We are just over half way through 2013 and there been some fantastic female filmmakers delivering some very impressive work.
At the beginning of the years FemaleFirst was excited about the movies that were on the horizon from some of the best women in the business... and they really have delivered some terrific films.
We take a look at some of the stand out female filmmakers of the year so far.
- Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Bigelow was the toast of Hollywood back in 2009 when she delivered the wonderful The Hurt Locker - a movie that saw Bigelow make history as she became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar.
We haven't seen her in the director's chair until she returned with a bang at the beginning of the year with Zero Dark Thirty.
Zero Dark Thirty was one of the movies that we were most looking forward to here at FemaleFirst, and it didn't disappoint. The film chronicled the ten year hunt for Osama bin Laden up to his death in 2011.
Bigelow is the not the kind of director to turn her back on controversy as the movie did depict some quite graphic torture scenes - scenes that spark a huge debate.
Zero Dark Thirty is one of the best movies to grace the big screen so far this year and featured a wonderful central performance from Jessica Chastain.
The film was nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture; sadly Bigelow did not receive a Best Director nod.
- Susanne Bier
One of the surprise movies of the year came in the form of Love Is All You Need as Susanne Bier returned to the director's chair.
We are seeing more and more movies that featuring older protagonists and being aimed at an older audience; not only are they enjoying success but films such as The BEst Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet are having huge success.
Love Is All You Need is another of those movies as it is about finding love long after you thought you might - it really is a wonderful and very charming watch.
The film sees Trine Dyrholm team up with Pierce Brosnan in a film that looks at marital breakdown, letting your children go, battling cancer as well as allowing yourself to move forward and fall in love again.
This is a movie that delivers genuine laughs as well as great smacks of emotion, not to mention it is the first time in a long time that I have seen a rom-com where you truly believe the chemistry between the two lead characters.
And we will be seeing another Susanne Bier movie hit the big screen later this year as she has teamed up with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper for Serena.
- Haifaa Al Mansour
Haifaa Al Mansour has been whipping up a storm this year as she is putting Saudi Arabia filmmaking on the map.
She has made her feature film directorial debut with Wadjda which is not only the first feature to be filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia, but it is the first feature film in Saudi Arabia to be made by a female director.
Set in Saudi Arabia the movie follows a young girl who challenges the traditions of her country.
Wadjda is a movie that pushes boundaries and traditions and it is one of the most vital movies of the year.
Given the fact that cinema is restricted in Saudi Arabia this makes this movie even more special.
Wadjda is a film that has been enjoying huge success on the festival circuit; picking up prizes in Dubai, Tallinn and Venice.
Haifaa Al Mansour to really keep an eye on over the next few years as she promises to be a very exciting filmmaker.
- Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola became only the third woman to be nominated for the Best Director Oscar back in 2003 for her second feature film Lost In Translation.
And this week she is back with her brand new film The Bling Ring - her first movie since Somewhere at the end of 2010.
The Bling Ring tells the story of a group of teenagers obsessed with fashion and celebrity that burglarise celebrities’ homes in Los Angeles.
Tracking their targets’ whereabouts online, they break-in and steal their designer clothes and possessions.
This story would be seem totally ridiculous if it wasn't true as Coppola does deliver quite a sobering view of our culture today.
Coppola makes visually very beautiful movies and that trend does continue with The Bling Ring - it really is a lovely looking movie.
Other female filmmakers that have made a splash this year are Francesca Gregorini, Ana Piterbarg and Ava DuVernay.
The Bling Ring is released 5th July.
Tagged in Kathryn Bigelow