International Female Directors Urge Academy Voters to Nominate ‘Bold and Diverse’ Films

variety.com:

Marta Balaga As the battle for international feature film Oscar heats up, female directors behind this year’s submissions urge Academy members to stay open-minded. “Many outstanding films won’t be noticed simply because people don’t watch them.

Established directors, big production companies or rich distributors are in a better starting position, but I encourage Academy voters to go for bold and diverse choices,” says Estonia’s Anna Hints, who’s behind crowd-pleasing doc “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood.” “The safest choice is not always the best,” echoes Tizza Covi, who co-directed Austrian selection “Vera” with Rainer Frimmel. “The fact that more women are able to realize their films has made cinema richer.

There has never been a lack of female talent, just a lack of opportunities.” Although known (male) directors are still expected to land nominations, from Aki Kaurismäki (“Fallen Leaves,” Finland) to Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest,” U.K.), many countries decided to bet on first and second-time female filmmakers instead. “Senegal has previously submitted films by women, like Mati Diop’s ‘Atlantics.’ As a first-time director, this selection holds immense meaning,” admits “Banel & Adama” helmer Ramata-Toulaye Sy.“There’s a positive trend with more young female directors finding their place.

Full equality remains distant, but trust in women [leading] significant projects is growing. Diversity in cinema is so important and films from all over the world, and not just from the U.S.