Know Her Name is a groundbreaking documentary that investigates the untold story of women filmmakers throughout history, revealing why so many of their contributions have been overlooked and forgotten. From the very beginning of cinema, women have been at the helm of storytelling. Alice Guy-Blaché, the pioneering French filmmaker who directed the first narrative film in 1896, created hundreds of films—many of which remain lost. But why haven’t we heard of the countless women directors who followed, and why have only three women ever won the Academy Award® for Best Director?
Through its compelling approach, Know Her Name explores the idea of historical amnesia, diving deep into the intersection of cinema’s economics and its cultural biases. The film unearths the stories of visionaries like Zora Neale Hurston, Esther Eng, Lois Weber, and Dorothy Arzner, whose work continues to shape the cinematic world today.
With a rich blend of film clips, archival footage, and intimate interviews with such contemporary filmmakers as Mary Harron (American Psycho) and Deepa Mehta (Water, Fire, and Earth trilogy), Know Her Name redefines the way we view the history of cinema—shifting the conversation to celebrate the women who have always been behind the camera.