From Kristen Stewart to Scarlett Johansson: Inside the Actress-to-Director Wave This Awards Season

Women directors aren’t a new concept. But the surge of actresses stepping behind the camera? That’s this year’s plot twist. From Oscar winners Kate Winslet and Scarlett Johansson to breakout talents making bold pivots, it’s a watershed moment for female performers turned filmmakers.

This rising generation is following a path forged by pioneers like Ida Lupino and Elaine May. Then there was Barbra Streisand, who directed and starred in “Yentl,” and earned a best picture nod for “The Prince of Tides.” More recently, Greta Gerwig became the only director to have her first three films nominated for best picture, a feat that redefined what’s possible for actresses making the jump. So who among this year’s crop will deliver the next “Barbie?”

The Chronology of WaterDirector: Kristen Stewart Andrejs Strokins

“The Chronology of Water” (The Forge)

The Project

Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut adapts Lidia Yuknavitch…