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Maria Giese is a filmmaker and director whose activism instigated the largest industry wide federal investigation into discrimination against women directors in Hollywood history.
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation began in 2015 and it's reported to have led to settlement talks with all six major studios.
Maria Giese features prominently in documentary, This Changes Everything about how women in Hollywood are pushing for more representation - its executive producer is the academy award winning actor Geena Davis.
She and Geena Davis are among a line up of speakers coming to New Zealand for a Film Commission Summit next week.
