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'North Country' tops list of most-important 2005 films for women
NEW YORK (AP) — North Country was the most-important film for women to see in 2005,
according to a survey released by New York Women in Film & Television.
Oscar-nominated actress Charlize Theron, right, and Frances McDormand are two of the stars of
North Country.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The film, in which Charlize Theron plays a miner who wins a landmark sexual harassment case, grabbed the top spot
with 19% of the vote, followed in order by the race-focused drama Crash, the dance documentary Mad Hot Ballroom,
the gay-cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain and the cross-dressing dramedy Transamerica.
As Hollywood gears up for Oscar season, the non-profit women's association also asked its 1,500 members to vote
for the best female film director of 2005.
In that category, Mad Hot Ballroom -helmer Marilyn Agrelo ranked first with 21% of the vote, followed in order by
Nicki Caro for North Country, Miranda July for the offbeat drama Me, You and Everyone We Know, Susan Stroman
for the musical The Producers and Agnes Jaoui for the French-language film Look at Me.
"Though women have made monumental strides in the entertainment industry and are running more studios than ever
before, female directors are still hitting that celluloid ceiling," said Terry Lawler, executive director of the association, in
a statement. "Our survey was designed to give women a way to support and bring attention to the works of women
behind the lens; works that often are forgotten during Oscar season."
The percentage of female directors has dropped from 11% in 2000 to 7% in 2005 for the 250 highest-grossing films,
according to the association.
Only three women have ever been nominated for an Oscar for best director: Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation ) in
2003, Jane Campion (The Piano ) in 1993 and Lina Wertmuller (Seven Beauties ) in 1976.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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