In the year 2017, just 11 percent of the directors of Hollywood’s top-grossing films are women. How crazy is that? Yet, Patty Jenkins‘ Wonder Woman earned $821 million in box office sales, and proved to us and the world that women are more than capable of creating a successful AF film. So Glamour set out to help improve those measly numbers. We partnered with Girlgaze to launch the #NewView film competition, which provides young aspiring female directors with the ultimate prize: a chance to direct their own work. Meet our five winners, picked by epic judges (Shonda Rhimes, Zendaya, and more!) and watch their inspiring videos below.
Party Dress
Directed by Molly Fisher
What the director says:
“It’s a short film about Harper Klein, a 12-year-old tomboy who attends a birthday party in a pink party dress,” says Brooklyn director Molly Fisher, 30. “While it’s not necessary autobiographical, the story is extremely personal: I was once a melancholy tomboy who didn’t fit in to the girl cliques or the boy cliques.”
What the judges loved:
“This humanizes the struggle some feel when they don’t fit in their body.”
—Gia Coppola, filmmaker
“Beautifully and heartbreakingly told…. Tender and real, with a great lead performance.”
—Geena Davis, actor, founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
What she won:
Molly will direct a fashion video for South Coast Plaza with a $5,000 minimum production budget, with at least 10% of the total approved cost to be paid to Molly as her fee.
The Looking Ceremony
Directed by Fany de la Chica
What the director says:
“This film follows Isa, a real gypsy living in Andalusia, Spain, as she experiences a tradition in which older women in her family confirm her virginity,” says New York City director Fany de la Chica, 33. “She must decide whether she marries her fiancé or escapes with her true love.”
What the judges loved:
“These enforced traditions are hard to break free of, so I was moved by the context of the local women in this film.”
—Amanda de Cadenet, CEO and founder, Girlgaze
“A stunningly portrayed compelling perspective and peek into a young woman’s life struggling to find her own path.”
—Chloë Grace Moretz, actress and activist
“I love how it portrays a culture with strong traditions, but with a modern protagonist taking her destiny into her own hands.”
—Crystal Moselle, filmmaker
What she won:
Fany will shoot a video for THEOUTNET.com with a minimum production budget of $40,000 with at least 5% of the total approved cost to be paid to Fany as her fee.
Q.U.E.E.N.
Directed by Brittany “B.Monét” Fennell
What the director says:
“Q.U.E.E.N. follows 16-year-old Imani, who struggles to find her voice,” says director Brittany “B.Monét” Fennell, 27. “Through self-discovery and a little bit of courage, she faces her biggest fears at a rap battle.”
What the judges loved:
“I love the raw talent the girl demonstrates while exposing the harsh truth that not every battle can be won.”
—Bela Bajaria, vice president of content acquisition, Netflix
“It crackles with personality and originality while it takes us on an emotional journey in such an impressively short amount of time.”
—Shonda Rhimes, writer, producer
“B.Monét manages to break my heart in two and a half minutes with the moving mother-daughter relationship at the core of this piece.”
—Jill Soloway, artist
What she won:
Brittany “B.Monét” Fennell will shoot a LuMee video with the theme “2 Sides to Every Story,” using LuMee lighting and a minimum production budget of $5,000, with at least 10% of the total approved production cost to be paid to Brittany.
Pocket-Sized Feminism
Directed by Valerie Schenkman
What the director says:
“The spoken-word piece ‘Pocket-Sized Feminism’, by Blythe Baird, felt like a rally call,” says Chilean American director Valerie Schenkman, 30. “This documentary shows women reading the poem to camera paired with footage from the D.C. Women’s March. It shows that women will mobilize to speak their truths.”
What the judges loved:
“It touched on the issues women face, through the strong and relatable voices of our mothers, sisters, and friends.”
—Lilly Singh, entertainer
“It showcases our unity versus our division.”
—Regina K. Scully, producer, documentary filmmaker, and founder and CEO of the Artemis Rising Foundation
What she won:
Valerie will shoot a Birchbox promotional video with a minimum production budget of $5,000, with at least 10% of the total approved production cost to be paid to Valerie as her fee.
The Black Mambas
Directed by Jess Colquhoun
What the director says:
“I tell the story of Leitah, a 23-year-old mother who is part of the South African anti-poaching unit The Black Mambas,” says director Jess Colquhoun, 24, of the documentary. “I was in awe of the fact that night and day, rain or shine, these group of unarmed woman act as the park’s ear and eyes to any sign of danger.”
What the judges loved:
“Having been to the bush in Africa, I found it captured the beauty and power of the women who protect it.”
—Jada Pinkett Smith, actress, producer, and activist
“The Black Mambas shows brave women doing what women can do.”
—Sheila Nevins, president of documentary films and family programming, HBO
“She reflected a rarely seen point of view on an untapped storyline.”
—Victoria Mahoney, director
What she won:
Jess will shoot a 2018 Glamour Women of the Year-related video with a minimum production budget of $5,000, with at least 10% of the total approved production cost to be paid to Jess as her fee.
About #NewView
These incredible films were selected from more than 800 entries. In addition to receiving a $3,000 prize, our winners will be directing short films
for our #NewView sponsors Birchbox, LuMee, THEOUTNET.COM, and South Coast Plaza as well as Glamour. The Utah Film Center also awarded each honoree $5,000. Special thanks to our entrepreneurial adviser, Katia Beauchamp, and all of our judges: Amanda de Cadenet, Amandla Stenberg, Bela Bajaria, Chloë Grace Moretz, Cindi Leive, Crystal Moselle, Dawn Ostroff, Dee Rees, Ellen Kuras, Geena Davis, Gia Coppola, Inez van Lamsweerde, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jill Soloway, Kimberly Peirce, Lilly Singh, Rashida Jones, Regina K. Scully, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Sheila Nevins, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Victoria Mahoney, Zendaya.