This list features book-to-film adaptations where either the film director or book author (or both) was female. This list excludes Jane Austen & Bronte sisters’ adaptations [1] to draw attention to other novels/stories. In no particular order: 
1) To Kill a Mockingbird (1962): Harper Lee, author
2) The Virgin Suicides (1999): Sofia Coppola, director
3) The Talented Mr Ripley (1999): Patricia Highsmith, author
4) Chocolat (2000): Joanne Harris, author
5) Oscar & Lucinda (1997): Gillian Armstrong, director
6) Gone with the Wind (1939), Margaret Mitchell, author
7) Rebecca (1940): Daphne du Maurier, author
8) An Education (2009): Lone Scherfig, director
9) Little Women (1994): Louisa May Alcott, author
10) Europa, Europa (1990): Agnieszka Holland, director
11) Like Water for Chocolate (1992): Laura Esquivel, author
12) Brokeback Mountain (2005): Annie Proulx, author
13) Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) & the Chamber of Secrets (2002): J. K. Rowling, author
14) Awakenings (1990): Penny Marshall, director
15) The Colour Purple (1985): Alice Walker, author
16) We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011): Lynne Ramsay, director & Lionel Shriver, author
17) The Age of Innocence (1993): Edith Wharton, author
18) The Help (2011): Kathryn Stockett, author
19) Frida (2002): Julie Taymor, director
20) Interview with the Vampire (1994): Anne Rice, author
[1] Such as Wuthering Heights (1939), Sense & Sensibility (1995), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Jane Eyre (2011) and Love & Friendship (2016)
Spotlight on Film 
I agree with To Kill a Mockingbird as #1. I love the book and the film, and that marvellous moment when the gallery stands for Atticus Finch as he leaves the courtroom, never fails to bring tears to my eyes.
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I’m right there with you on that one!
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Very, very great list. The Talented Mr Ripley is really a terrific one. There’s some good Patricia Highsmith film adaptations and some not so good.. Carol would be the best so far, in my opinion!
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Thank you! Plein Soleil with Alain Delon is also not too bad an adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley, because of Delon’s performance, but Minghella undoubtedly had a lot more style and used the best bits in the novel. I agree with you somewhat – Carol is a very good adaptation of the author’s work. Maybe it should even have been on this list, because I think it is better than, say, The Two Faces of January – this one I thought was weak.
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I haven’t actually seen Plein Soleil but I think I’ll give it a go, just out of interest. I only really liked The Talented Mr Ripley out of all the Ripley movie series. I loved Stranger On A Train too, although it’s a long, long time since I’ve seen it. Think I’ll blow the dust off the DVD.
Carol definitely would be number 1, great work from Todd Haynes. Need to see more of his movies, I saw the TV adaptation of Mildred Pierce and wasn’t a fan!
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Reblogged this on Thoughts on Papyrus and commented:
In celebration of female authors and directors on this International Women’s Day
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Hi DB I love all of these book to film adaptations, such a great list! I would like to add into the mix Orlando by Virginia Woolf and then brought to the screen by Sally Potter. One of the most sparkling and brilliant films of all time with the best actress of all time (in my opinion) Tilda Swinton.
Also the Piano written and directed by Jane Campion although not sure if this counts as the story was not a novel to begin with, the result was rather beautiful though!
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Thanks very much! Orlando is a great suggestion. I love watching Tilda Swinton – she is always good in everything she is in.
Jane Campion is marvellous too! – and The Piano is a truly great script by her. Now that I think about it – it was a great film for female actors and director all around since they all got their Oscars. Though it is quite irrelevant to this girl power theme, I only wish that Michael Nyman also got at least nominated for his film soundtrack to the Piano because he also produced something unbelievably beautiful 🙂
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Yeah I so agree with you there DB this soundtrack for the Piano is a masterpiece I still listen to it occasionally now, it is so amazing! Michael Nyman is a genius I agree
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