Film can mean a thin layer of something, like oil on water, or it can mean a movie recorded on camera. It originally referred to the thin strip of material that images were captured on.
It comes from Old English “filmen,” meaning a thin skin or membrane. When cameras were invented, the word was reused for the thin photographic strip.
Movies are called “films” because they used to be physically stored on long, skinny strips that could catch fire if mishandled. Even in the digital age, we still say “film a video,” keeping the old technology alive in the language.
"Film" is neutral as a medium, but the film industry has a long history of gender inequity in directing, writing, technical roles, and on-screen representation. Women and gender-diverse people have often been underrepresented behind the camera and stereotyped on screen.
When discussing film, avoid treating male-centered narratives as the universal norm and women-led or queer films as niche. Use gender-neutral role terms ("filmmaker," "camera operator") where possible.
Acknowledge the work of women and gender-diverse filmmakers, editors, and technicians whose contributions have often been overlooked in mainstream film histories and awards.
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