lodging by Allison Anders
  • Go Fish by Rose Troche
  • High Art by Lisa Cholodenko
  • In A Better World by Susanne Bier
  • Jesus Son by Alison Maclean
  • La Cienega by Lucrecia Martel
  • Me and You and Everyone You Know by Miranda July
  • Monsoon Wedding by Mira Nair
  • Monster by Patty Jenkins
  • Near Dark by Kathryn Bigelow
  • Ratcatcher by Lynne Ramsay
  • Salaam Bombay by Mira Nair
  • Stories We Tell by Sarah Polley
  • Suburbia by Penelope Spheeris
  • Sweetie by Jane Campion
  • The Arbor by Andrea Dunbar
  • Thirteen by Catherine Hardwicke
  • Vagabond by Agnes Varda
  • Variety by Bette Gordon
  • Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppola
  • Wadjda by Haifaa al-Mansour
  • Wendy and Lucy by Kelly Reichardt

This list of films and directors only scratches the surface of the contribution women have made to cinema. I encourage you to discover more on your own if you haven't already. Here is my own list of personal favorites and ones I consider especially important/entertaining/awesome:


  • Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles by Chantal Akerman (my favorite non-French New Wave movie of all time)
  • Lovely & Amazing by Nicole Holofcener
  • An Education by Lone Scherfig
  • The Babadook by Jennifer Kent
  • American Splendor by Shari Springer Berman
  • Tiny Furniture by Lena Dunham
  • Winter's Bone by Debra Granik
  • Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
  • Frozen River by Courtney Hunt
  • Wayne's World by Penelope Spheeris (Duh!)

In light of the ACLU's petition asking the government to inquire about Hollywood's hiring practices, it seems as though people are starting to pay more attention to the issues women face in the industry. Which is great, because -- damn -- it's 2015 and I'm too stuck in my ways to pull a passion for sandwich-making and gender specificity out of my ass. (Though I do make bomb PB&Js.)

Who are some of your favorite female directors and/or films made by women? Let us know in the comments!