I recently compiled a list of films with female directors released in 2018, which was a bit of a wake-up call that I hadn't made a very good effort of seeking them out during the year. Heading into 2019 I'm making an effort to educate myself on what is coming out that I should be aware of. Here is an incomplete list of upcoming titles.

Where possible, Australian releases dates are used - I expect these will most likely move around a bit as the year progresses, but as of writing they are correct!

Mary Queen of Scots, dir. Josie Rourke - January 17
Skate Kitchen, dir. Crystal Moselle - January 17
Free Solo, dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin - January 24

Capharnaüm, dir. Nadine Labaki - February 7
On The Basis Of Sex, dir. Mimi Leder - February 7
The Rhythm Section, dir. Reed Morano - February 21

Captain Marvel, dir. Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck - March 7
Where Hands Touch, dir. Amma Asante - March 7
Destroyer, dir. Karyn Kusama - March 21
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, dir. Trisha Gum, Mike Mitchell - March 21

Little, dir. Tina Gordon Chism - April 11
High Life, dir. Claire Denis - April
Rafiki, dir. Wanuri Kahiu - April

The Third Wife, dir. Ash Mayfair - May
The Sun is Also a Star, dir. Ry Russo-Young - May
Booksmart, dir. Olivia Wilde - May

The Kitchen, dir Andrea Berloff - September

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, dir Marielle Heller - October

Charlie’s Angels, dir. Elizabeth Banks - November
Frozen 2, dir. Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck - November
Queen & Slim, dir. Melina Matsoukas - November

Little Women, dir. Greta Gerwig - December

The senior year of a girls’ high school step team in inner-city Baltimore is documented, as they try to become the first in their families to attend college. The girls strive to make their dancing a success against the backdrop of social unrest in their troubled city. 

I caught this stunning documentary at the end of its limited run in Melbourne and am so glad I didn’t miss it. Watching these incredible girls go through their final year of school was a total privilege, and seeing them overcome adversity in so many areas of their lives was one of the most moving things I’ve seen in quite a while.

"It's funny though, isn't it? All that poetry and all those songs, about something that lasts no time at all."

As 2018 draws to a close, I've taken a look back at films released this year that were helmed by female directors.

To be completely honest, I definitely saw a dip in the overall amount of films I watched this year, and sadly I only saw a handful of films directed by women. I hope to correct this more coming into 2019, but for now, I'll leave you with a list of releases from this year to hopefully serve as a 'to watch' list over the holidays.

• Alexandria Bombach – On Her Shoulders
• Anne Fletcher – Dumplin’
• Ava Duvernay – A Wrinkle in Time
• Betsy West and Julie Cohen – RBG
• Bridey Elliott – Clara’s Ghost
• Claire Scanlon – Set It Up
• Coralie Fargeat – Revenge
• Crystal Moselle – Skate Kitchen 
• Debra Granik – Leave No Trace
• Desiree Akhavan – The Miseducation of Cameron Post 
• Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi – Free Solo 
• Haifaa al-Mansour – Mary Shelley 
• Haifaa al-Mansour – Nappily Ever After
• Hannah Fidell – The Long Dumb Road 
• Josephine Decker - Madeline's Madeline
• Josie Rourke – Mary, Queen of Scots 
• Karyn Kusama – Destroyer 
• Kay Cannon – Blockers 
• Lauren Greenfield – Generation Wealth 
• Lisa Dapolito – Love, Gilda 
• Lorna Tucker – Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist 
• Lynne Ramsay – You Were Never Really Here 
• Marielle Heller – Can You Ever Forgive Me? 
• Mimi Leder – On The Basis of Sex 
• Nadine Labaki – Capernaum 
• Nicole Holofcener – The Land of Steady Habits 
• Reed Morano – I Think We’re Alone Now 
• Sara Colangelo – Kindergarten Teacher 
• Susan Johnson – To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before 
• Susanna Fogel – The Spy Who Dumped Me 
• Susanne Bier – Bird Box 
• Tamara Jenkins – Private Life
• Wanuri Kahiu - Rafiki