{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap | image = | alt = | caption = | native_name = <!--(for non-English films: film's name in its native language)--> | director = Robin Hauser Reynolds | producer = <!-- or: |producers = --> | writer = <!-- or: |writers = --> | screenplay = | story = | based_on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} --> | starring = | narrator = <!-- or: |narrators = --> | music = Laura Karpman | cinematography = | editing = | studio = Finish Line Features | distributor = <!-- or: |distributors = --> | released = {{film date|2015|4|19|Tribeca Film Festival}} | runtime = 80 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = <!--(please use condensed and rounded values, e.g. "£11.6 million" not "£11,586,221")--> }} '''''CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap''''' is a 2015 documentary by Robin Hauser Reynolds.<ref>{{Cite news|title = 11 questions for Robin Hauser Reynolds, director of the CODE documentary|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/05/12/11-questions-for-robin-hauser-reynolds-director-of-the-code-documentary/|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 2015-05-12|access-date = 2016-01-14|issn = 0190-8286|language = en-US|first = Marie Elizabeth|last = Oliver}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Tribeca 2015: 'CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap' Doc Hits Hard at the Tech Industry|url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tribeca-2015-code-debugging-gender-790255|website = The Hollywood Reporter|access-date = 2016-01-14|last = Soll|first = Megan}}</ref> It focuses on the lack of women and minorities in the field of software engineering.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A new documentary shows what happens when there aren't enough women in tech|url = http://fortune.com/2015/04/24/women-tech-documentary/|website = Fortune|access-date = 2016-01-14|last = McCue|first = Matt}}</ref> It premiered on April 19, 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Why women won't code is topic of new documentary|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/30/women-coding-code-debugging-the-gender-gap-premiers-at-tribeca-film-festival/70693424/|website = USA TODAY|access-date = 2016-01-14|last = della Cava|first = Marco}}</ref> The film focuses on inspiring young girls to pursue careers in computer science by profiling successful women in computer programming, such as, Danielle Feinberg of Pixar, Aliya Rahman of Code for Progress, and Julie Ann Horvath. By profiling and displaying the careers of these women, the film makers hope to show that computer science can be creative, lucrative, and rewarding.<ref>{{Cite web|title = DIRECTOR'S THOUGHTS {{!}} CODE documentary|url = http://www.codedoc.co/directors-thoughts/|website = www.codedoc.co|access-date = 2016-01-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160213032914/http://www.codedoc.co/directors-thoughts/|archive-date = 2016-02-13|url-status = dead}}</ref>
The film traces the history of women in the U.S. technology industries, from the work of Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and the women of ENIAC. It then follows the decline of women graduates in mathematics and computer science during the 1980s, linking the phenomenon to the release of the 1983 film WarGames, and a cultural shift that depicted men and boys as technology workers, and increasing hostility for women and girls in the tech industries.<ref name="spectrum" /> Additionally, the film highlights the work of women in the field, by featuring interviews with women in the tech industry, such as Kimberly Bryant (founder of Black Girls Code), Debbie Sterling (founder of GoldieBlox), Maria Klawe (president of Harvey Mudd College), and Danielle Feinberg (director of photography at Pixar).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2015/04/20/code-debugging-the-gender-gap-debuts-at-tribeca-film-festival|title='CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap' Debuts at Tribeca Film Festival|last=Golod|first=Amy|date=2015-04-20|website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=2016-03-11}}</ref>
== Fundraising == Funding for the film was partially raised via Indiegogo and Reynolds was able to successfully receive additional funding from corporations like CapitalOne, MasterCard, Ericsson, NetApp, Qualcomm, and Silicon Valley Bank.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Girl Code|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-14/code-debugging-the-gender-gap-a-documentary-on-sexism-in-tech|website = Bloomberg.com|access-date = 2016-01-14|first = Claire Suddath clairesuddath|last = Reprints}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = SPONSORS {{!}} CODE documentary|url = http://www.codedoc.co/sponsors/|website = www.codedoc.co|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref>
== Reception == The general reception of the film by popular press has been positive. Stephen Cass of IEEE Spectrum, stated of the film: "Code doesn't have all the answers, of course. But ultimately, it does make a good case that everyone should think deliberately about diversity in their hiring."<ref name="spectrum">{{cite web|last1=Cass|first1=Stephen|title=A Review of Code: Debugging the Gender Gap|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/a-review-of-code-debugging-the-gender-gap|website=IEEE Spectrum|publisher=IEEE|access-date=11 March 2016|date=19 June 2015}}</ref> Some criticism has focused on the apparent lack of attention paid to the Gamergate controversy, and the work and experience of women in the gaming industries.<ref name="spectrum" />
Graham Winfrey of ''Inc.'' magazine wrote, "CODE makes a compelling case that the lack of women in tech poses a significant threat to America's future."<ref name="Inc">{{cite web|last1=Winfrey|first1=Graham|title='CODE': How America Keeps Women Out of Tech|url=http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/code-movie-review.html|website=Inc.|publisher=Mansueto Venture|accessdate=11 March 2016}}</ref>
== Awards == * Gold Audience Award for Active Cinema at the Mill Valley Film Festival (2015, won)<ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Room' Declared Audience Award Favorite at 38th Mill Valley Film Festival|url = http://www.indiewire.com/article/room-declared-audience-award-favorite-at-38th-mill-valley-film-festival-20151020|website = Indiewire|access-date = 2016-01-14}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.finishlinefeaturefilms.com/code/}} * {{IMDb title|4335520}}
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Category:2015 documentary films Category:2015 films Category:Documentary films about computing Category:American documentary films Category:Diversity in computing Category:Gender and employment Category:History of women in the United States Category:2015 English-language films Category:2015 American films Category:Films scored by Laura Karpman Category:English-language documentary films