Liberating Hollywood

Female Filmmakers of 1970s American Cinema

5 March — 10 April 2026

still from Wanda (Barbara Loden, US 1970)

In her book Liberating Hollywood: Women Directors and the Feminist Reform of 1970s American Cinema, Maya Montañez Smukler estimates that just sixteen women were making films within the American independent and studio film industry during the 1970s: directors such as Barbara Loden, Elaine May, Anne Bancroft, Lee Grant, Joan Micklin Silver, Penny Allen and Claudia Weill.

In its Liberating Hollywood programme, Eye is screening works by female directors working in the US in the 1970s. Pioneers of the second-wave feminist era, their work has seldom or never been screened in the Netherlands. Highlights of the programme are Wanda (Barbara Loden) and Girlfriends (Claudia Weill), the inspiration for Lena Dunham’s series Girls.

still from Hester Street (Joan Micklin Silver, US 1974)

still Hester Street (Joan Micklin Silver, US 1974)

still from A New Leaf (Elaine May, US 1970)

still A New Leaf (Elaine May, US 1970)

These women – many of whom started out as actresses – swam against the tide, managing to forge a path for themselves within the male-dominated culture of Hollywood. Eye is showcasing this seldom-seen work in its film programme Liberating Hollywood.

Unequal springboard to Hollywood

For a long time, there was a belief in Hollywood that women were physically unsuited to the role of director. Hollywood’s resistance to change was great.

Inequality started within film education: UCLA and the University of Southern California (USC) were the springboards to Hollywood, but admitted predominantly male students. In 1972, women established the Writers Guild Women’s Committee to address gender discrimination, but their numerous meetings with studio executives were to no avail.

Almost all of the sixteen women who managed to direct a film during this second-wave feminist era had very short careers in feature film-making. At most, some were able to go on and work in television. Female directors making their debuts in the ’80s were often able to continue in the profession for longer – thanks in no small part to the pioneering work of their older colleagues.

still from Property (Penny Allen, US 1979)

still Property (Penny Allen, US 1979)

still from Between the Lines (Joan Micklin Silver, US 1977)

still Between the Lines (Joan Micklin Silver, US 1977)

poster Liberating Hollywood – Female Filmmakers of 1970s American Cinema

Films, Talks & Events

still from Tell Me a Riddle (Lee Grant, US 1980)

still Tell Me a Riddle (Lee Grant, US 1980)

still from Girlfriends (Claudia Weill, US 1978)

still Girlfriends (Claudia Weill, US 1978)

Planning on having a drink or a bite to eat? Book online for Eye Bar & Restaurant.
Support Eye and see more. Become a friend.