Film

From the early beginnings of the film industry, women have played crucial roles both on and off screen.

Alice Guy-Blaché has solidified her place in film history by being the first female director. Beginning in 1896, she proved to be a headstrong industry trailblazer by directing her first film, “La Fée aux Choux,” which was the first ever fiction film created.

Since Guy-Blaché, female directors have continued to tell moving stories through film and make momentous strides. In 2010, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director for her film, “Hurt Locker.” Patty Jenkins reached overwhelming box office success with her film “Wonder Woman,” which also made her the first woman to direct a Hollywood superhero film.

The business side of Hollywood is often viewed as a man’s domain, but women like Sherry Lansing, who was the first female president of 20th Century Fox, and Lucille Ball, who headed Desilu Studios while creating her show “I Love Lucy” have worked to reshape this landscape.

On screen, actresses like Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn, and more recently, iconic women such as Meryl Streep, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Halle Berry have made history through both their talent and representation.

The contributions of these women, as well as many others, are vital to the continued success of the film industry.