Alliance of Women Directors

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The Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) is a U.S. nonprofit formed in 1997 to educate, support, and advocate for women directors in film, television, and new media. Based in Los Angeles, it has hundreds of members and runs programs like screenings, educational events, and industry parties to boost visibility and professional development for women directors. AWD also offers a TV Shadowing Program so new directors can learn from experienced ones. It is a nominator for the Fox Global Directors Initiative and is allied with the Women Filmmakers Initiative, helping members make professional connections.

The organization has helped place women in directing roles, including Maria Burton being hired to direct A Sort of Homecoming in 2014 after AWD helped find a candidate, and Victoria Rose Sampson winning the Need for Speed contest in 2008 after AWD notified her.

AWD’s mission is to foster a community that advances the art, craft, and visibility of women directors and to ensure stories come from diverse perspectives. Eleonore Dailly, co-chair, has spoken about debunking the myth that there aren’t enough female directors, and Maria Burton also served as AWD co-chair for six years.

Membership is open to women who have directed a publicly aired feature film, TV episode, TV movie, documentary, commercial, or short film, and members pay annual dues. The AWD is chaired by Jennifer Warren and has a six-person board, plus an advisory board and honorary members. In March 2019, AnnaLea Rawicz Arnold was named the first executive director. AWD held its first Alliance of Women Directors Awards on April 28, 2016, at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, honoring TV producers Greg Berlanti and Ilene Chaiken for expanding opportunities for women, Chiara Tilesi and Albert Berger of We Do It Together, and director Jen McGowan with the Breakout Award.