Study: Women behind the camera fare better in independent film but still lack parity with men

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Jane Campion, center, co-writer and co-director of the Sundance Channel scripted series "Top of the Lake," addresses the audience alongside co-writer Gerard Lee, left, and co-director Garth Davis at the premiere of the series at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

PARK CITY, Utah – Despite equal representation of male and female filmmakers at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, a new study shows there has been little change in the number of women working as directors and producers at the independent-film showcase over the past decade.

But women still fare better behind the camera in independent film than in studio productions.

The Sundance Institute and Women in Film commissioned the study and announced the results Monday in Park City, Utah.

Researchers at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism examined gender disparity in narrative and documentary films shown at Sundance from 2002 to 2012. Women working in key creative positions, including writers, directors and producers, represent less than 30 per cent of the filmmakers represented at Sundance over those 11 years.

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