Back in November 2019 we launched the 50|50+ Women Direct campaign, to bring the Scottish screen sector together to address the consistent gender imbalance we have amongst filmmakers. This is because, despite all of the UK’s film training schemes, women continue to be filtered out of filmmaking as they try to progress their careers.
In 2019, the campaign identified a number of key barriers to gender parity in the sector (based on available research, filmmaker testimonies and certain trends that were apparent at that time). These cyclical barriers included issues around hiring processes for top level creative roles, a lack of funding for women to access professional development opportunities, fewer role models and a perpetuating lack of trust in women as the ‘safe pair of hands’ needed to steer a production.
We sought to redress the inequality which, at that time, saw just 16% of creative feature documentaries in Scotland directed by female identifying directors, only 1 in 6. It was clear that Scotland’s (and the UK’s) film sector needs to transfer power and resources to women so they can use documentaries to share their experiences, histories and hopes for the future.
Our Objective
Our core aim was to see the number of women identifying directors consistently grow over the life of the campaign, reaching gender parity by 2025 (and that on that 50th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act, 50% of Scotland’s documentaries will be directed by women). We committed to playing a proactive and intentional role in shifting the dial and transforming Scotland’s documentary sector.
Our strategy for achieving this goal was a focus on three areas of activity: to support our current talent through mentoring, professional development and new funding routes; to grow the next generation through purposeful outreach to increase and diversify the pool of female talent entering the industry; and to change the industry: through visibility and dedicated fundraising. For an update on what the campaign has achieved so far, take a look here.
By 2020, the data showed encouraging signs, with around 30% of all Scottish feature documentary productions directed or co-directed by women or people of marginalised genders. As of 2024, this figure has grown to 48%.
While this is a significant improvement, the picture is still far from balanced.
Looking Ahead
As we enter this new phase of the campaign, it’s time to revisit our goals in light of the evolving landscape. We also want to understand how these changes have affected women and other marginalised filmmakers working in Scotland’s nonfiction space today. We recognise that gender is only one facet of the challenges many filmmakers face, and that intersectional identities must be considered in order to fully understand the barriers that persist.
To help guide the next steps of the 50|50+ Women Direct campaign and to best inform the campaign moving forward (and its legacy), we’re reaching back out to you, the filmmakers, to hear your perspective on whether the same barriers exist; what has changed and what other issues might be impacting you in the documentary field now.
We invite you to share your thoughts in our anonymous survey, though you have the option to disclose your identity if you prefer. Your feedback is invaluable in building a robust evidence base for continued action and accountability.
We will be collecting responses until the November 25th.
Please share it with fellow filmmakers and especially any newcomers entering the sector in Scotland.
Alternative formats for the survey
Please get in touch if you would like to submit your response in a different format (e.g. video presentation, offline or in BSL) or if you have any accessibility requirements so we can support you throughout the process.
Make sure to contact us in advance so we can provide the right support for you. We may be able to cover the costs associated with this.