Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words

Celebrating women directors and their incredible contributions to filmmaking, this fascinating survey includes a brief history about groundbreaking trailblazers, in-depth interviews with singular female directors, and a comprehensive list of noteworthy talents and their films.

From the birth of cinema in the 1890s to the global box office today, women directors have had to work hard to tell their stories. Although they make up a small percentage of current filmmakers, their contributions to the cinematic arts are both significant and unique.

In revelatory conversations with international filmmakers, film critic and historian Gates shines a light on their career-spanning works. From feminist pioneers and maverick independents to Oscar-winning directors, these filmmakers include Jane Campion, Susan Seidelman, and Mira Nair.

Through illuminating discussions, the directors take readers on a deep exploration into their filmmaking processes and themes. Each is accompanied by illustrations of the filmmakers on location and vivid film stills. Offering a rare glimpse into the movie business, they share stories of their unique journeys navigating the film industry. In an era when most fans of film rely on the Internet for information, this curated collection of interviews is the ideal reference with insights directly from these trailblazing filmmakers themselves.

With an expertise in silent film, film noir, and female directors, Marya E. Gates is a freelance film writer and critic based in Chicago. She has a BA in Comparative Literature and an MFA in film production. Before turning to writing full-time, she worked in social media marketing and editorial in the film industry. Her work has appeared in various film publications including Vulture, Indiewire, and Emmy Mag. She writes a monthly interview column for RogerEbert.com called "Female Filmmakers in Focus.” Film buff Alex Kittle is a digital illustrator and zine artist.