A recent study conducted by French think tank Lab Femmes de Cinéma has shed light on the slow progress towards achieving gender parity in the European film industry. The study, spanning the years from 2017 to 2023, revealed that women filmmakers in Europe are facing significant challenges in reaching equality with their male counterparts.
According to the findings, out of the 36 European countries examined, only 16 have taken steps to address abuse within the film industry, while 13 have started using funding applications to promote gender parity and diversity. Despite these efforts, women directors still represent just 23 percent of European filmmakers.
The study highlighted that at the current rate of progress, Europe is not expected to achieve gender parity until the year 2080. Lise Perottet, General Coordinator of Lab Femmes de Cinéma, emphasized the existence of a glass ceiling for women filmmakers in Europe, pointing out the reluctance to implement quotas for more equal gender financing.
While Spain has recently introduced firm quotas, other countries like Austria, Norway, and the U.K. have adopted softer approaches that function more as recommendations. Some national film centers have begun addressing unconscious bias and supporting parenthood to assist women in the industry, but these initiatives remain limited and in their early stages.
The study's findings align with a similar survey focusing on gender parity in the U.K., Canadian, and German film industries. The research indicated that achieving full gender parity, with women occupying 50 percent of key creative positions, is still a distant prospect. Germany is projected to reach gender parity in over 15 years, the U.K. in more than 60 years, and Canada in nearly 200 years, according to the study.
Despite the challenges highlighted in the study, efforts to promote gender equality in the European film industry are ongoing. The findings underscore the need for continued advocacy and action to address the systemic barriers that women filmmakers face in their pursuit of equal opportunities.
