Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) was founded in 1997 by alumnae of the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women as a community of peers to share information and support one another’s career advancement. In the decades since our inception, our values have remained the same. Today, we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to achieving gender parity in the entertainment industry by substantially increasing the number of working women and gender-diverse directors.
As an inclusive collective of more than 600 professional women and gender-expansive directors and allies, we work together to effect positive, lasting change in the entertainment industry. We are relentless advocates for gender parity and believe it is vital that stories are told from all perspectives. because representation matters.
As an organization, we are committed to substantially increasing the number of working women and gender-expansive directors in film, television, commercials and new media by providing professional support for members in the form of hands-on craft enrichment, education, and mentorship; developing and leveraging relationships with industry partners; and partnering with like-minded organizations to increase our reach and impact.
AWD Directing Members
- Inclusion in our exclusive searchable database, utilized by producers and production companies
- Eligible to apply for our Career Advancement Fellowships and Labs including our Black Directors Advancement Initiative, #MentorLatinaDirectors Fellowship, Rising Director Fellowship, and Directing the Actor Lab
- Participation in Career Advancement programs (including Works in Progress, Social Sundays, AWD Book Club, and Virtual Readings), workshops, panels and mixers (*Please note, some events have limited seating)
- Eligible to receive discounts and waivers on film festival submissions
- Discount to our annual Back to Set symposium
- Eligible for Fiscal Sponsorship through AWD on projects helmed by women or gender expansive directors
- Access to online resources, discounts on industry goods and services through our community partnerships and access to screenings and conversations hosted by our studio and network partners
AWD Ally Members
- Participation in AWD's Virtual Readings, Book Club, and Social Sundays programs
- Attendance at selected workshops and events throughout the year, including AWD's annual, in-person bash where Directing and Ally Members mingle and can connect (for those in the Los Angeles area)
- Eligible for Fiscal Sponsorship through AWD on projects helmed by women or gender expansive directors
- Other opportunities may include select screenings and conversations hosted by our studio and network partners
*Please note, that you must be over 21+ to attend any in-person AWD events that serve alcohol.
To qualify as an AWD Directing Member, you must have directed a publicly-aired feature film, TV episode, TV movie, documentary, commercial, or short film. To fill out an application form, go to our Join page.
To join as an AWD Ally member, you can purchase a membership HERE. An AWD Ally membership is perfect for someone who:
- Supports AWD’s mission to increase the number of women and gender non-binary directors being hired
- Plans to join AWD as a Directing Member but is not yet eligible
- Works in the film industry and wants to get to know more women and gender-expansive directors
- Loves film, television, music videos, and commercials and wants to learn more about the process of directing them
Alliance of Women Directors was built on COMMUNITY and this continues to be at the foundation of our organization.
Through our Mutual Assistance Outreach program, AWD is working to assist those members of our community who have been and will continue to be affected by the devastating fires in Los Angeles. THIS FORM allows you to let us know if you need assistance or if you can support those who do. Please be as detailed as you can so we can best arrange the support.
Membership dues pay for the costs of our events (venues, refreshments, etc.), as well as for all online services provided to members (website upkeep, subscriptions services, etc), and for our programming staff who work diligently to build relationships and create events and programs to further our mission of transforming the industry.
We are able to keep the yearly dues low because our members generously donate their time and energy to the organization.
Yes! We have a searchable database of our members. You can select different filters, such as genre and experience level, to generate a list of compatible directors for your project. When you contact directors for interviews, be sure to mention that you found them on the AWD searchable database.
Members can contact the Committee they are interested in volunteering with. Descriptions and requirements of committee volunteers can be found in the Member Center.
If you are not a member, see the next question for more details.
AWD Ally Membership is open to people of all genders and professional disciplines. Join yourself or gift a membership to a friend!
An AWD Ally membership is perfect for someone who:
- Supports AWD’s mission to increase the number of women and gender non-binary directors being hired
- Plans to join AWD as a Directing Member but is not yet eligible
- Works in the film industry and wants to get to know more women and gender non-binary directors
- Loves film, television, music videos, and commercials and wants to learn more about the process of directing them
Additionally, everyone is welcome to contribute their time and talents to AWD. Perhaps you are an events coordinator and would love to help us coordinate our members' bash, or an entertainment lawyer who wants to donate time advising our members. Or maybe you just love film and want to be around like-minded professionals. You can contact the Committee that fits your interests, or e-mail us at info@allianceofwomendirectors.org and let us know how you’d like to become involved with AWD.
We do not offer student memberships at this time.
Students or recent graduates (within 5 years) who are eligible for Directing Membership can receive 20% off of the annual dues. You can find more information on our Join Page.
Students who do not yet meet our Directing Membership requirements are welcome to join as an Ally Member.
*Please note: You need to be 21 years of age to attend an event where alcohol is served.
Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) adheres to the values of integrity and inclusion and believe that culture and global connectedness advance when stories from all perspectives are told. AWD is dedicated to affecting positive, lasting change in the entertainment industry by increasing the number of working women and gender-expansive directors in film, television, commercials, and new media.
In keeping with the mission of Alliance of Women Directors, all members – including AWD Directors and Ally members – agree to the guidelines set forth below with regard to the organization, its members, and our industry partners and guests:
- Act in a manner that is professional, courteous, empowering, respectful, and a positive reflection of the mission and values of AWD;
- Uphold the confidentiality of any sensitive information gained through AWD membership and adhere to the rules and guidelines set forth for each of our events and programs;
- Conduct oneself in a fair and good faith manner in dealings with AWD, its members, its partners, and its guests. Avoid taking advantage of another person or entity through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of self or material facts, and/or engaging in other unfair practices;
- Refrain from entering into any agreements, partnerships, or sponsorships with any entities on behalf of AWD without written permission from the Executive Board of Directors and/or misrepresenting the interests of AWD to outside organizations for personal benefit;
- Acknowledge that any program or event using the AWD name and logo must be pre-approved by the Executive Board of Directors;
- Foster an ethical culture through one’s actions, keeping in mind the bigger picture of AWD’s reputation and mission to support and uplift marginalized voices in film, television, commercials, and new media.
In order to maintain a supportive organization, grievances, concerns, and recommendations are to be submitted in writing via info[at]allianceofwomendirectors.org
AWD reserves the right to limit or revoke membership for those who violate this Code of Conduct.
The AWD Code of Conduct will be updated periodically, and it is the member’s responsibility to be aware of changes.
Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) defines a ‘no-show’ as a member not in attendance who had previously RSVP’d for an event and failed to contact the organization to cancel their attendance at least 24 hours before said event. AWD shall keep a record of all ‘no-shows’ for each event. Once a member has accumulated two ‘no-shows’ within a three month period, AWD has the right to restrict said member’s ability to attend capped-capacity events for the next (4) months.
AWD encourages forthright business practices and accurate self-representation but assumes no responsibility, nor liability for any member’s individual content, nor business relationships made through AWD's website, events, or social media accounts.
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