Gender Disparity in UK-Ireland Film Industry: A Call for Action
In 2025, only 16% of the 718 films released in the UK and Ireland were directed or co-directed by women or non-binary filmmakers, marking a decrease from the previous year. This percentage is the lowest since 2018. Additionally, just 7% of the releases were directed by women or non-binary filmmakers of color, showing a significant drop compared to 2024. The number of films written or co-written by women or non-binary screenwriters slightly increased to 19% of the total, with minimal change over the years. However, for women or non-binary screenwriters of color, this figure dropped to 8%, reversing a recent upward trend.
Melanie Iredale, the director of Reclaim The Frame, emphasized the need for action in response to these findings, highlighting the importance of challenging existing power structures in the film industry. Despite efforts to promote gender equity, the representation of women and non-binary filmmakers in the industry remains limited, impacting both filmmakers' opportunities and audience choice. The statistics reveal a concerning lack of diversity and inclusion in film direction and screenwriting roles, urging a reevaluation of decision-making processes and a broader representation of under-served audiences on screen.
At the UK-Ireland box office in 2025, male filmmakers dominated the top 30 films, with only one female-directed film, Nisha Ganatra's "Freakier Friday," making it to the list. The highest-grossing film directed by a female filmmaker was Marianne Elliot's "The Salt Path," showcasing the success of UK female filmmakers in the industry. Other notable performances from female directors included films like "Elio," "Five Nights At Freddy's 2," "Babygirl," "Materialists," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Christmas Karma." However, the overall presence of UK female filmmakers in the top 100 films was notably lower compared to the previous year, indicating a challenging year for female representation at the box office.
Looking ahead, Ute von Münchow-Pohl's animation "Super Elfkins" is the only upcoming film directed by a woman in 2025 in the UK and Ireland. The statistics from 2025 underscore the ongoing need for greater gender diversity and inclusion in the film industry, emphasizing the importance of supporting and promoting the work of women and non-binary filmmakers to create a more inclusive and representative cinematic landscape.