Hi friends!
I am so excited to finally be sharing with all of you the cover for my forthcoming book, Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words!
I’ve been working on this project, which includes career-spanning interviews with 19 filmmakers, for nearly three years now and it is so close to feeling real. In fact, we are so close that you can already PRE-ORDER the book at most online retailers. You can also start begging your local bookstores and libraries to stock it!
The pub date is set for March 2025, just in time for International Women’s Day.
Here is the official synopsis. A full list of the interviewees will be coming soon!
Celebrating women directors and their incredible contributions to filmmaking, this fascinating survey includes a brief history about groundbreaking trailblazers, in-depth interviews with singular female directors, and a comprehensive list of noteworthy talents and their films.
From the birth of cinema in the 1890s to the global box office today, women directors have had to work hard to tell their stories. Although they make up a small percentage of current filmmakers, their contributions to the cinematic arts are both significant and unique.
In revelatory conversations with international filmmakers, film critic and historian Gates shines a light on their career-spanning works. From feminist pioneers and maverick independents to Oscar-winning directors, these filmmakers include Jane Campion, Susan Seidelman, and Mira Nair1.
Through illuminating discussions, the directors take readers on a deep exploration into their filmmaking processes and themes. Each is accompanied by illustrations of the filmmakers on location and vivid film stills. Offering a rare glimpse into the movie business, they share stories of their unique journeys navigating the film industry. In an era when most fans of film rely on the Internet for information, this curated collection of interviews is the ideal reference with insights directly from these trailblazing filmmakers themselves.
Again, you can PRE-ORDER the book here and subscribe to this newsletter for more updates as I reveal the full list of filmmakers I interviewed, filmmaker illustrations by the amazing Alex Kittle, and announce the schedule for the book signings, film screenings, and all manner of other promotional events I hope to participate in throughout 2025 and beyond!
And, obviously, Karyn Kusama.
Congrats Marya!
Congratulations!