The Director's Series, an introduction

 

Over the past few years I've explored different lists of films that move me throughout the year. This year, on Fridays and Saturdays, I'm exploring something a little different. Rather than categories of films, I'm looking at some directors I enjoy.

I picked 18 directors whose work I enjoy and admire. For each of them, I will be sharing my five favorite films from No. 5 to No. 1. It's a lengthy exploration that I hope will introduce you to some new films and new filmmakers, and will showcase my diverse style and interest.

But I also wanted to celebrate female filmmakers. We've seen a lot of different female voices making impactful films the past few years. So, in addition, I'm sprinkling in 10 different films that I have enjoyed that were delivered by different female filmmakers.

Sometimes crafting this list was hard. Narrowing it to five from some of these directors required difficult choices. Just settling on the 18 directors also involved difficult choices. And sometimes it was hard choosing the film to highlight from different female directors.

So, before we dive into the 100 films that make the list, I'll be looking at 10 directors and 10 films that just missed the cut. I hope this is a fun exploration for us all that makes 2025 a little more cinematic. Come back here on Fridays and Saturdays to catch the films that make the list!