TO CLOSE

Regina King said her commitment to gender equality had attracted a lot of support for the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, while Ethan Hawke said that bringing honored critics means a lot. (January 8)
AP

SANTA MONICA, California. – Barry Jenkins is doing his best to work with more women in Hollywood.

Jenkins was a great success at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, where he won the Best Director and Best Feature Award for "If Beale Street Could Talk". The director used his thank you speech on Saturday to draw attention to the "4% Challenge".

He cited the speech by Regina King, Beale Street star at the Golden Globes, in which she said: "I vow … to make sure that everything I produce, at 50% of women, and I just defy anyone in a position of strength … I challenge you to challenge yourself and … do the same.

"You know, Regina was at the Golden Globes and she said something very wise and very real," said Jenkins in his speech. "Women make up only 4% of the studio directors, but they represent 44% of the directors competing at Sundance and 60% of the directors nominated for this award."

"If only 30% of us are in agreement with Regina to produce or finance a film directed by a woman in the next 18 months, this 4% can reach 8%, 10% or 16%".

Barry Jenkins accepts the Best Director award for "If Beale Street Could Speak" at the 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 23, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP) ORG XMIT: CARA270 (Photo11: Chris Pizzello, Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP)

Spirit Awards: Aubrey Plaza Tears Oscars and Netflix in a Hilarious Monologue

King also won the Spirit Award for Best Supporting Woman for her role in adapting James Baldwin, although it seems that she kept her best speech material in case she would win. Oscar's best supporting actress Sunday, instead of typing a long list of thanks during her speech.

Jenkins also acknowledged the irony of winning the award as one of two men in a category with three women following "Moonlight", which won an Oscar.

"I'm not going to lie, man, I really did not want to win that damn price," he said. "With everything happening in the world, it seems strange to me to be here."

He also thanked "all these women (in the film) who told me what it should be and I had to check my director ego and learn that I could not make a film about women without female voice at foreground".

More: The price goes to a puppy! Glenn Close brought his dog Pip on stage at the Spirit Awards

Oscar nominated Regina King:My commitment to gender equality must be just the beginning

Automatic reading

Thumbnails poster

Show captions

Last slide next

Read or share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/02/23/barry-jenkins-joins-regina-kings-challenge-work-more-women/2968253002/