BAFTA has added a non-binary directing category. Their long lists have been divided between male and female. Now, with the inclusion of non-binary, there will be three categories of names to choose from.
The goal is to have the final six pulled from these three categories. In other words, they have lost their minds. To appease the cult, without having to make their official categories go gender neutral, they will have three lists of ten men, ten women and … ten non-binary.
Will they now include an obligatory non-binary in the final 6 nominees? Except for Aftersun’s Charlotte Wells, I can’t think of any other filmmaker that identifies as “non-binary.” Maybe Barbie’s Greta Gerwig should identify as such, then she’ll be a lock for a directing nomination.
BAFTA will solely be to blame now for creating this problem — they will be responsible for whatever backlash occurs, especially if a non-binary doesn’t make it into the final six.