Cannes: Academy Award-winning actor Nicole Kidman reaffirmed her long-standing commitment to gender equality in film at an exclusive gathering on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival. Surrounded by an elite crowd—including pop sensation Charli XCX and actor Paul Mescal—Kidman delivered her remarks during the prestigious Women in Motion dinner, hosted by luxury conglomerate Kering.
“I’m just an advocate and want to continue to keep moving forward with that, with my pledge from 2017, so it ain’t over,” said Kidman, referencing the promise she made to champion female filmmakers.
Kidman, whose acclaimed portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours (2002) earned her an Oscar, has consistently worked with prominent male directors throughout her career. However, since 2017, she has been vocal about her goal to collaborate with a female director every 18 months. Speaking earlier that day in the French Riviera, she shared an impressive update: she has worked with 27 women directors in the last eight years, including those involved in current development projects.
“Part of it is protecting and surrounding the women with almost like a force field of protection and support,” she said, emphasizing the importance of cultivating inclusive creative environments.
The star-studded event also welcomed Dakota Johnson, Julianne Moore, Patrick Schwarzenegger (The White Lotus), and renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
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Brazilian director Marianna Brennand was honored with the Emerging Talent Award during the evening. The accolade includes a €50,000 grant to support the development of her second feature film.
French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, known for her hit body horror film The Substance starring Demi Moore, which premiered at Cannes last year, echoed the urgency for structural change in the industry. “If you look at the numbers, unfortunately, the numbers, they don’t change,” she said. “We really need to keep making huge changes and not cosmetic changes.”
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Women in Motion, launched in 2015, aims to amplify the voices and opportunities for women in the film industry. Despite growing awareness, progress remains slow. According to the initiative’s data, the proportion of women directors among the top 100 U.S. box office films rose from just 7.5% in 2015 to 13.6% in 2024.
At this year’s Cannes competition, seven out of the 22 selected films were directed by women, including a much-anticipated entry from Julia Ducournau—one of only three women to have ever won the prestigious Palme d’Or.
