ABSTRACT
In France, films directed by women are rarely designated by film distributors, critics, and television programmers as belonging to a specific category such as "women's cinema," which would set them apart from films directed by men.1 One reason for this could be the socio-political environment and the history of feminism in France: for the past twenty years, the status of women and their overall situation have slightly improved, more as a consequence of the actions of individuals, trade unions, and national representatives than, for instance, as a consequence of the activity of French feminist organizations in support of women artists. Another reason might be the particularities of French state funding and the teJevision quota system, which largely contributed to the steady development of French film production (the largest in Europe, with over 150 films per year). This system is also designed to give first-time directors access to commercial production and distribution;2 the number of women directors has progressively increased due to the incremental effect of this system as well as to the growing participation of women in all fields of activity (rather than due to specific regulation).
