Maggie Gyllenhaal says the film industry has a “systemic problem” that contributes to the low number of women directors in major competitions. Speaking at the opening of the Venice Film Festival, she questions why the Golden Lion main competition features only two films directed by women.
Gyllenhaal, an actor and director who chairs the festival’s jury this year, links the imbalance to financing and development hurdles. She argues it is harder for women to secure funding for projects, which affects who ultimately gets selected for top awards. Both outlets report her remarks in the same context: the Venice festival’s programming and the composition of the films in the main running.
The coverage focuses on her critique of underlying industry structures rather than specific cases, and it frames the discussion around the gender representation visible at this year’s festival rather than changes in any single studio or policy. The central thrust is that the limited presence of women directors reflects broader barriers in how films are financed and produced.
