The best female directed films from 2021 that you do not want to miss!

Want to look for films that enrich your mind this year? Films that will make you travel (still not that easy otherwise!), think differently, and which your friends won’t have seen yet? These films blew our mind for different reasons. If you’re looking for original and brilliant films to brighten up and make your evening at home more exciting , these are the ones!

1.     Honeymood – Tayla Lavie

‘Honeymood’ is an odyssey film that you want to see right now. As relatable as it is funny, this film proves that modern rom-coms can be brilliant. It starts with an awkward beginning of the wedding night when the bride discovers a gift from the groom’s ex and is determined to find her. And so their non-conventional wedding night begins. This Israeli comedy by the brilliant Talya Lavie is a must-see! We had the privilege to share Honeymood with our community and hold a Q&A with Talya who was happy to hear that Honeymood really resonated with our international members. Trust us this film will make you laugh your head off. 

2.      Listen – Ana Rocha De Sousa

When we heard that this brilliant debut by Ana Rocha de Sousa won big (five awards!) at this year’s Venice International Film Festival where it premiered, we had to see what this film was about. And WOW, it gripped us from beginning to end, the story, the acting and especially the directing, is exceptional. Unsurprisingly, we’ve watched more and more well-deserved awards for this film roll in over the past months. We loved welcoming Ana Rocha a valued member in our community for a Q&A and sharing her film with our members who were so inspired by it.

The film is about a Portuguese couple living in London who face serious difficulties when social services raise concerns about the safety of their three children. The film opened our eyes as it revealed the problems of a system in a way we’ve never seen it portrayed before, opening new questions on human rights in the United Kingdom.  We were so moved by ‘Listen’, but don’t want to give too much away. Seriously, just make sure to watch this film. It truly is one of those films that will stay with you forever. ‘Listen’ changes something in you, and if that isn’t excellent filmmaking, we don’t know what is.

3.     Passing – Rebecca Hall

Another directing debut in our list is from Rebecca Hall who said: ‘I always look for contradiction in a character’. Nothing is more true in Passing. The film starts when two childhood friends cross paths after years of not seeing each other. Both of them carefully curate their reality, and become obsessed with the other. As their lives get more and more intertwined, they start to question their identities. This is a powerful film that will change the way you look at your life, friends and identity. And don’t just take our word for it; with 18 wins and 87 nominations (Including a Golden Globe, Bafta and Sundance nomination) there is no reason why you shouldn’t watch this. In most countries it is available on Netflix.

4.     Mayday - Karen Cinorre

Cinorre’s directorial début, Mayday, tells the story of women who fight against male oppression in a parallel world. With an incredible cast including the inspirational Juliette Lewis, we chose this film because it depicts female resilience and strength. Mayday shows us that if you belong to tribe or a community, you can overcome anything, and at this moment we could all use a reminder of this. Mayday is a film just up our street, showing us that when women get together and go against the status quo, they can make anything happen. A fantasy genre film from the female gaze which is like nothing you’ve seen before.

5.     Hive - Blerta Basholli 

An independent film that has Elisabeth Moss and Lindsey McManus as executive producers is something that doesn’t happen every day. It’s Oscar nominated (Best Foreign Language Film) and won numerous other awards at its Sundance Premiere. Hive is a drama based on the true story of Fahrije, who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village, has lived with fading hope and burgeoning grief since her husband went missing during the war in Kosovo. She pulls other widows in her community together to launch a business and together, they find healing and solace in considering a future without their husbands. However, the men in the village condemn Fahrije’s efforts to empower herself and the women around her, starting a feud that threatens their newfound sovereignty and the financial future. Against the backdrop of Eastern Europe’s civil unrest and lingering misogyny, Hive is a wonderful story about the intrinsic power of women and how much they can accomplish when they pull together.  

6.     Quo Vadis, Aida? - Jasmila Zbanic

Another Oscar nominated film for best international feature which won 26 other awards. Director Jasmila Zbanic won a Berlin Golden Bear for her 2006 debut feature, Grbavica and is someone you should look out for. The film is centred around Aida, a translator and English teacher for the UN and is set during the Srebrenica massacre of 1995. When the Serbian army takes over the town, Aida strives to save her husband and children from the invading Serbian forces by taking refuge in a United Nations camp. Making a film about such horrific true events is difficult but Zbanic is keeping our eyes fixed to the screen learning, listening and ensuring our hearts stay wide open. Available on Netflix in selected countries.

7.     The Lost Daughter –  Maggie Gyllenhaal

A divorced academic goes on holiday by herself on a Greek island, but nothing plays out as you’d expect in The Lost Daughter. Olivia Colman takes our breath away multiple times, in that she is likeable, awful, painful and surprising from start to finish, none the least when she blurts out: ‘I’m an unnatural mother’. And that seems to be the core question of this film. The role of mothership for women; is there just one type of good mother? Is motherhood for everyone? So many questions that are considered taboo bubble to the surface while watching this film. If you want to see real woman on screen, flawed, vulnerable and strong at the same time, look for this one on your Netflix account.

8.     Clara Sola - Nathalie Álvarez Mesén

The debut of Nathalie Álvarez Mesén takes us to Costa Rica and shines the light on Clara (played by the dancer Wendy Chinchilla Araya), a 40-year old virgin with a curvature of the spine, and her discovery of her sexuality. With a backdrop of religion, family and tradition, her sexual awakening has disruptive effects on her family who try to control her by rubbing Clara’s fingers in chilies before she goes to bed, a masturbation-prevention measure whose effectiveness has its limits. As Clara’s family refuses to allow her to have surgery because they believe she was born that way for a reason, the complexity of the long term choices we make and the positive influence of religion are questioned.

9.     Shiva Baby - Emma Seligman

College student Danielle is faced with a series of awkward encounters at a day-long shiva, a Jewish gathering during a time of mourning. Amidst already trying to navigate her nosy relatives and various uncomfortable situations, her ex-girlfriend turns up as well as her secret sugar daddy with his wife and baby. This debut feature is inspired by Seligman’s experiences as a bisexual Jew and is as grounding as it is funny with every chaotic turn the film takes. Seeing the Shiva unfold through Danielle’s anxious lens brings comfort and tension that does not leave you till the last frame of the film. Watch this film with your Mubi subscription.

10.  The Souvenir Part II – Joanna Hogg

Following the acclaimed film The Souvenir, Joanna Hogg is back with part II. The film stays true to her brilliantly reflective and honest style keeping us at the edge of our seats throughout. She knows how to bring emotion to every scene with brilliantly crafted music, light and cinematography. A story of grief, love and discovery that gets you through the best and worst of times. Even though it was released in the US and Canada in October in 2021, it has its release in some countries like the UK only in 2022, so watch out for it!

If you want more indie film inspiration follow us on Instagram @femalefilmclub where we’ll highlight every month a new female-focussed or directed independent film.

Our doors are reopening from January 23rd, so if you’re a female identifying filmmaker and want to join our community, get your 2 week free trial at www.femalefilmclub.com .

We look forward to connecting with you!

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The Female Film Club is the international membership where members strive for excellence in their mindset, skill and network founded by Liza van der Smissen and Nicole Lieberman. The intent of the Female Film Club (FFC) is to create a safe and nourishing space for female and non-binary filmmakers. From the outset, the co-founders Liza and Nicole have always believed that all filmmakers, all around the world, deserve the same access and opportunities. We believe in the excellence of women and that talent knows no borders – hence this being an international community. We also believe that the position of women in film can and should be strengthened – and women working together is an incredibly powerful coalition.

The FFC was not created to change perception but to give its members the tools to challenge their own perception. Challenging our own perception advocates change, which is facilitated in the FFC by its international community and films that reflect stories from all over the world. Challenging one’s perception is an ongoing process, and within the FFC the members are given the tools to question, explore and challenge their own limitations in order to grow. Through weekly exercises, events, and coaching sessions, flexing our minds becomes a habit and no longer a challenge. Through shared experiences and collaboration, the FFC stands to empower women to excel in their fields.

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