Film Discoveries of 2015 - Marya E. Gates

Marya E. Gates runs Cinema-Fanatic.com, and can be found on Tumblr,Twitter, YouTube, Mubi and iCheckMovies. Her first movie in theatres was Willow in 1988 and she’s been obsessed ever since.

I spent 2015 only watching films directed by women (save for Noirvember, where all the films I watched had female writers), so this list is all films by female filmmakers. You can check out my entire project here: http://cinema-fanatic.com/a-year-with-women/ 
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I discovered soooo many great films during this year it was really hard to whittle it down to just five, but these films really stuck with me (in order that I watched them):

Mansfield Park (1999; Patricia Rozema) 

The queer spin on Jane Austen I never knew I needed. 

http://cinema-fanatic.com/2015/03/02/movie-quote-of-the-day-mansfield-park-1999-dir-patricia-rozema/

Wanda (1970; Barbara Loden)

One of the most astounding films I’ve ever seen. I watched it twice this year and each time I felt the loss of Barbara Loden even deeper. What an artist. 

http://cinema-fanatic.com/2015/05/22/movie-quote-of-the-day-wanda-1970-dir-barbara-loden/

Seven Beauties (1975; Lina WertMuller) 

My first foray into Wertmuller. She’s definitely got a strong point of view.

http://cinema-fanatic.com/2015/07/04/movie-quote-of-the-day-pasqualino-settebellezze-1975-dir-lina-wertmuller/

Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975; Chantal Akerman) 
I love Chantal Akerman so much! She will be greatly missed. I’m glad I finally saw her masterpiece. 

http://cinema-fanatic.com/2015/07/26/movie-quote-of-the-day-jeanne-dielman-23-quai-du-commerce-1080-bruxelles-1975-dir-chantal-akerman/

Paris Is Burning (Jennie Livingston; 1990)
So much hope and sadness all wrapped into one amazingly fabulous package.

http://cinema-fanatic.com/2015/12/24/movie-quote-of-the-day-paris-is-burning-1990-dir-jennie-livingston/