Similarly, the continues to build the next generation of female filmmakers. In 2025, it selected seven women for its Rising Director Fellowship class, providing mentorship and resources. While many of these initiatives target younger directors, their existence is vital for creating a more diverse pool of talent that will, ideally, produce more inclusive content as they mature in their careers.
Dakota Johnson has also called out Hollywood's "cut-throat" and ageist treatment of older women, specifically citing the struggles faced by her mother, Melanie Griffith, and grandmother, Tippi Hedren. For every star who manages to break through the age barrier, countless others are forced into early retirement or reduced to playing grandmothers and wise elders—supporting, passive figures that lack the complexity of fully realized human beings. Similarly, the continues to build the next generation
featured at least one woman over 50 who was essential to the plot and not a stereotype. Geena Davis Institute Recommended Scholarly Resources Dakota Johnson has also called out Hollywood's "cut-throat"
: Mature women are frequently featured in romantic comedies or dramas about illness (e.g., dementia), but are often "effaced" from action-heavy sequels that still feature aging male heroes [9]. The Gender Gap Similarly, the continues to build the next generation
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