DGA Finds Little Progress on Diversity in Feature Film Hires

variety.com:

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer There has been little improvement in diversity among film directors over the last five years, as the total number of features as plummeted, according to a new report from the Directors Guild of America.

The DGA report found that women directed 16% of the films released since 2018, while non-white directors accounted for 17%. The total number of DGA-covered theatrical releases fell from 292 in 2018 to 162 in 2022, which the union said has had an effect on the opportunity for hiring diversity.

There is far more diversity in TV directing, which has seen steady increases over the last decade. In 2022, the DGA reported that 38% of episodes were directed by women in the prior season, while 34% were directed by people of color. “Though there has been significant progress in episodic television hiring, feature film hiring continues to be both inconsistent from year-to-year with little or no growth over the last five years,” said Lesli Linka Glatter, the union’s president, in a statement. “The DGA remains united in our commitment to continue pushing for meaningful action from producers that will increase access and representation that aligns with our diverse membership.” The DGA report covers all union-covered theatrical releases from 2018-2022, and includes a breakdown for each year.

The numbers show an incremental improvement from the last DGA theatrical report, which was issued in 2017. The earlier report found that 8% of films released in 2013-17 were shot by women directors, while 13% were shot by directors of color.