The EDA Awards and why we need them

Yet another week, yet another strong of depressing statistics and anecdotes highlighting sexism in the film industry. This week the Golden Globes addressed the continuing gender inequalities in Hollywood; Charlize Theron had to use information gained through the Sony hack to negotiate for equal pay rates as her male co-stars; Selma director Ava DuVernay wasn’t included in the Directors Guild’s best director nominations (five nomination spots, five men nominated); and a study by San Diego State University reveals that there has been no gain in the amount of female directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, and cinematographers who worked on the Top 250 domestic grossing movies of the year since 1998.
According to San Diego's ‘Celluloid Study’ study, women accounted for only 7% of all directors working on the top grossing films last year. This is down 2 percentage points from 1998 figures. In 2014, women comprised 11% of writers, 19% of executive producers, 23% of producers, 18% of editors, and 5% of cinematographers.
For the first time, the study also accounted for women working as composers, sound designers, and supervising sound editors. Women accounted for 1%, 5%, and 5% of individuals in those fields, respectively.
However, it is nice to see that at least one community is going to great effort to right the balance of representation, and to celebrate the achievements of women in film. The Alliance of Women Film Journalists have announced the winners of their annual EDA awards. The EDAs are named in honor of AWFJ founder Jennifer Merin’s mother, Eda Reiss Merin, a stage, film and television actress whose career spanned more than 60 years. A dedicated foot soldier in the industry, Eda was one of the founders of AFTRA and a long-standing Member of AMPAS. EDA is also an acronym for Excellent Dynamic Activism, qualities shared by Eda Reiss Merin, AWFJ members and those honoured with EDA Awards
As well as awarding excellence in filmmaking, the awards feature some female-focus and special mention awards, with some brilliant & unusual categories, including Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction; Actress Defying Age and Ageism; and Actress Most in Need of a New Agent. It’s easy to underestimate how important these issues are, particularly when you look at categories like ‘Best Female Action Star.’ Though she didn’t win this year, The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most successful action heroines in history, yet is never described as such. Brilliant actress? Sure. Media darling? Of course. The most adorable clumsy person in history? Quite possibly. But never an action star whose work is comparable to her male peers. While actors like Tom Cruise, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and countless others are heralded both as great actors and great action stars, the latter canon is generally erased from descriptions of actresses, denoting a persistent attitude that action is men’s work, and a reluctance to allow even hugely popular, wildly successful female-led action to change that discourse.
So kudos to the Alliance of Women Film Journalists for recognising these issues, rewarding brilliant actresses and filmmakers, and performing a public service – because seriously, Cameron Diaz does need a new agent.
EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS
These awards honour WOMEN only.
Best Woman Director
Ava DuVernay for Selma
Best Woman Screenwriter
Gillian Flynn for Gone Girl
Best Female Action Star
Emily Blunt for Edge of Tomorrow
Best Breakthrough Performance
Gugu Mbatha-Raw for Belle
Female Icon of the Year (tie)
(a woman whose work in film and/or in life made a difference)
Ava DuVernay (Selma)
and
Laura Poitras (CitizenFour)
EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS
Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction
Under The Skin – Scarlett Johansson
Actress Defying Age and Ageism
Tilda Swinton
Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Leading Man and The Love Interest
Magic in the Moonlight – Colin Firth (b. 1960) and Emma Stone (b. 1988)
Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent
Cameron Diaz for Sex Tape
Movie You Wanted To Love, But Just Couldn’t
Inherent Vice