Women Filmmakers and New Feminist Cinemas

in

France, Britain, and the US in the 21st Century

21-23 October 2026

Toulouse University, France

This conference proposes to examine how women filmmakers have engaged with feminism within the evolving cultural landscape of the early 21st century—a period marked by shifting feminist discourses culminating in the #MeToo movement, and by the increasing visibility and multiplicity of a variety of feminist discourses operating within what Sarah Banet-Weiser terms an “economy of visibility” (2018, 2). The Weinstein scandal and the revelations that followed drew global attention to the persistence of systemic inequalities and institutionalized violence within the film, television and entertainment industry, exposing not only pervasive abuse but also the longstanding marginalization of women on screen and, perhaps, even more so, behind the camera. While this heightened awareness has led to growing participation by women and some high-profile successes, it has not dismantled the structural barriers that continue to limit equitable access and representation.

While focusing on transnational and comparative perspectives within British, French and US cinema, the conference aims to examine how women filmmakers are reshaping cinematic forms and audiovisual languages, and contributing to the evolution of feminist filmmaking practices across both mainstream and independent spheres, encompassing narrative, documentary, and experimental approaches.