Greatest Films Directed By Women – Individual Staff List
Justine Smith
Bright Star, Jane Campion
Orlando, Sally Potter
Trouble Every Day, Claire Denis
Cleo 5 a 7, Agnes Varda
A New Leaf, Elaine May
The Night Porter, Liliana Cavani
American Psycho, Mary Harron
Anatomy of Hell, Catherine Breillat
Point Break, Kathryn Bigelow
Everyone Else, Maren Ade
Ricky D
Connection, Shirley Clarke
Wuthering Heights, Andrea Arnold
35 Shots of Rhum, Claire Denis
Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Derin
Seven Beauties, Lina Wertmuller
The Hitch-Hiker, Ida Lupino
Lina Wertmuller- Swept Away
Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
Headless Woman, Lucrecia Martel
XXY, Lucía Puenzo
Special mention:
Skyscraper – Shirley Clarke
Wasp – Andrea Arnold
On Dangerous Ground – Ida Lupino (uncredited)
Wanda
Chris Clemente
Little Miss Sunshine, Valerie Faris
American Psycho, Mary Harron
Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
Monster, Patty Jenkins
A League of Their Own, Penny Marshall
Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris
Clueless, Amy Heckerling
Point Break, Kathryn Bigelow
Joshau Youngerman
The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
Cleo 5 a 7, Agnes Varda
An Education, Lone Scherfig
Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow
Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt
Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Amy Heckerling
Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July
We Need To Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
Triumph of the Will, Leni Riefenstahl
Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
Bill Arceneaux
The Woodsman - Nicole Kassell
The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
Real Genius - Martha Coolidge
Lost in Yonkers - Martha Coolidge
Monster - Patty Jenkins
The Decline of Western Civilization – Penelope Spheeris
Wayne’s World – Penelope Spheeris
Me and You and Everyone We Know – Miranda July
American Psycho – Mary Harron
She-Devil – Susan Seidelman
Zornitsa Staneva
The Piano, Jane Campion
Night Porter, Liliana Cavalli
Red Road, Andrea Arnold
Romance, Catherine Breillat
Or, Keren Yedaya
To Take a Wife, Ronit Elkabetz
Salt White, Ketevan Machavariani
Women Without Men, Shirin Neshat
Caramel, Nadine Labaki
In Darkness, Agnieszka Holland
Laura Holtebrinck
Ratcatcher – Lynne Ramsay
Fast Times at Ridgemont High – Amy Heckerling
Europa, Europa – Agnieszka Holland
The Virgin Suicides - Sofia Coppola
Beyond Silence – Caroline Link
My Life WIthout Me – Isabel Coixet
An Education - Lone Scherfig
American Psycho – Mary Harron
Away From Her – Sarah Polley
Nowhere in Africa – Caroline Link
Robert Simpson
Lynne Ramsay, Rat Catcher
Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Debra Granik, Winter’s Bone
Lone Scherfig, Italian for Beginners
Agnieszka Holland, Europa-Europa
Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank
Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis
Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation
Anne Hui, A Simple Life
Leni Riefenstahl, Triumph of the Will
Ody Constantinou
Werckmeister Harmonies, Agnes Hranitzky/Bela Tarr (co-director)
The Turin Horse, Agnes Hranitzky/Bela Tarr (co-director)
Mickey and Nicky, Elaine May
The Heartbreak Kid, Elaine May
Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July
Monster, Patty Jenkins
Microcosmos, Claude Nuridsany/Marie Pérennou
Scott Patterson
Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
American Psycho – Mary Hannon
Monster - Patty Jenkins
The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow
Big – Penny Marshall
The Piano – Jane Campion
Winter’s Bone - Debra Granik
An Eductation – Lone Sherfig
Boys Don’t Cry – Kimberly Pierce
Strange Days - Kathyrn Bigelow
Michael Ryan
Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Penelope Spheeris, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
Jennifer Lynch, Chained
Patti Jenkis, Monster
Lisa Cholodenka, The Kids are Alright
Deepa Mehta, Bollywood, Hollywood
Amy Heckerling, Clueless
Penny Marshall, A League of Their Own
Shari Springer Berman, American Splendor
Honourable Mention:
Caroline Leaf, The Street
Tressa Eckermann
The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
Somethings Gotta Give, Nancy Meyers
Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow
Lords of Dogtown, Catherine Hardwike
Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik
Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris
Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
Me, You, and Everyone we know, Miranda July
2 Days in Paris, Julie Delpy
The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola
Katie Wong
Thirteen - Catherine Hardwicke
Lost in Translation - Sofia Coppola
Virgin Suicides - Sofia Coppola
Clueless – Amy Heckerling
The Piano - Jane Campion
The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
Point Break – Kathryn Bigelow
Monsoon Wedding - Mira Nair
Bend it like Beckham - Gurinder Chadha
Waitress – Adrienne Shelly
Edgar Chaput
Je, tu, il, Elle, Chantal Akerman
La pointe courte, Agnes varda
Beau travail, Claire Denis
American Psycho, Mary Harron
The Hitch Hiker, Ida Lupino
Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik
Chained, Jennifer Lynch
Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt
Dan Heaton
Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
After the Wedding – Susanne Bier
Wendy and Lucy – Kelly Reichardt
Cleo from 5 to 7 – Agnes Varda
Big - Penny Marshall
American Psycho – Mary Harron
Lovely and Amazing - Nicole Holofcener
Harlan County, USA – Barbara Kopple
Triumph of the Will – Leni Riefenstahl
Josh Slater-Williams
Bright Star, Jane Campion
Can Go Through Skin, Esther Rots
Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow
Somersault, Cate Shortland
Vendredi soir, Claire Denis
The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola
We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
White Material, Claire Denis
Erik Bondurant
Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha
Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
Innocence, Lucile Hadzihalilovic
The Night Porter, Liliana Cavani
A Time For Burning, Barbara Connell & Bill Jersey
Where Are My Children?, Lois Weber
Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik
The Woodsman, Nicole Kassell
XXY, Lucia Puenzo
John McEntee
Near Dark – Kathtyn Bigelow
Oscar & Wendy – Kelly Richardt
The Hitch Hiker- Ida Lupino
Bright Star - Jane Campion
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things – Asia Argento
Red Road – Andrea Arnold
On Dangerous Ground – Ida Lupino
Lost In Translation - Sofia Coppola
Morvan Callar - Lynne Ramsay
Pet Semetary - Mary Lambert
Shayne Ramirez
The Piano, Jane Campion
Point Break, Kathryn Bigalow
Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
Ravenous, Antonia Bird
Beau Travail, Claire Denis
Titus, Julie Taymor
Harlan County, USA, Barbara Kopple
We Need to Talk about Kevin, Lynne Ramsey
American Psycho, Mary Harron
Half Nelson, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Honorable Mentions:
Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July
Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
After the Wedding, Susanne Bier
Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris
Ryan Clagg
Fast Times at Ridgemont High – Amy Heckerling
Sita Sings The Blues - Nina Paley
Half Nelson - Anna Boden (co-director)
Meshes of the Afternoon – Maya Deren
Winter’s Bone - Debra Granik
Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi (co-director)
Mad Hot Ballroom – Marilyn Agrelo
American Psycho – Marry Harron
The Virgin Suicides – Sofia Coppola
Waitress - Adrienne Shelly
Justin Li
Friday Night (Vendredi Soir) – Claire Denis
Marie Antoinette – Sofia Coppola
Morvern Callar – Lynne Ramsay
Hearts of Darkness – Eleanor Coppola
Father of My Children - Mia Hansen-Love
Old Joy – Kelly Reichardt
Fat Girl - Catherine Breillat
Fish Tank - Andrea Arnold
A Simple Life – Ann Hui
Scarlet Diva - Asia Argento
Neal Dhand
The Headless Woman, Lucrecia Martel
Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren
Cleo from 5 to 7, Agnès Varda
Friday Night, Claire Denis,
Point Break, Kathyrn Bigelow
Beau Travail, Claire Denis
Fat Girl, Catherine Breillat
Jeanne Dielman 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, Chantal Akerman
The Night Porter, Liliana Cavani
Ratcatcher, Lynne Ramsay
Seema
Vendredi Soir, Claire Denis
The Asthenic Syndrome, Kira Muratova
Morvern Callar, Lynne Ramsay
Innocence, Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Cleo From 5 to 7, Agnes Varda
Everyone Else, Maren Ade
Daisies, Vera Chytilova
Sweetie, Jane Campion
A New Leaf, Elaine May
Dave Robson
Triumph of the Will – Leni Riefenstahl
Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
Bright Star – Jane Campion
Wuthering Heights – Andrea Arnold
Titus – Julie Taymor
Sita Sings the Blues – Nina Paley
Winter’s Bone – Debra Granik
Boys Don’t Cry – Kimberly Peirce
Water – Deepa Meta
Monsoon Wedding – Mira Nair
Bill
Red Road, Andrea Arnold
Headless Woman, Lucrecia Martel
A New Leaf, Elaine May
Swept Away, Lina Wertmuller
Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
35 Shots of Rum, Claire Denis
Wuthering Heights, Andrea Arnold
XXY, Lucía Puenzo
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, Chantal Ackerman
Sita Sing The Blues, Nina Paley
Temitope
Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
Beau Travail, Claire Denis
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles , Chantal Akerman
Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
Swept Away, Lina Wertmüller
Triumph of the Will, Leni Riefenstahl
The Hitch-Hiker, Ida Lupino
Sans toit ni loi/Vagabond, Agnès Varda
Seven Beauties, Lina Wertmüller
La Cienaga, Lucrecia Martel
Honourable Mentions:
Le Bonheur, Agnès Varda
Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren
Fat Girl, Catherine Breillat
Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
Ratcatcher, Lynne Ramsay
Simon Howell
Point Break, Kathryn Bigelow
Trouble Every Day, Claire Denis
The Virgin Suicides, Sophia Copolla
Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren
Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt
Seven Beauties, Lina Wertmüller
We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
The Decline of Western Civilization, Penelope Spheeris
Elegy, Isabel Coixet
Persepolis, Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi
Ricky D is the editor-in-chief of Sound on Sight and one of the hosts of the Sound On Sight podcast and the Sordid Cinema podcast. He is Sound On Sight's expert on Horror and contributes written reviews when time permits. 
No movies by Larisa Shepitko, Margarether von Trotta or Clara Law. Only one ‘critic’ mentioned a movie by Kira Muratova who is probably the best female director ever. This ‘staff’ is probably made up of drunks or people that are very ignorant about non-english spoken cinema.
You read me like a book.
I’m sorry that you can’t comprehend that each critic had to choose ten and only ten of their favourite films. I can’t speak for everyone who participated but it was extremely hard for me to cut it down to only ten choices. I had a list of 75 films to begin. In the end, I went with ten honest choices – all very different – and five of the ten were not in the English language.
Perhaps if we had time we could have asked for 20 choices from each critic and doubled the list. Maybe the results would have drastically been different, or maybe not.
The plan was to follow up this article with another list, recommending movies to my staff that I think they should seek out. It has been an extremely busy year for me and I still have not found the time to finish that list. Every name you mentioned and more will be found in that article.
Clearly you read through the entire list, so you surely must have noticed mentions of non-English films. Or do you suffer from short term memory loss? The only person who comes across has ignorant is you based on your comment which is clearly written to insult our staff and make you feel better as a person. Is there no one around who appreciates your knowledge of film? Did you not have anyone growing up who would appreciate your good taste and tap you on the back and say “good job”.
Well now you can feel better knowing that I do.
Our staff went of our way to simply promote the films listed above because we love cinema and we wanted to shine a bigger spotlight on these directors. So why get upset?
Nothing good comes out of your comment. When I visit other sites, I never leave a comment insulting the writers because I’ve watched more movies then they do. That wouldn’t make me feel like a better man. Instead I recommend films. This is why I started our site. I love film and I try my best to recommend movies on a daily basis.
Perhaps you can take your knowledge of cinema and use it to better use. You could have simply recommended some movies that you feel our staff should see.
I will quote a comment made by a reader defending another one of our lists found on the site. She said:
“Elitist and pretentious people will frown down on a list with mostly American films but truthfully, every film on the list is incredibly influential and important in the history of cinema.
To say that a list NEEDS to have more non American films is ridiculous. There should be no restrictions, nor rules, nor expectations – simply honesty. I find this list incredibly honest.”
I think the comment can apply here once again.
Not everyone on staff is as well versed as others. Our youngest contributor is only 16 while our oldest is a film professor, who’s worked at HBO, has written many screenplays (some produced) and published books on the history of cinema. Others are filmmakers, film students, members of the OFCS.
We are not Film Comment nor Sight and Sound, and we are not trying to be. The idea has always been to bridge the gap between the mainstream and the independent/foreign film scene. That is what we do. Yes we have a column on Soviet Cinema but we also have a column named after a quote from the movie The Goonies.
Perhaps not everyone on staff is as well versed as others, but that is ok. Remember – once upon a time you yourself did not know who Kira Muratova was.
If you had to read comments like this on your hard work, you’d be drunk too.