Marginalization of female filmmakers at Golden Globes raises controversy

The 77th Golden Globe Awards unveiled their nominations in Los Angeles on Monday to a firestorm of controversy, when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) failed to nominate a single woman for Best Director, Best Screenplay, or Best Picture.

When careers are made and sidelined by the awards that are doled out by Hollywood's peers, this type of drastic snubbing is ruffling many feathers in the industry.

"It's unconscionable, in this day and age, that women filmmakers are still underrepresented and passed over for major awards," Jeff Most, an American film producer, told Xinhua.

The 77th Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Jan 5, 2020.

"They dare to say they don't judge by gender but that's exactly what they do. It's obvious they have no awareness at all," said Honey Boy director Alma Har'el, reported Variety.

Only five female directors have ever been nominated for Best Director in the history of the Golden Globes and only one has won the award, and that was over 35 years ago.

"I will not live my life as a filmmaker ... subjected to a group of voters that doesn't see us," said Har'el.

Her solution is to divide the Best Directing category into male and female directors, just like the actor categories are, to ensure that female directors get the recognition they deserve.

2019 has seen many talented women taking the helm and reaping nationwide recognition and handsome box office returns.

Lorene Scafaria's Hustlers grossed over 150 million US dollars in the box office, Kasi Lemmons's Harriet grossed 41 million dollars, Marielle Heller's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood gained 43 million dollars, Melina Matsoukas's Queen and Slim earned 27 million dollars, Olivia Wilde's Booksmart got 25 million dollars, and even Lulu Wang's The Farewell came in at a respectable 19 million dollars.

Though amongst the most successful and celebrated films of the year, none got so much as a nod from the 100 or so voters in HFPA who determine the Golden Globe nominations.