Discover 3 talented female british directors you probably haven't heard of

1. Molly Manning Walker 

The ‘How To Have Sex’ (2023) director explores being a young woman abroad in her moving, unconventional coming-of-age piece. Instead of pointing the camera on the comedic nature of a lad’s holiday, like in ‘The Inbetweeners Movie’ (2011), Manning Walker perfectly captures the experiences of being a woman in the same environment. It earned her a nomination for Outstanding British Film of The Year at the BAFTAs in 2024. 

We’ll see more from this talented director soon, as Plan B Entertainment has acquired a new project from Manning Walker. It’s set to be a comedy feature – a change of pace for the director who has focused on more serious topics.  

2. Charlotte Wells 

The hit Aftersun (2022), starring Paul Mescal, was the semi-autobiographical directorial debut of Charlotte Wells. While many female directors may focus on the lives of women, Wells looks at a father/daughter relationship. It was critically acclaimed and scored a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.  

While it isn’t clear if Wells has anything coming up, the success of Aftersun proves she deserves a space in the industry, especially with her 2023 Scottish BAFTA wins for Best Director for Fiction and Best Writer for Film and Television. 

3. Emerald Fennell 

Actress turned director, Emerald Fennell’s first filmmaking venture ‘Promising Young Woman’ (2020) earned her an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Riding the wave of that success, Fennell returned to the director’s chair for ‘Saltburn’ (2024), which became one of the most popular movies of the year. Fennell’s skill for blending dark comedy and social commentary is clearly a formula for success.

Her upcoming project is a new depiction of ‘Wuthering Heights’ (due in 2025). Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are set to star as the leads: Catherine and Heathcliff.