Director Kristín Jóhannesdóttir received the honorary award at the Eddas, the Icelandic Film and Television Awards, on Saturday. In her speech, she criticized the lack of women present in the film industry.

On the set of a film in Iceland. Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.

Kristín stated that she had been optimistic about the future of women in the film industry when she launched her career as the only woman in a male-dominated world, ruv.is reports

“I wouldn’t have imagined that 30 years later the minimum quota for female parts couldn’t be filled at the Eddas,” Kristín said, referring to the fact that there weren’t enough female roles available in films last year to find five nominees—there were only three in the categories Best Actress and Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

There was no woman among nominees for Best Director of a full-length feature film either, Kristín pointed out.

“There were very few roles in films made by men that are supposed to create female images in this powerful medium. What is the meaning of this? It isn’t just inequality and injustice but a dangerous situation that hinders the natural development of the industry and even more so, the entire society,” Kristín maintained.

“Think about it. It’s a fault in society. Society will never be whole if only masculine values are upheld,” the director concluded.

Click here to read more about the Edda Awards.

ESA