First Woman Winner for Best Director Academy Award
The first female director's film was released in 1896, and the Academy Award for Best Director was initially given in 1929. However, it took until 2010 for a woman to win the award; Kathryn Bigelow won it for her direction of The Hurt Locker.
Kathryn's last three directed movies were unsuccessful. Her previous big hit, Point Break, was released in 1991. The Hurt Locker made over 49 million dollars, which made it a commercial success since its budget was $15 million. However, it was going up against the juggernaut Avatar, which made over 2 billion dollars. Ultimately, The Hurt Locker won six Oscars, including Best Picture and the above-mentioned award. This win was the first time a woman directed the Best Picture winner.
Quotes
I hope I'm the first of many, and of course, I'd love to just think of myself as a filmmaker. And I long for the day when that modifier can be a moot point, But I'm very grateful if I can inspire some young, intrepid, tenacious male or female filmmaker and have them feel that the impossible is possible, and never give up on your dream.
Kathryn Bigelow
References
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Kathryn vs. James: The Underdog Story of how The Hurt Locker won the Oscar for Best Picture over Avatar
Tonight we would learn whether the Academy was going to award Avatar for all of its technical and financial achievements or if The Hurt Locker would become the lowest-grossing film of all time to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Gal's Guide
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'Avatar', 'Hurt Locker' square off for statuettes
After her film triumphed at the Academy Awards with six prizes and made her the first woman ever to win the directing Oscar, she graduated to diplomat with her deft handling of some uncomfortable personal questions from reporters after the show.
The Columbus Dispatch
