Women in Film Reach Record Representation Levels Despite Persistent Industry Barriers

• The 11th CIMA report highlights that female representation in Spanish cinema reached a record 39% in 2025, up from 26% in 2015.
• While participation has grown, significant horizontal and vertical segregation persists, with women dominating support roles like costume and makeup but remaining underrepresented in key decision-making positions like directing and cinematography.
• A stark economic gap remains: the average budget for films directed by women is approximately 1.64 million euros, compared to 3.38 million euros for those directed by men.

Industry Segregation

• Feminized fields like costume design (83%) and makeup/hair (78%) stand in contrast to roles like cinematography (21%) and directing (29%), indicating that structural inequality remains.
• Data shows a 'drag effect,' where the presence of women in leadership roles (directing or producing) directly correlates with higher female representation across the entire crew.

Recognition and Awards

• Women’s share of awards at festivals and institutions has risen from 11% in 2015 to 46% in 2025.
• Festivals have been effective drivers of gender parity, whereas national and honorary institutional awards remain heavily dominated by men, with women often recognized primarily as actresses rather than in creative leadership roles.

Diversity and Representation

• The industry remains centered on cisgender, white, non-disabled professionals; only 0.75% of performers in the sample presented any form of disability.
• Diversity behind the camera is minimal, with racialized individuals accounting for only 4.13% of directing roles, further reflecting the barriers faced by underrepresented groups in the film sector.