FemaleDirectors.com is a website for female-directed movies: you can find, play, and add them to your Netflix queue, and buy them on Amazon.com. Browse within our genres to find movies from the female perspective.
Documentary
The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
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The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club

2009
Vivacious and brilliant, Florence "Pancho" Barnes was an aviation legend whose daring stunt flying set the bar for both male and female pilots. This documentary narrated by Tom Skerritt examines her influence on a generation of flyers.

Directed by:

  • Amanda Pope
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness
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    Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness

    2007
    Discover the secret world of urban explorers, daring modern archaeologists who seek out the hidden nooks and crannies of cities in abandoned subway stations, long-sealed sewers and condemned buildings, in this captivating documentary. Filmmaker Melody Gilbert joins these thrill seekers as they hunt for the lost trappings of the modern world and, in the process, shines a light on a fascinating subculture that is, quite literally, underground.

    Directed by:

  • Melody Gilbert
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Independent's Day
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    Independent's Day

    1998
    At once enlightening, humorous and brutally honest, Marina Zenovich's documentary, which was originally broadcast on the Sundance Channel, explores the world of independent filmmaking by taking us behind the scenes at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. The film compiles interviews with the likes of Steven Soderbergh, Kevin Smith and festival head Robert Redford as it probes the many obstacles indie filmmakers faced in the mid-1990s.

    Directed by:

  • Marina Zenovich
    • rating:3.6.png 3.6 Average Rating


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    Prison Town, USA
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    Prison Town, USA

    2006
    Hoping to cash in on the prison-building boom of the 1990s, the struggling town of Susanville, Calif., welcomed the construction of a correctional facility, a development that completely transformed the rural community. Through conversations with those most affected, including a dairy farmer, an inmate's family and hopeful prison guard candidates, this documentary reveals the penal colony's drastic social and economic effects on the small town.

    Directed by:

  • Katie Galloway
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Foreign
    Don't Look Back
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    Don't Look Back

    2009
    After Jeanne -- a married mother of two -- starts to notice strange changes in her body, she finds a photograph that leads her on a journey to Italy. There, the rapidly transforming woman begins to learn more about her true identity. Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci star in this beguiling psychological drama from director and co-writer Marina de Van, which screened as an official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

    Directed by:

  • Marina de Van
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Marimar
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    Marimar

    1994
    In this second installment of the beloved María trilogy of telenovelas, Thalía reprises her signature role as Marimar, the impoverished girl who lives by the sea. When Marimar marries the spoiled son of a wealthy local family, happiness continues to elude her. She soon becomes an unwitting pawn in her husband's plan to claim his inheritance and anger his parents. The explosively popular series helped propel Thalía to international superstardom.

    Directed by:

  • Beatriz Sheridan
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    In a Better World
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    In a Better World

    2010
    Danish director Susanne Bier delves into the realm of fathers, sons and their perceived burden of male responsibility with this Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning drama about the interplay between two dysfunctional families. With his father working abroad, bullied Elias (Markus Rygaard) finds solace in a budding friendship with a volatile new student (William Jøhnk Nielsen). But the boys' shared revenge only seems to invite more violence.

    Directed by:

  • Susanne Bier
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Of Love and Other Demons
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    Of Love and Other Demons

    2009
    Sierva María (Eliza Triana), the 13-year old daughter of nobles, finds her life turned upside down when she's bitten by a rabid dog, and afterward is believed to be under the spell of demons, in this tale of forbidden love during the Spanish Inquisition. When it's decided that Sierva must submit to an exorcism, young priest Cayetano Delaura (Pablo Derqui) is assigned the task, but ultimately he finds himself possessed by Sierva's stirring sexuality.

    Directed by:

  • Hilda Hidalgo
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Romance
    Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity
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    Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity

    2004
    Determined to improve the romantic prospects of her lonely single mother, Kin Ho, quirky but well-meaning 12-year-old Mindy (Valerie Tian) resorts to Taoist magic to do the trick. But although the spells and potions seem to miss the mark, Kin finds her humdrum, unfulfilling life given a fresh spark from her daughter's good-intentioned charms. Reteaming with director Mina Shum (Double Happiness), Sandra Oh stars in this enchanting light comedy.

    Directed by:

  • Mina Shum
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    A Wedding for Bella
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    A Wedding for Bella

    2003
    Hard-driven businessman Dominic (Scott Baio) learns there's much more to life than work and money when he gets to know Bella (Rosemary Prinz), a neighbor and mother figure who longs for a wedding for her estranged daughter, Lucca (Kristin Minter). When Dominic discovers Bella is gravely ill, he vows to make her dream come true.

    Directed by:

  • Melissa Martin
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Disappearing Acts
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    Disappearing Acts

    2000
    Music teacher Zora Banks (Sanaa Lathan) yearns for a successful career as a singer-songwriter -- and for a decent man in her life. While moving into a new brownstone, Zora meets rough-edged construction worker Franklin Swift (Wesley Snipes), and the two hit it off. But when certain secrets come to light, their burgeoning romance starts to unravel. John Amos costars in this made-for-cable-TV movie based on Terry McMillan's best-selling novel.

    Directed by:

  • Gina Prince
    • rating:3.6.png 3.6 Average Rating


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    The Man of My Life
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    The Man of My Life

    2006
    When Frédéric (Bernard Campan) and his family meet a gay man named Hugo (Charles Berling) while vacationing in the Provençal countryside, their lives are irrevocably changed, as the two men develop a strong yet unconventional friendship. Although Frédéric is happily married to his wife, Frédérique (Léa Drucker), his bond with Hugo challenges the strength of his marriage and ultimately inspires him to reevaluate his life.

    Directed by:

  • Zabou Breitman
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Gay & Lesbian
    Saving Face
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    Saving Face

    2005
    Dutiful daughter Wil (Michelle Krusiec) sidesteps her mother's (Joan Chen) attempts to marry her off in Alice Wu's romantic comedy. At 28, Wil's the old maid of her traditional Chinese family, so there's no way she can tell them about her budding lesbian romance with Vivian (Lynn Chen). But her widowed mom has her own problems, as she learns she's pregnant at 48. Kicked out by her disapproving father, she seeks refuge at Wil's place.

    Directed by:

  • Alice Wu
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Entre Nous
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    Entre Nous

    1983
    Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this film beautifully captures the rare friendship that blossoms between two married women, Lena Weber (Isabelle Huppert) and Madeleine (Miou-Miou), living in WWII France, 1942. They attempt to defy the social rules of their time in order to escape their unfulfilling lives. Written and directed by Diane Kurys, who was inspired by her parents' relationship and the woman who came between them.

    Directed by:

  • Diane Kurys
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    One Nation Under God
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    One Nation Under God

    1993
    This documentary explores the humorous techniques -- including theory from psychiatry and religion -- proposed to "cure" homosexuals. Through interviews and footage from the annals, the argument is made that homosexuality is nothing short of an affliction that can be treated. "Former" lesbian women are featured getting beauty tips, while "former" gay men take to the football fields to prove their masculinity.

    Directed by:

  • Teodoro Maniaci
  • Francine Rzeznik
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Priest
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    Priest

    1994
    Director Antonia Bird's film centers on Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache), a devout Catholic priest who struggles with a love for his church and congregation -- and his secret life as a homosexual with a gay lover (Robert Carlyle). After hearing the confession of a young girl in his parish, who tells him her father is sexually abusing her, the priest is torn between the laws of the church and his need to choose one life over the other.

    Directed by:

  • Antonia Bird
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Now and Then
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    Now and Then

    1995
    Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty in this tender coming-of-age tale, four childhood girlfriends -- Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta -- recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more. Lesli Linka Glatter directs; Gaby Hoffmann, Ashleigh Aston Moore, Cloris Leachman, Thora Birch and Christina Ricci co-star.

    Directed by:

  • Lesli Linka Glatter
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Now and Then (1995)
    A heartwarming movie about four childhood girlfriends who, in adulthood reunion, relive their experience of the life-changing summer of 1970, including a mystery death, divorce, standing up to the boys, first kiss, and the meaning of true friendship. Each explores her unique identity amidst family and friends. Beautifully directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
    - Frances   
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