The cult of male genius is keeping down female filmmakers, warns May el-Toukhy, whose film Woman Unknown competes at the Venice Film Festival. The Danish-Egyptian director highlighted a systemic bias that persists even after MeToo, calling for industry-wide change.
El-Toukhy, one of only two female directors in the Golden Lion competition this year, noted that she has never seen a female director promoted as a genius in press coverage. This observation underscores a deeper issue in how the film industry celebrates and elevates talent.
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The Gender Imbalance at Top Film Festivals
At the 83rd Venice Film Festival, the main competition lineup featured only one female-directed film when announced in July—Woman Unknown. A second, the documentary NAZA co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, was added later. This disparity mirrors trends at Cannes and Berlin, where male directors dominate the prestigious slots.
El-Toukhy emphasized that after MeToo, awareness of gender imbalance grew, yet progress remains slow. She called on all industry stakeholders to actively change the discourse around female directors and their work.
Systemic Bias in Film Criticism and Promotion
The director pointed out that the language of genius is rarely applied to women. This affects not only visibility but also distribution deals and career trajectories. Winning a top prize at a major festival can be a gateway to global distribution, making representation critical.
Competing against veterans like Werner Herzog and Danny Boyle, el-Toukhy’s presence is a step forward, but she stresses that one or two exceptions do not solve the systemic problem.
Data on Female Representation in Film
| Festival | Year | % Female Directors in Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Venice | 2025 | ~10% (2 out of 20) |
| Cannes | 2024 | ~15% (3 out of 20) |
| Berlin | 2025 | ~20% (4 out of 20) |
These numbers highlight the persistent underrepresentation of women in top-tier film competitions. While some festivals have improved, the overall trend shows that female directors are still fighting for visibility.
Key Takeaways for the Film Industry
- Media representation must shift to recognize female directors with the same 'genius' language as male peers.
- Festival programming should actively seek out and include more female-directed films in main competitions.
- Industry support for female filmmakers needs to extend beyond development to promotion and distribution.
- Post-MeToo awareness must translate into concrete actions, not just statements.
El-Toukhy’s comments come at a time when the industry is re-evaluating its practices. The Venice Film Festival, as one of the oldest and most prestigious, has a responsibility to lead by example.
What Can Be Done to Support Female Filmmakers?
Change requires a multi-pronged approach. Critics and journalists can consciously highlight the artistic achievements of female directors. Festival programmers can set quotas or targets for gender parity. Studios and financiers can fund more projects by women, ensuring a pipeline of talent.
El-Toukhy’s own journey from Danish television to the Venice red carpet shows that talent exists, but it needs opportunities. Her film, Woman Unknown, set in the post-war era, explores themes of identity and resilience—stories that resonate universally but are often told from a male perspective.
FAQ
Why are female filmmakers underrepresented at major festivals?
What is the 'cult of male genius'?
How can the film industry improve gender equality?
The conversation sparked by el-Toukhy is vital. As audiences, we can support female-directed films by seeking them out and discussing them. The industry must listen and act, ensuring that the next generation of female filmmakers is not held back by outdated notions of genius.
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