Maggie Gyllenhaal has highlighted what she described as a “systemic problem” in the film industry contributing to the underrepresentation of female directors in major festival lineups. Speaking ahead of the 83rd Venice Film Festival, where she is serving as jury president, Gyllenhaal noted that only two women are competing for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion.
The actor and director pointed to financing challenges as a significant barrier for women filmmakers. “It’s harder for women to get films financed,” she said, adding that the kinds of stories women want to tell may not always be recognized as “high art.” Gyllenhaal questioned who determines artistic value and whose perspectives are prioritized in such decisions. Her comments come after the festival faced criticism when its initial competition roster included just one female-directed film, May el-Toukhy’s *Woman Unknown*.
In response to the backlash, Venice organizers expanded the main competition lineup to include *NAZA*, a documentary by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, two of the four directors behind the Oscar-winning *No Other Land*. The new addition brings the total female-directed films in competition to two.
Gyllenhaal heads a diverse seven-member jury that includes filmmakers Kaouther Ben Hania of Tunisia, Johnnie To of Hong Kong, Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat, French director Xavier Giannoli, British composer Daniel Blumberg, and Italian film scholar Francesco Casetti.
In the lead-up to the festival, there was speculation about whether the jury would hold a press conference before the event’s opening, amid a “scheduling conflict.” Observers have suggested that the festival’s lineup, which features politically sensitive films addressing topics such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, a biopic on Rupert Murdoch, and a documentary on Elon Musk, may have contributed to this hesitation.
Gyllenhaal’s views on the intersection of cinema and politics came amidst debates sparked by comments from Wim Wenders, president of the Berlin Film Festival jury earlier this year. Wenders faced criticism for suggesting filmmakers should “stay out of politics” during a discussion on Israel and Palestine.
In contrast, Gyllenhaal said that cinema’s political dimension arises from its capacity to foster empathy, including for “the most corrupt, the most perverse people.” She described films as “fundamentally, unavoidably political” when they offer honest insights into human experience. Gyllenhaal’s own work will be featured at Venice with *Flesh Impact*, a short film inspired by Marilyn Monroe, screening out of competition.