Marya E. Gates

Press:

“One of the Books of the Year” — Sight and Sound Magazine

“A decade ago, Gates vowed to spend a year watching only films made by women “as a sort of protest.” A continuation of that project, this illustrated volume covers 60 years of film history as told by 19 trailblazing female directors.” — The New York Times Book Review

“Serves as a rich chronicle of accomplishment and an argument for more equitable access to the business of making movies.” — Chicago Tribune

“A fascinating snapshot of the state of the profession for women right now, and a sign of how much more work is needed to open the directorial doors.” — Empire Magazine

“Truly one of the best designed film books…” — Skylight Books Podcast

“Indispensable. . .a rich panorama emerges, challenging preconceptions while offering surprising perspectives.” — Harper’s Bazaar France

“This is an inspiring, rare glimpse into the world of female filmmakers and their contributions.” — ICON America

“…a gorgeously designed new book of insightful interviews with women directors, from those who worked with big Hollywood budgets to those who make micro-budget indies.” — RogerEbert.com

“Celebrat[es] women directors and their incredible contributions to filmmaking…” — Indiewire

“A timely, powerful, and essential celebration of women behind the camera.” — Indulge Magazine

“This lovingly crafted, visually sublime text is packed with info and interviews.” — The Film Stage

“This curated collection of interviews is the ideal reference with insights directly from these trailblazing filmmakers themselves. .” — Film Obsessive

“A terrific, totally accessible primer on female filmmakers.” — The Black List

“These interviews. . .give us a thoroughly detailed insider’s view of the creativity, determination, and community-building that has come to define their careers.” — Autostraddle

“A fascinating overview of women in film, and an excellent resource for readers who want to broaden their horizons and perhaps even become filmmakers themselves one day.” — BookPage

Book Tour and Film Screenings:

Dates in more cities will be announced soon!

Past Events:

• March 8th, 2025 – 7:30pm ET – Southampton Playhouse –  Southampton, NY
  • Celebrate International Women’s Day at the newly reopened Southampton Playhouse with a screening of Karyn Kusama’s debut feature film Girlfight with an introduction by Marya E. Gates, who will also be signing copies of her book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words
• March 11th, 2025 – 7:15pm ET – Nitehawk Cinema – Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
  • The Future of Film is Female presents a screening of Karyn Kusama’s debut feature film Girlfight in celebration of the new book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words by Marya E. Gates. Gates will be in person to introduce the screening and sign copies of her book!
• [SOLD OUT] March 15th, 2025 – 3:00pm ET – MoMA – New York City, NY
  • The Future of Film is Female presents Girls to the Front: Nineties and Now: Mi Vida Loca on 35mm followed by a conversation with writer-director Allison Anders and Marya E. Gates, author of Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words. A book signing will precede the screening in the Ronald S. and Jo Carole Lauder lobby between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Screening begins at 4:00pm.
• March 19th, 2025 – 6:30pm PT – Academy Museum of Motion Pictures – Los Angeles, CA
  • Author Marya E. Gates will be signing her book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words and join filmmaker Allison Anders for a conversation before a 35mm screening of Gas Food Lodging. Screening begins at 7:30pm.
• March 20th, 2025 – 7:15pm PT – The Frida Cinema – Santa Ana, CA
  • Screening of Destroyer + post-screening discussion with director Karyn Kusama and Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates. Book signing to follow.
• [SOLD OUT] March 21st, 2025 – 7:00pm PT – Vidiots – Los Angeles, CA
  • Vidiots is euphoric to welcome Performance Artist, Novelist, and Filmmaker Miranda July for a special screening of her indie darling Me and You and Everyone We Know as well as Marya E. Gates who will be signing copies of her new book Cinema Her Way.
• March 27th, 2025 – 7:00pm ET – Jacob Burns Film Center – Pleasantville, NY
  • Screening of Lingua Franca post-screening discussion with writer-director-star Isabel Sandoval and Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates. Book signing to follow.
• March 29th, 2025 – 11am CT – Music Box Theatre – Chicago, IL
  • 35mm screening of Jane Campion’s Bright Star + post-screening discussion with film critic and Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates moderated by film critic Kat Sachs. Book signing to follow.
• April 16th & 17th, 2025 – The Brattle – Cambridge, MA
  • April 16th:
  • CANCELLED – BUT WILL BE RESCHEDULED | April 17th – Filmmaker Bette Gordon in person!
    • 6:00pm – Variety
    • 8:30pm – Luminous Motion
  • Copies of Cinema Her Way will be for sale on both nights.
• April 23rd – 26th, 2025 – CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival – Pickford Film Center – Bellingham, WA
  • [APPEARANCE CANCELLED DUE TO FAMILY EMERGENCY]
• May 3rd, 2025 – 1:00pm ET – Plaza Theatre – Atlanta, GA
  • Plazadrome and the Atlanta Film Festival present: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) with director Susan Seidelman in person. We’ll have a book signing before the event with the director and author Marya E. Gates signing their books Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words and Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls before the screening.  
    • 12pm: Cinema Her Way and Desperately Seeking Something book signings in The Atlanta Film Festival Green Room. 
    • 1pm: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) film screening followed by a Q&A between director Susan Seidelman and author Marya E. Gates. 
• May 10th, 2025 – The Brattle – Cambridge, MA
  • 35mm screening of The Namesake followed by a conversation with Mira Nair and book signing with Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates.
• May 17th, 2025 – 7:30pm CT – Doc Films – Chicago, IL
  • 35mm screening of Sally Potter’s The Tango Lesson followed by a Q&A and book signing with Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates.
• May 22nd, 2025 – 7pm CT – Trylon Cinema – Minneapolis, MN
  • 35mm screening of Susan Seidelman’s Making Mr. Right with introduction by Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates. Book talk and signing to precede screening at Moon Palace Books (3032 Minnehaha Ave) starting at 4pm
• [APPEARANCE CANCELLED] May 30 – June 1 – Women+Film Festival – Sie FilmCenter – Denver, CO
• June 5th, 2025 – 6:30pm ET – Cleveland Cinematheque – Cleveland, OH
  • 35mm screening of Lizzie Borden’s Born In Flames
• November 13th, 2025 – Houston Cinema Arts Festival
  • 5:00pm CST – Brasil Cafe – Houston, TX
    • Join Marya E. Gates for a book signing and meet and greet for her first book, Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors In Their Own Words. Presented in partnership with Good On Paper.
  • 7:15pm CST – Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Brown
    • A touchstone of ‘90s independent cinema, Gas Food Lodging follows single mother Nora (Brooke Adams) and her daughters, Trudi (Ione Skye) and Shade (Fairuza Balk), as the trio navigate love, loss, and small‑town struggles in a New Mexico trailer park. Scored to the wail of Dinosaur Jr’s. J Mascis guitar, indie icon Allison Anders crafts an intimate story of resilience against the longing of a forgotten American landscape. Featuring a post-screening conversation with Allison Anders moderated by writer Marya E. Gates. This screening accompanies a signing of Cinema Her Way, her new book featuring career‑spanning interviews with 19 visionary female filmmakers.