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Film Finders: Exploring Special Topics

52 Films by Women

 

 

Spearheaded by Women In Film (WIF), movie lovers are asked to commit to watching one film by a woman, once a week for one year. The Film & Video Collection supports the #52FilmsByWomen movement as a fun way to bring attention to the many talented female filmmakers around the world and as a great way to spark creative and interactive conversation. Cinema-Fanatic polled over 500 critics, filmmakers, bloggers, historians, professors and casual film viewers asking them what films directed (or co-directed) by women are essential viewing.

Feel free to click on listed call numbers for additional information from DELCAT Discovery. 

*Films available via streaming through the Library (at the time of the last update to this page) are starred.*

 

A Year With Women: 103 Essential Films By Female Filmmakers

 

 

 

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*1. Clueless (1995), dir. Amy Heckerling-eVideo; DVD 13305 (147 votes)

53. Daughters of the Dust (1991), dir. Julie Dash-HDDVD 528; DVD 1783 (34 votes)
*2.  Lost in Translation (2003), dir. Sofia Coppola-eVideo; DVD 1003 (144 votes) 54.  Belle (2014), dir. Amma Asante-HDDVD 372 (33 votes)
3.  The Piano (1992), dir. Jane Campion-DVD 5309 (120 votes)

55. Strange Days (1995), dir. Kathryn Bigelow-DVD 5294 (33 votes)
*4.  Selma (2014), dir. Ava DuVernay-eVideo; DVD 15948; HDDVD 404 (118 votes)

*56. Whale Rider (2003), dir. Niki Caro-eVideo; DVD 765 (33 votes)
*5. American Psycho (2000), dir. Mary Harron-eVideo; DVD 228 (110 votes) 57. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), dir. Susan Seidelman-DVD 13565 (32 votes)
6. Cléo from 5 to 7 (1961), dir. Agnès Varda-DVD 4772 (93 votes) *58. Away From Her (2006), dir. Sarah Polley-eVideo; DVD 3878 (31 votes)
*7. The Hurt Locker (2009), dir. Kathryn Bigelow-eVideo; DVD 6921 (92 votes) *59. Monsoon Wedding (2002), dir. Mira Nair-eVideo; DVD 1422 (31 votes)
8. Fish Tank (2009), dir. Andrea Arnold-DVD 9255; HDDVD 710 (84 votes) 60. Sweetie (1989) dir. Jane Campion-DVD 9741 (31 votes)
9. The Virgin Suicides (1999), dir. Sofia Coppola-DVD 623; HDDVD 570 (84 votes) 61. Harlan County, U.S.A., (1976), dir. Barbara Kopple-DVD 2639 (30 votes)

*10. Winter’s Bone (2010) dir. Debra Granik-eVideo; DVD 8311; 

HDDVD 74 (75 votes)

62. The Decline of Western Civilization (1981), dir. Penelope Spheeris-DVD 16371 (29 votes)

11. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), 

dir. Chantal Akerman-DVD 7782 (74 votes)

 63. Wanda, (1970) dir. Barbara Loden-DVD 17343 (28 votes)
*12. The Babadook (2014), dir. Jennifer Kent-eVideo; DVD 15901 (72 votes) 64. You’ve Got Mail (1998), dir. Nora Ephron-DVD 1755 (28 votes)

*13. Zero Dark Thirty (2012), dir. Kathryn Bigelow-eVideo; 

DVD 12904; HDDVD 220 (72 votes)

 65. Thirteen (2003), dir. Catherine Hardwicke-DVD 768 (27 votes)

14. Sedmikrásky = Daisies (1966) dir. Věra Chytilová-DVD 11790 disc 2 (70 votes)

*66. The Kids Are All Right (2010), dir. Lisa Cholodenko-eVideo; 

DVD 8413 (26 votes)

*15. A League of Their Own (1992) dir. Penny Marshall-eVideo; DVD 4551 (69 votes)

67. Little Miss Sunshine (2006), dir. Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton-

DVD 3117 (25 votes)
16. Meshes of the Afternoon (1943), dir. Maya Deren & Alexander Hammid-DVD 1155 (69 votes) 68. My Brilliant Career (1979), dir. Gillian Armstrong-DVD 1814 (25 votes)
17. Big (1988) dir. Penny Marshall-DVD 399 (68 votes) 69. Take This Waltz (2011), dir. Sarah Polley-DVD 12322 (25 votes)
18. Boys Don’t Cry (1999), dir. Kimberly Pierce-DVD 221 (62 votes) 70. Whip It (2009), dir. Drew Barrymore-DVD 7303 (25 votes)
*19. Orlando (1992), dir. Sally Potter-eVideo; DVD 4828 (59 votes) 71. White Material (2009), dir. Claire Denis-DVD 9678 (25 votes)
20. Point Break (1991), dir. Kathryn Bigelow-DVD 7546 (58 votes) 72. Enough Said (2013), dir. Nicole Holofcener-DVD 14031 (24 votes)
*21. Stories We Tell (2013), dir. Sarah Polley-eVideo; DVD 13489 (58 votes) *73. Frida (2002), dir. Julie Taymor-eVideo; DVD 646 (24 votes)

22. We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011), dir. Lynne Ramsay-

DVD 11652 (58 votes)

 74. Love & Basketball (2000), dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood-DVD 16040 (24 votes)

23. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), dir. Ana Lily

Amirpour-DVD 15911 (57 votes)

 75. Paris is Burning (1990), dir. Jennie Livingston-DVD 7768; HDDVD 840 (23 votes)
*24. An Education (2009), dir. Lone Scherfig-eVideo; DVD 7159 (56 votes) 76. Ravenous (1999), dir. Antonia Bird-DVD 17384 (23 votes)
25. The Hitch-Hiker (1953), dir. Ida Lupino-DVD 15669 (56 votes) 77. A New Leaf (1971), dir. Elaine May-DVD 12017 (22 votes)
*26. Bright Star (2009), dir. Jane Campion-eVideo; DVD 7395 (55 votes) 78. Dogfight (1991), dir. Nancy Savoca-DVD 17301  (21 votes)
27. Beau Travail (1999), dir. Claire Denis-DVD 968 (54 votes) *79. Eve’s Bayou (1997), dir. Kasi Lemmons-eVideo; DVD 5035 (21 votes)

*28.  Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) dir. Amy 

Heckerling-eVideo; DVD 3948 (50 votes)

 80. Le bonheur (1964), dir. Agnès Varda-DVD 4775 (21 votes)
29. Wayne’s World (1992), dir. Penelope Spheeris-DVD 17359 (49 votes) 81. Titus (1999), dir. Julie Taymor-DVD 204 (21 votes)
30. Near Dark (1987), dir. Kathryn Bigelow-DVD 7883 (47 votes)

82. Triumph des Willens = Triumph of the Will (1935), dir.

Leni Riefenstahl-DVD 336 (21 votes)

*31. Persepolis (2007), dir. Marjane Satrapi & Vincent

Paronnaud-eVideo; DVD 4882 (47 votes)

 83. Trouble Every Day (2001), dir. Claire Denis-DVD 17339 (21 votes)
*32. Marie Antoinette (2006), dir. Sofia Coppola-eVideo; DVD 3267 (45 votes) 84. Waitress (2007), dir. Adrienne Shelly-DVD 4261 (21 votes)
33. Little Women (1994),dir. Gillian Armstrong-DVD 4947 (44 votes)

*85. The Matrix (1999), dir. Lana Wachowski & Lilly

Wachowski- eVideo; DVD 409; HDDVD 154 (20 votes)
34. Meek’s Cutoff (2011), dir. Kelly Reichardt-DVD 10312 (44 votes) 86. Appropriate Behavior (2015), dir. Desiree Akhavan-DVD 16526 (19 votes)
*35. Wadjda (2013) dir. Haifaa Al-Mansour-eVideo; HDDVD 301 (43 votes)  87. Somewhere (2010), dir. Sofia Coppola-DVD 9617 (19 votes)
36. Beyond the Lights (2014), dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood-DVD 16527 (42 votes) 88. Voskhozhdeniye = The Ascent (1977), dir. Larisa Sheptiko-DVD 5653 (19 votes)
*37. Pariah (2011), dir. Dee Rees-eVideo; DVD 7141 (42 votes)

89. Les glaneurs et la glaneuse  = The Gleaners & I (2000), dir. Agnès 

Varda-DVD 3991 (19 votes)
38. Wendy and Lucy (2008), dir. Kelly Reichardt-DVD 6436 (42 votes) 90.  Dance, Girl, Dance (1940), dir. Dorothy Arzner-DVD 17304 (18 votes)
39. Bande de filles = Girlhood (2014) dir. Céline Sciamma-DVD 17310 (41 votes) 91. Europa Europa (1990),  dir. Agnieszka Holland-DVD 1813 (18 votes)
40.  An Angel at My Table (1989), dir. Jane Campion-DVD 2003 (40 votes) *92. Girlfight (2000), dir. Karyn Kusama-eVideo; DVD 772 (18 votes)
41. Obvious Child (2014), dir. Gillian Robespierre-DVD 15049 (40 votes) 93. Mikey and Nicky (1976) dir. Elaine May-DVD 17327 (18 votes)
42. Ratcatcher (1999), dir. Lynne Ramsay-DVD 7365 (40 votes) 94. The Heartbreak Kid (1983), dir. Elaine May-DVD 20032 (18 votes)
43. Bend it Like Beckham (2002), dir. Gurinder Chadha-DVD 725 (39 votes)

95. Khaneh siah ast = The House is Black (1962), dir. Furūgh

Farrukhzād-DVD 4285 (18 votes)
44. Tomboy (2011), dir. Céline Sciamma-DVD 11754 (39 votes) 96. Across The Universe (2007), dir. Julie Taymor-DVD 4382; HDDVD 28 (17 votes)

45. Sans toit ni loi = Vagabond (1985), dir. Agnès 

Varda-DVD 2549; DVD 4773 (38 votes)

 97. The Bling Ring (2013), dir. Sofia Coppola-DVD 13534 (17 votes)
46. But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), dir. Jamie Babbit-DVD 7898 (36 votes) 98. Il portiere di notte = The Night Porter (1974), dir. Liliana Cavani-DVD 179 (17 votes)

47. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), dir. Miranda

July-DVD 2069 (36 votes)

 99. Middle of Nowhere (2012), dir. Ava DuVernay-DVD 15734 (17 votes)
48. 35 Rhums = 35 Shots of Rum (2008), dir. Claire Denis-DVD 7696 (35 votes) 100. Born in Flames (1983), dir. Lizzie Borden-VHS 2181 (16 votes)
49. À ma sœur! = Fat Girl, (2001), dir. Catherine Breillat-DVD 2520 (35 votes) 101. Gas Food Lodging (1991), dir. Allison Anders-DVD 8986 (16 votes)
50. Monster (2003), dir. Patty Jenkins-DVD 1007 (35 votes) 102. Ishtar (1987), dir. Elaine May-HDDVD 458 (16 votes)
51. Morvern Callar (2002), dir. Lynne Ramsay-DVD 17295 (35 votes) 103. La Mujer sin Cabeza = The Headless Woman (2008), dir. Lucrecia Martel-DVD 7059 (16 votes)
52. Sleepless in Seattle (1993), dir. Nora Ephron-DVD 389 (35 votes)