The 92nd Academy Awards take place this Sunday. But as a new decade begins, it appears little has improved in the fight for gender equality in Hollywood. Ungendered awards categories are once again dominated by men. Ahead of this year’s ceremony, we examine how the imbalance breaks down. Carry on scrolling to explore.
Speaking to the Guardian, Morrison said: “I don’t believe in being nominated because we are women. It has to be about the work. People were in an uproar about Little Women [whose director, Greta Gerwig, was snubbed], but maybe it wasn’t perceived to be one of strongest films of the year.
“That said, my favourite films this year were almost all female-helmed: Atlantics, Portrait of a Lady, Honey Boy, The Farewell. Change has to start from the ground up – more female directors. Period. And we need to be given similar budgets, similar access to time, to toys etc. Most of the best pictures were huge productions like 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Joker.
“How can Honey Boy [directed by Alma Har’el], which was made for $2.5m, ever be expected to compete? And then the studios have the marketing dollars etc…
“The last thing – and this is huge – is that Oscar voters need to see all the films before they vote. If more voters had seen the indies, I believe there would be more of them at the top of their lists.”
While a gender imbalance in Hollywood still exists, the percentage of women nominated, whether on their own or as part of a team, has certainly improved. At this year’s ceremony, for example, women or mixed teams have been named for 44 per cent of the total nominations, the highest proportion in the history of the Oscars.
But when it comes to the most prestigious categories that both men and women can win — best directing, best picture and adapted and original screenplay — there is still work to be done. All five nominations for best director for Sunday’s awards are men, for example, the second year in a row no woman has been nominated.
