18 female directors who have been snubbed by the Oscars

Talia LakritzJan 1, 2021, 01:25 IST

Directors Greta Gerwig, Ava DuVernay, and Lulu Wang were snubbed at the Oscars.Getty Images, Getty Images, Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images

Only five women have ever been nominated for best director, and just one of them has won.
"Little Women" received seven Oscar nominations in 2020, but director Greta Gerwig wasn't nominated for best director.
Ava DuVernay could have been the first Black woman nominated for best director for "Selma" in 2015, but she was snubbed.
Just three years after her historic best director win for "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow wasn't nominated for "Zero Dark Thirty."

In the 92-year history of the Academy Awards, only five women have ever been nominated for best director, and only one of them has won. None of them has been a woman of color. And of the top 100 highest-grossing movies of 2019, only 10.7% of them were directed by women.

The Time's Up movement, which is marking its third anniversary on January 1, 2021, seeks to change that by combating gender-based discrimination in Hollywood and beyond.

Here are are 18 women whose directing work was snubbed by the Oscars.

In 1977 - 48 years after the Oscars began - Lina Wertmuller became the first woman to be nominated for best director, but she was not chosen as the winner.

Lina Wertmuller. Santi Visalli/Getty Images

Randa Haines directed "Children of a Lesser God" in 1986. It was nominated for five Oscars, including best picture - but not best director.

Randa Haines in 1987. Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Barbra Streisand told Variety that sexism had prevented her films from winning Oscars over the years, saying, "They don't want to see a woman director."

Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte on the set of "Prince of Tides." The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

"Awakenings" received three Oscar nominations in 1991, but director Penny Marshall was not one of them.

Penny Marshal. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Jane Campion directed "The Piano" in 1993 and was nominated for best director, but she didn't win.

Jane Campion. GERARD JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images

Sofia Coppola won the Oscar for best screenplay for "Lost in Translation," but she lost best director to Peter Jackson.

Sofia Coppola. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images

Valerie Faris and her husband, Jonathan Dayton, made their directorial debut with the critically acclaimed "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, but they weren't nominated for best director.

Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, co-directors of Little Miss Sunshine. Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty Images

Valerie Faris and her husband, Jonathan Dayton, made their directorial debut with the critically acclaimed "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, but they weren't nominated for best director.

"The Kids Are All Right" was nominated for four Oscars in 2011, but they didn't include a best director nod for Lisa Cholodenko.

Lisa Cholodenko. Eric CATARINA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

That same year, Debra Granik's directing work on "Winter's Bone" was also overlooked by the Academy.

Debra Granik. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for National Board of Review

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to ever win best director for "The Hurt Locker" in 2010, but she was snubbed in 2013 after she directed "Zero Dark Thirty."

Kathryn Bigelow. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Ava DuVernay could have been the first Black woman nominated for best director for "Selma" in 2015, but the Academy didn't include her.

Ava DuVernay. Getty Images

"Wonder Woman," directed by Patty Jenkins, was not nominated for a single Oscar.

Patty Jenkins. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

"Harriet" was nominated for two Oscars in 2020, but director Kasi Lemmons didn't receive one.

Kasi Lemmons. J. Countess/Getty Images

"Queen and Slim," directed by Melina Matsoukas, was not nominated for any Academy Awards in 2020.

Melina Matsoukas. Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI

In 2020, Greta Gerwig was nominated for best adapted screenplay for "Little Women," but not for best director.

Greta Gerwig. Getty Images

Marielle Heller wasn't nominated for best director for her film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," or for "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Marielle Heller. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images for "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" Pittsburgh Special Screening

"The Farewell," directed by Lulu Wang, was not nominated for any Oscars, despite rave reviews.

Lulu Wang. Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images

Alma Har'el won the first-time feature film award from the Directors Guild Of America for "Honey Boy" in 2020, but she wasn't nominated for any Oscars.

Alma Har'el. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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18 female directors who have been snubbed by the Oscars

In 1977 - 48 years after the Oscars began - Lina Wertmuller became the first woman to be nominated for best director, but she was not chosen as the winner.

Randa Haines directed "Children of a Lesser God" in 1986. It was nominated for five Oscars, including best picture - but not best director.

Barbra Streisand told Variety that sexism had prevented her films from winning Oscars over the years, saying, "They don't want to see a woman director."

"Awakenings" received three Oscar nominations in 1991, but director Penny Marshall was not one of them.

Jane Campion directed "The Piano" in 1993 and was nominated for best director, but she didn't win.

Sofia Coppola won the Oscar for best screenplay for "Lost in Translation," but she lost best director to Peter Jackson.

Valerie Faris and her husband, Jonathan Dayton, made their directorial debut with the critically acclaimed "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, but they weren't nominated for best director.

"The Kids Are All Right" was nominated for four Oscars in 2011, but they didn't include a best director nod for Lisa Cholodenko.

That same year, Debra Granik's directing work on "Winter's Bone" was also overlooked by the Academy.

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to ever win best director for "The Hurt Locker" in 2010, but she was snubbed in 2013 after she directed "Zero Dark Thirty."

Ava DuVernay could have been the first Black woman nominated for best director for "Selma" in 2015, but the Academy didn't include her.

"Wonder Woman," directed by Patty Jenkins, was not nominated for a single Oscar.

"Harriet" was nominated for two Oscars in 2020, but director Kasi Lemmons didn't receive one.

"Queen and Slim," directed by Melina Matsoukas, was not nominated for any Academy Awards in 2020.

In 2020, Greta Gerwig was nominated for best adapted screenplay for "Little Women," but not for best director.

Marielle Heller wasn't nominated for best director for her film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," or for "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

"The Farewell," directed by Lulu Wang, was not nominated for any Oscars, despite rave reviews.

Alma Har'el won the first-time feature film award from the Directors Guild Of America for "Honey Boy" in 2020, but she wasn't nominated for any Oscars.