Too many dicks: Screen Australia recognises gender problem, aims to fix it

All my women, who independent - throw your filmmaking funding at me.

With only 4.7% of major films released in the last five years directed by women and ladies making up only 30% of all speaking parts in major motion pictures, it's no secret Hollywood has a gender problem behind and in front of the camera.

It's even less of a secret that the Australian screen industry shares this problem. Great news though: they're aiming to fix it.

In a first for the local industry, Screen Australia today announced a $5 million plan to address the gender imbalance in what CEO Graeme Mason says will "make a real difference".

The package of intiatives will be rolled out over the next three years under the Gender Matters banner, with a focus on funding female led projects that could be seen on our screens within two years. 

A cool $3 million will be allocated to offering an assist to "female led creative teams rather than individuals" says Mason, with another $2 million to focus on placements, distribution incentives, marketing and industry networking.

Who run the world? Well, girls will with Screen Australia Deputy Chair Deanne Weir heading up the Gender Matters taskforce which is made up entirely of women *cheers, pops champagne*.

Adding their input will be The Sapphires star Miranda Tapsell, YouTube personality Natalie Tran, producer and screenwriter Imogen Banks, director and screenwriter Corrie Chen, head of distribution for eOne ANZ Sandie Don, director and producer Sophie Hyde, screenwriter Emma Jensen, preseident of Australian Directors Guild Samantha Lang and producer Sue Maslin.

Source: Twitter

The news will come as a welcome relief to the ladies struggling to survive in the proverbial sausage fest that is the local industry, with only 16% of directors in Australian being women.

The stats are slightly less depressing in other fields, with 32% of producers being women and 23% of screenwriters ladies.

For the next generation or Gillian Armstrongs, Cate Shortlands and Kim Farrants the announcements are one of the few dim sparks in a depressingly dark time for gender representation in front of and behind the camera.