"Lists about 6,000 sources, more than half concerned with individual American filmmakers, actors, and actresses. Includes books, dissertations, periodical and newspaper articles, films, videotapes, audiotapes, and archival material relating to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, in addition to the U.S. For Africa, identifies material on 'colonial and ethnographic film activity as well as works on indigenous African films and filmmaking" (Introd), but excludes television. U.S. section also cites references on the image of African Americans in film and television. Appendix for film resources (archives and research centers, societies and associations, production companies, distributors, and festivals). Artist, film/series title, subject, and author indexes. Based largely on research collections of the New York Public Library." (Balay, Guide to reference books, 11th ed, 1996)

"A listing by author in two parts: Books, monographs, and theses (77 items); and Articles, reviews, and pamphlets (nearly 4,000). References are to materials in European languages, predominantly French-language periodicals and newspapers. Short annotations for about half the entries. Generally excludes South African films and filmmakers, as well as films about Africa by non-African directors. Indexes: actors and actresses; film festivals; film titles; filmmakers; countries; and broad subjects." (Balay, Guide to reference books, 11th ed, 1996)

"Contents: v. 1, Film titles; v. 2, Directors' filmography and indexes. Attempts to provide 'a comprehensive index to films by title and director on a worldwide basis.'--Pref. Vol. 1 lists some 232,000 'master' titles and alternate titles representing 177,000 films of all types--full-length, short, documentary, animated, serial, made for television--of the silent and sound eras. Master title entries give year of release, director(s), other credits (where director has not been established), type of film, country of origin, alternative titles. Filmographies for 25,000 directors in v. 2 show directing credits chronologically (codirecting and uncredited contributions are usually omitted here, although they are noted under film titles in v. 1). Type of film is indicated, as are the director's nationality and (where determined) dates. Indexes of directors by country and animated film directors. Select bibliography of sources consulted." (Balay, Guide to reference books, 11th ed, 1996)

"Profiles more than 2,000 non-English-language motion pictures seen in the U.S. or Great Britain, including acknowledged classics, box-office successes, and films that represent significant trends and styles. Listed by British title, with cross-references from original and American alternate titles. Gives for each: country of origin, date of first release, running time, production company, credits, summary and critical comment, major awards received. No index." (Balay, Guide to reference books, 11th ed, 1996)

"Provides brief biographical data and complete filmographies for 'the most important and active directors who have been involved in feature, documentary and animation film production in 29 countries and states from the whole of the African continent over the last 60 years.'--Introd. Country, film title, and general indexes." (Balay, Guide to reference books, 11th ed, 1996)

"Identifies the works of world literature, major and minor, with the films derived from them. Each volume is in three parts: (1) a filmography arranged by writer's name and giving film title, original title if different from that of the film, country and year of production, director, and principal cast members (usually shown with character names); (2) an extensive section of stills from selected films; and (3) a title index of films and literary works, cross-referenced to authors. Details on remakes and other versions are also included, with alternate titles noted. International in coverage." (Balay, Guide to reference books, 11th ed, 1996)

"contains shorter entries [than Women Film Directors: An International Bio-Critical Dictionary] on a wider range of subjects" (Library Journal, 10/1/94, Vol. 119 Issue 16, p72)

"This important work compiles a significant amount of otherwise difficult-to-find information on women filmmakers working in all countries and all contexts, whether mainstream, independent, or experimental/avante-garde. The introduction, which gives generous consideration to a wide range of scholarly contributions, is an excellent synthesis of writing in English on women directors. Following are alphabetical entries of over 200 bibliographic references to interviews and filmographies that would have been more useful with the inclusion of running time, place, and production company. The considerable amount of critical commentary that Foster (English, Univ. of Nebraska) includes is an amalgam of secondary-source opinion and Foster's own viewing of a wide sampling of the films. The only other reference work in this area is The Women's Companion to International Film (LJ 10/1/94), which contains shorter entries on a wider range of subjects. Public and academic libraries with any interest in film will want to acquire both titles, as they will appeal to all types of readers." (Library Journal, 10/15/95, Vol. 120 Issue 17, p54)

(Balay)