On 4-5 November, representatives from the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) met in Lisbon to discuss how to advance gender equality within collective management organisations (CMOs) and increase women creators among members and on the boards. The SAA was among them.

Culture contributes to 30 million jobs worldwide and represents around 3% of the world’s GDP (UNESCO). However, we are still far from policies that put creators at the centre of our booming creative industries and that understands their full potential and value in global development and cooperation.

In a few weeks, EU citizens’ will elect a new European Parliament. Looking back, the Parliament has done a lot for directors and screenwriters in Europe, and one could ask: Is there anything more to do? Yes there is.

Half of all Hollywood blockbusters fail to pass the Bechdel test, including the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, all Star Wars and all but one of the Harry Potter movies. One may think it is a simple test, but many films lack the requirements: two female characters who both have a name and talk to each other about something other than a man.

Margarethe Von Trotta, Isabel Coixet, Julie Bertuccelli, Lynsey Miller, Diane Redmond and Susanna White are just some of the female screenwriters and directors who have signed the declaration calling for fair remuneration of European audiovisual authors. Today – on International Women’s Day (8 March) it is fair to also point out that not only is fair remuneration for authors a necessity but that there is also chronic underrepresentation of female directors and screenwriters in the film industry. 

Directors UK report among others to be discussed at European Audiovisual Observatory workshop at Cannes film festival

FERA, SAA and EWA partner Strasbourg event (10th December) on the subject of equal opportunities for female film directors in co-operation with the LUX Prize and hosted by Ms Nadja Hirsch, Vice Chair on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs