Filmmaker Kiran Rao joins global voices at the Shanghai International Film Festival to spotlight the persistent challenges and evolving triumphs of women filmmakers through the Kering Women In Motion initiative.
The struggles and triumphs of women filmmakers were placed in sharp focus on the sidelines of the Shanghai International Film Festival, as four prominent voices in global cinema shared their personal journeys and insights during the Kering Women In Motion panel — an event dedicated to highlighting and advancing the role of women in arts and culture.
Held for the first time in China, the Women In Motion initiative — launched by French luxury conglomerate Kering — hosted Chinese actor-producer Liang Jing, Brazilian filmmaker Luiza Mariani, Indian filmmaker-producer Kiran Rao, and Chinese actress Lyu Yanting, known for voicing the lead in the animated megahit Ne Zha. Together, they unpacked the gender gap in global film industries while encouraging rising female talents.
Kiran Rao, known globally for producing Dangal (2016) — a runaway success in China that grossed $200 million — offered a reflective and critical look at the progress and hurdles that women continue to face in the film industry.
“I think we’ve seen that change in the kinds of stories and roles that women get to play on screen,” Rao remarked. “Studies show that women still make up less than 25-30 percent of the film fraternity in India. Achieving 50 percent should be our goal. Women in decision-making roles — as directors, writers, producers — make a significant difference. Just seeing women working in film inspires more women to pursue careers in this space.”
She emphasized the lingering bias in audience expectations. “There’s still this notion that audiences prefer male heroes, and that women are best suited as romantic co-leads. But when women enter the industry and tell their own stories, we see layered, authentic characters — women who defy patriarchal norms. That gives me so much hope.”
Rao cited Dangal as a key example of shifting perceptions, where the story of the Phogat sisters — real-life wrestlers who broke barriers in Indian sports — resonated across borders. “Women everywhere share similar struggles,” she added, highlighting the film’s universal appeal and its challenge to traditional gender narratives.
Luiza Mariani, presenting her film Cyclone at the festival — a contender for the SIFF Gold Goblet Award — reflected on Brazil’s evolving film industry. The film, centered on a playwright undergoing a traumatic backstreet abortion, was made entirely by women — director, producers, and screenwriters.
“That wouldn’t have been possible ten years ago,” said Mariani. “Today, 15 percent of Brazilian films are directed by women — compared to less than 2 percent in the 1970s. We are breaking rules and setting new ones.”
The rise of women-centric cinema in Chinese filmmaking was also acknowledged, with recent blockbuster successes such as Jia Ling’s boxing comedy-drama Yolo ($485 million) and Shao Yihui’s award-winning film Her Story ($100 million) demonstrating growing public appetite for women-led narratives.
Chinese actor-producer Liang Jing encouraged young female filmmakers to find and raise their voices, sharing: “Work hard and don’t be afraid to speak up, to find your voice.”
Lyu Yanting, celebrated for her voice role in Ne Zha, added another layer to the discussion, reinforcing how women’s contributions, especially in animation and genre cinema, are shaping the future of storytelling in Asia.
The Kering Women In Motion panel at SIFF 2025 became not only a meeting point for powerhouse talents across continents but also a platform to advocate for industry-wide change, representation, and empowerment — a movement that is undeniably gaining momentum worldwide.