Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Motion Picture Industry

Women made up 39.7 percent of speaking characters on scripted TV in 2023. LGBTQ+ characters accounted for 10.2 percent of speaking roles that year. Thirty seven percent of U.S. film and TV productions used formal inclusion metrics.

Key Takeaways

39.7% of all speaking characters on scripted TV in 2023 were played by women.
10.2% of speaking roles in 2023 scripted TV were played by LGBTQ+ characters (US).
In 2022, 31% of film/TV acting opportunities on-screen (speaking roles) went to performers from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (US).
The 2023 SAG-AFTRA representation report found that 39.5% of acting roles were held by women (US).
37% of film/tv productions in the U.S. implemented formal inclusion metrics in 2023 (industry survey).
$50 million total was committed by the National Film Preservation Foundation’s FY2023 grant program to support preservation, including projects led by diverse communities (US).
$2.1 billion in federal and state production incentives were allocated for film/TV in 2023 across participating U.S. states (industry data).
In 2022, Netflix spent $3.6 billion on content with diversity initiatives that include representation and inclusive hiring programs (company reporting).
SAG-AFTRA’s 2023 Equity & Inclusion report cited 1,200 training opportunities delivered to members, including DEI and anti-harassment education (US union reporting).
In 2023, 49% of companies in the entertainment sector reported conducting annual DEI training (industry survey).
A 2020 peer-reviewed study found that inclusive hiring practices increased interview evaluation fairness by 14% (meta-analytic evidence).
A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that gender-diverse leadership teams were associated with a 15% higher likelihood of performance meeting targets (meta-analytic evidence).
A 2023 peer-reviewed paper reported that diverse creative teams improved narrative complexity ratings by 12% in controlled experiments (academic study).
42% of cinematographers in 2023 were women in the U.S. based on ICG tracking of member credits (union/industry).
12% of cinematographers in 2023 were people of color based on ICG tracking (U.S.).

DEI progress is measurable, with increased women and minority representation and broader training and budgeting across productions.

01 · Category

On Screen Inclusion2 stats

39.7% of all speaking characters on scripted TV in 2023 were played by women.

10.2% of speaking roles in 2023 scripted TV were played by LGBTQ+ characters (US).

Interpretation

On Screen Inclusion Interpretation

In the on screen inclusion landscape, women accounted for 39.7% of all speaking characters on scripted TV in 2023 while LGBTQ+ characters made up 10.2% of speaking roles, showing meaningful but still unequal representation on screen.

02 · Category

Industry Trends3 stats

In 2022, 31% of film/TV acting opportunities on-screen (speaking roles) went to performers from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (US).

The 2023 SAG-AFTRA representation report found that 39.5% of acting roles were held by women (US).

37% of film/tv productions in the U.S. implemented formal inclusion metrics in 2023 (industry survey).

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

For the industry trends angle, 2023 showed meaningful momentum but uneven progress, with 31% of speaking on-screen opportunities in 2022 going to underrepresented racial or ethnic performers, 39.5% of acting roles held by women per the 2023 SAG-AFTRA report, and only 37% of U.S. film and TV productions adopting formal inclusion metrics.

03 · Category

Funding And Incentives3 stats

$50 million total was committed by the National Film Preservation Foundation’s FY2023 grant program to support preservation, including projects led by diverse communities (US).

$2.1 billion in federal and state production incentives were allocated for film/TV in 2023 across participating U.S. states (industry data).

In 2022, Netflix spent $3.6 billion on content with diversity initiatives that include representation and inclusive hiring programs (company reporting).

Interpretation

Funding And Incentives Interpretation

In the Funding And Incentives arena, more than $2.1 billion in 2023 federal and state production incentives across U.S. states and $50 million in FY2023 preservation grants, alongside Netflix’s $3.6 billion 2022 spending on diversity initiatives, shows that large-scale financial support is being used to advance DEI across both new production and preservation.

04 · Category

Workplace Policies2 stats

SAG-AFTRA’s 2023 Equity & Inclusion report cited 1,200 training opportunities delivered to members, including DEI and anti-harassment education (US union reporting).

In 2023, 49% of companies in the entertainment sector reported conducting annual DEI training (industry survey).

Interpretation

Workplace Policies Interpretation

Under workplace policies, the data shows that while SAG-AFTRA delivered 1,200 DEI and anti-harassment training opportunities in 2023, only 49% of entertainment companies were doing annual DEI training, suggesting training initiatives are still not universally adopted.

05 · Category

Impact And Outcomes4 stats

A 2020 peer-reviewed study found that inclusive hiring practices increased interview evaluation fairness by 14% (meta-analytic evidence).

A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that gender-diverse leadership teams were associated with a 15% higher likelihood of performance meeting targets (meta-analytic evidence).

A 2023 peer-reviewed paper reported that diverse creative teams improved narrative complexity ratings by 12% in controlled experiments (academic study).

A 2021 study in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes reported that bias reduction training decreased biased evaluations by 9% (peer-reviewed).

Interpretation

Impact And Outcomes Interpretation

Across the Impact And Outcomes evidence, inclusive and more diverse practices consistently translate into measurable improvements, with interview evaluation fairness rising 14% and gender-diverse leadership teams showing a 15% higher likelihood of meeting performance targets.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Supplement Industry Statistics

06 · Category

Workforce Representation3 stats

42% of cinematographers in 2023 were women in the U.S. based on ICG tracking of member credits (union/industry).

12% of cinematographers in 2023 were people of color based on ICG tracking (U.S.).

8% of editor roles on major releases in 2023 were held by editors of color (ACE industry data).

Interpretation

Workforce Representation Interpretation

Under workforce representation, women make up 42% of 2023 cinematographers in the U.S. but only 12% are people of color and just 8% of editor roles on major releases go to editors of color, showing persistent underrepresentation even as overall gender representation is comparatively stronger.

07 · Category

Leadership & Pay1 stats

22% of film industry board seats held by women in 2023 (U.S. entertainment and media sector sample)

Interpretation

Leadership & Pay Interpretation

In 2023, women held 22% of film industry board seats, underscoring that leadership representation remains limited even at the top levels that shape pay and decision-making.

08 · Category

Funding & Grants1 stats

$1.7 million in grants were awarded by the Creative Media and Film Fund (CMFF) in FY2023 to support projects advancing equity and inclusion

Interpretation

Funding & Grants Interpretation

In FY2023, the Creative Media and Film Fund (CMFF) awarded $1.7 million in grants to support equity and inclusion initiatives, showing that funding can directly accelerate DEI progress within the motion picture industry.

09 · Category

Industry Practices2 stats

38% of motion picture productions reported allocating a specific budget line item for DEI activities (2023 survey of production companies)

44% of directors reported in a 2022 survey that they have had training on inclusive directing or hiring

Interpretation

Industry Practices Interpretation

For the industry practices angle, the data suggests that DEI is becoming more structured, with 38% of productions earmarking a dedicated budget line for DEI activities in 2023 while 44% of directors reporting inclusive training in 2022 indicates growing mainstream adoption.

report visual · Comparison

Representation and DEI Practices in U.S. Film & TV (Recent Data)

Women and LGBTQ+ characters remain underrepresented, while many productions still report limited formal DEI practices and metrics.

39.7% of all speaking characters on scripted TV in 2023 were played by women.39.7%

38% of motion picture productions reported allocating a specific budget line item for DEI activities (2023 survey of pro

38%

37% of film/tv productions in the U.S. implemented formal inclusion metrics in 2023 (industry survey).

37%

10.2% of speaking roles in 2023 scripted TV were played by LGBTQ+ characters (US).

10.2%

source-verifiedassets.uscannenberg.org · glaad.org · productionhub.com2023

Reference

Cite This Report

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APA

Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Motion Picture Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-motion-picture-industry-statistics

MLA

Stefan Wendt. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Motion Picture Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-motion-picture-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Motion Picture Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-motion-picture-industry-statistics.