Gyllenhaal: Women directors face 'systemic' barriers

Maggie Gyllenhaal, the actress and festival president, has highlighted the systemic challenges women face in the film industry. At the Venice Film Festival, Gyllenhaal questioned why only two out of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion were directed or co-directed by women. She pointed out the difficulties women encounter in securing film financing and pondered whether the stories women wish to tell are often undervalued.

Gyllenhaal emphasized that the decisions on what constitutes "good" or "valuable" cinema are not always clear-cut. She also defended the selection process, stating it was unbiased, despite criticism from Italian groups. Gyllenhaal, who made her directing debut at the festival with The Lost Daughter in 2021, now feels more confident behind the camera.

She further commented on cinema's role during times of conflict and political unrest, asserting that all films, regardless of subject or filmmaker, should be heard. The Venice Film Festival continues until September 12th.