Francine Parker (December 18, 1925 – November 8, 2007) was an American television and film director, who was one of the first female members of the Directors Guild of America. Parker was best known for her controversial documentary, F.T.A., which chronicled the antiwar entertainers tour, Free The Army tour (FTA), during the Vietnam War. The FTA tour and its documentary featured anti-Vietnam War celebrities Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland interacting very frankly with American soldiers. Parker's film, which was released in 1972, was pulled from theaters within weeks of its release due to heavy criticism. It has been rarely viewed since 1972.
In 1971, she became the 11th woman to join the Directors Guild of America.
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Was a tireless fighter to expand opportunities for women in the American film industry. As president of Women for Equality in Media, Parker led a march against the American Film Institute in 1971 to protest the near absence of women in institute programs. By 1973, the number of women admitted to the institute's Center for Advanced Film Studies had risen to seven from zero in 1969.
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Taught film directing at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, for 18 years.
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