Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman to win Best Director at the Oscars
It was a big weekend for women directors who tackle subjects normally reserved for their male counterparts. The big story, of course, is about Kathryn Bigelow, who last night became the first woman ever to take home the Best Directing Oscar for the independent war drama The Hurt Locker.
Bigelow, who rose to prominence with 1991′s Point Break, has never been one to stick to traditional women’s fare (i.e., rom-coms or period pieces), instead running with action and adventure films. To quote Twitter user gruber, “So proud that a woman has finally won Best Director and Best Picture, and that the movie she made featured huge explosions.”
But Bigelow wasn’t the only woman bringing home a fancy trophy this weekend. Friday night, local director Lynn Shelton—also treading on male turf (the minimalist mumblecore genre, which is dominated by pointy-headed male directors)—won the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes award for her lo-fi drama Humpday. (My review here.)
Awarded for the best film made for under $500,000, the JC award anchors the Independent Spirits where they started—ensuring that the smallest films don’t go without the big honors they often deserve.
Returning to Seattle from L.A. on Sunday, Shelton wrote on her Facebook page:
Airport security was more than a little concerned by the sharp, pointy, bludgeon-ready symbol of Independent Spirit I had wrapped in a sweatshirt in my carry-in.
