NYWIFT’s Washington, DC sister chapter, Women in Film & Video, is continuing its multi-year initiative to have more women-made films included in the National Film Registry housed at the Library of Congress. Although women have been involved with movies since the movie camera was invented, their work is severely underrepresented in this national collection.
The Library of Congress maintains the National Film Registry to honor “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films” that are at least 10 years old at the time of their inclusion in the Registry. The selected films are “works of enduring significance to American Culture.” Learn more about the National Film Registry.
NYWIFT encourages all of our members to support WIFV’s annual campaign for nominations! The period for Public Nominations for 2019 will be open until September 15, 2019. You may recommend up to 50 titles per year through the Library of Congress’ online nomination form.
In addition, WIFV will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary in late 2019 and have decided to develop a list of 40 women-made and/or women-centric films deserving of inclusion in the National Film Registry. View the full list of 40!
To get you started on your 50 nominations WIFV encourages you to consider these 10 women-made films (descriptions here):
- A Woman’s Error (1922) – written/directed by Tressie Souders
- He’s Only Missing (1978) – written/directed/produced by Robin Smith
- Losing Ground (1982) – written/directed by Kathleen Collins
- Yentl (1983) – directed/co-written/co-produced by Barbra Streisand
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – directed by Nora Ephron, screenplay co-written with David S. Ward and Jeff Arch
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999) – written/directed by Kimberly Peirce
- The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (1999) – written/directed/produced by Aviva Kempner
- Erin Brockovich (2000) – written by Susannah Grant
- Love & Basketball (2000) – written/directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Under the Same Moon/La Misma Luna (2007) – directed by Patricia Riggen, written/produced by Ligiah Villalobos
Yes, some of these films have been nominated before based on suggestions received from members, film historians and critics. And WIFV will keep nominating them as they represent important filmmakers, underrepresented stories, and speak on important cultural and historical topics.
Help bring these films to the attention of the selection committee by making your nominations here.
Thanks to WIFV Interns (Summer 2019) Lucia Fox-Shapiro, Julia Hay, and Nicole Spriggs-Moye for their research, descriptions, advocacy, and promotion of the 2019 nominations.
The Library of Congress looks to public support for nominations, so your “vote” counts!
