Female DPs are making at splash at Sundance 2017. Back in spring of last year, female cinematographers banded together to form a new, supportive group called CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX, which aims to “help the crews behind the camera be more reflective of the stories they create, and provide a resource for producers and directors looking to find qualified cinematographers that identify as women.” A press release from the coalition has announced that CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX are well-represented at the country’s biggest indie film fest.
Of 13,782 films submitted to this year’s edition of Sundance, a mere 113 were selected for the program. “With such odds, female Directors of Photography are standing out, including members of the newly formed CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX,” the release notes. CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX members shot 11 of the films screening at the fest, including Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” (DP: Rachel Morrison), Sydney Freeland’s “Deidra & Laney Rob a Train” (DP: Quyen Tran), and Zoe Lister-Jones’s “Band Aid” (DP: Hillary Spera).
“Female cinematographers make up only 2–3% of the individuals hired as Directors of Photography,” the release states. “Being honored in film festivals like Sundance shows the strength of women behind the camera.”
“I often hear from production companies that they would like to hire more women, they just don’t know where to find them,” commented Autumn Eakin, founding member of the group. CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX was established to remedy that problem. Members have a minimum of five years of professional industry experience as Directors of Photography and help to do their part to pave the way for the next generation of women DPs by mentoring emerging female cinematographers through their NuWave program.
Check out a list of the films screening at Sundance that CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX worked on below, courtesy of the group. Sundance runs from January 19–29.
WHEN THE STREET LIGHTS GO ON, Independent Pilot Showcase
DP: ELLEN KURAS
MUDBOUND, Feature Films — Premieres
DP: RACHEL MORRISON
PERSON TO PERSON, Feature Films — NEXT
DP: ASHLEY CONNOR
STRANGERS, Short Form Episodic Showcase
DP: HILLARY SPERA — Pilot
DP: ANNE ETHERIDGE
BAND AID, Feature Films - U.S. Dramatic Competition
DP: HILLARY SPERA
THROUGH YOU, New Frontier VR Experience
NOVITIATE, Feature Films — U.S. Dramatic Competition
DP: KAT WESTERGAARD
TRUMPED: Inside the Greatest Political Upset of All Time, Doc Premieres
DP: LAURA HUDOCK
MOTHERLAND, Feature Docs — World Cinema Doc Competition
DP: NADIA HALLGREN
THE LITTLE HOURS, Feature Films — Midnight
DP: QUYEN TRAN
DEIDRA & LANEY ROB A TRAIN, Feature Films — NEXT
DP: QUYEN TRAN
