The tide is turning – the industry that used to belong to men and men alone is growing, and it's welcoming everyone in. From stirring dramas to big-budget superhero epics, female directors are paving the way for an exciting year ahead. Here's who we have on our radar in 2019
Joanna Hogg has been making movies since 2007, as some kind of national treasure since the hazy Mediterranean mood piece that is Unrelated.
With The Souvenir, Hogg is tapping into her own past, telling the story of an aspiring filmmaker as she embarks on a relationship with an older man. This is a serious one to watch – a quiet masterpiece that's already one of the best films of the year.
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More known for indies on the small side like Seeking for a Friend for the End of the World and The Meddler, Lorene Scafaria has been laying low until now. It's an exciting proposition to see what she can do with a bigger budget in Hustlers, and judging from the first glimpses of the film, she's set to deliver.
A modern-day Robin Hood story, Hustlers follows a group of strippers who raid the wallets of their Wall Street clients. Rising stars Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart and Keke Palmer are led by Jennifer Lopez, while pop stars Cardi B and Lizzo also make their big screen debuts.
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Lulu Wang has only directed two films, but with The Farewell, she set ablaze the chilly Sundance Film Festival and made her mark as a major talent to watch.
Based on her This American Life episode, The Farewell sees Wang unravel the moral dilemma of the time in her own past when her family decided to hide the truth of her grandmother's fatal illness. Wang sensitively traverses the cultural distance between her and her family in her moving sophomore feature.
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Better known as a charismatic character actress, Elizabeth Banks returns behind the camera with a fresh story from the Charlie's Angels universe. With her directorial debut, Pitch Perfect 2, Banks set a record by making $69 million on opening weekend.
Kristin Stewart and Naomi Scott star in Banks' new version of the cult hit, which is in fact a sequel to the first two films rather than a remake. 'The film honors the legacy of Charles Townshend and his agency', Banks explained, 'while introducing a new era of modern and global Angels'.
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There's no slowing down for Marielle Heller. While the Academy failed to recognise her talent with a nomination for Best Director for her film Can You Ever Forgive Me?, she's already onto the next project: a biopic of American TV darling Fred Rogers.
Rogers will be played by Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood. Heller has proved her skill to portray deeply empathetic outsiders, welcoming an audience with open arms. Expectations are high for everything she does next.
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All bow down to Greta Gerwig. The actress-turned-filmmaker exploded with her debut, the gentle, hopeful coming-of-age story Lady Bird, and earned an Oscar nomination for best director. On a sour note, she's only the fifth woman to ever make this achievement.
On her second outing, Gerwig brings her compassionate approach and sharp humour to her adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. After Lady Bird, Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet just can't have a happy relationship, who are set to break hearts once again as the doomed Jo and Laurie. Time needs to be pencilled in this Christmas for a meeting with the March sisters.
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