Putting women on top

Sweden is giving props to the ladies. An agreement signed by the Swedish government outlining the financing of film to be extended through the Swedish Film Institute Foundation between 2006 to 2010 allocates sk528 million (us$63.4 million) annually to all areas of film support. It also sets a target for gender equality in the film biz. By 2010, it aims to increase the number of women holding central positions in film production - that is, as producers, directors or scriptwriters - to at least 40%, counted by the number of projects receiving support. Though drama is still a ways from this goal, docs can be proud. Every year from the new millennium to 2003, women produced between 29% and 38% of the shorts and docs supported by the Institute, and directed from 27% to 44% of these per annum. The next frontier? We suggest diversity - and that goes for the rest of the world, too.