Features, Films, Women Directors

Weekly Update for September 30: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Director Dawn Porter
“American Honey”

Films About Women Opening This Week

American Honey — Written and Directed by Andrea Arnold

Star (Sasha Lane), an adolescent girl from a troubled home, runs away with a traveling sales crew who drive across the American Midwest selling subscriptions door to door. Finding her feet in this gang of teenagers, one of whom is Jake (Shia LaBeouf), she soon gets into the group’s lifestyle of hard-partying nights, law-bending days, and young love. (Press materials)

Denial

“Denial”

Based on the acclaimed book “History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier,” “Denial” recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt’s (Rachel Weisz) legal battle for historical truth against David Irving (Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, the burden of proof is on the accused, and it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter (Also Available on DirecTV)

A deeply atmospheric and terrifying new horror film, “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” centers on Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), two girls who are left alone at their prep school Bramford over winter break when their parents mysteriously fail to pick them up. While the girls experience increasingly strange and creepy occurrences at the isolated school, we cross cut to another story — that of Joan (Emma Roberts), a troubled young woman on the road, who, for unknown reasons, is determined to get to Bramford as fast as she can. As Joan gets closer to the school, Kat becomes plagued by progressively intense and horrifying visions, with Rose doing her best to help her new friend as she slips further and further into the grasp of an unseen evil force. (Press materials)

Long Way North (Opens in NY and LA)

Sacha (Christa Théret), a young girl from the Russian aristocracy, has always been fascinated by the adventurous life of her grandfather Oloukine (Féodor Atkine), a renowned scientist and Arctic explorer, and dreams of following in his footsteps. But Sacha’s parents, who have already made arrangements for her marriage, strongly disapprove of the idea. Defying her destiny, Sacha flees from her home and launches an adventure-filled quest toward the Great North in search of Oloukine and his ship. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Maximum Ride — Co-Written by Angelique Hanus (Also Available on VOD)

Fearless and wise beyond her teenage years, Max knows what it’s like to soar above the world. She and her family of orphans — Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel — are just like ordinary kids. Only they can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time. When Angel, the youngest member of their flock, is kidnapped, Max must face her worst nightmare yet and lead them back to the lab where they were created. In the process, she discovers the biggest betrayal of all. (Press materials)

The Caretaker

When aging, sickly Birdie (Sondra Blake) scares off her last caretaker, granddaughter Mallorie (Meegan Warner) must move into her large Victorian home to take care of her. Mallorie soon finds herself sleepwalking and envisioning spirits. With no luck finding a proper caretaker to replace her, Mallorie is forced to confront her family’s darkest secrets before the evil presence in the house overtakes her sanity completely. (Press materials)

Films About Women Currently Playing

“Queen of Katwe”

Queen of Katwe — Directed by Mira Nair (Opens wide)
The Dressmaker — Written and Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Audrie & Daisy (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Bonni Cohen (Also Available on Netflix)
Girl Asleep — Directed by Rosemary Myers
Beauty And The Beast (La Belle et la Bête) — Co-Written by Sandra Vo-Anh
Sand Storm — Written and Directed by Elite Zexer (Opens in NY; Opens in LA October 7)
Honeytrap — Written and Directed by Rebecca Johnson
Dirty 30 — Written by Mamrie Hart and Molly Prather (Also Available on VOD)
100 Years (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Melinda Janko (Opens in LA; Opens in NY October 14)
Too Big For the World (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Hanna Aneröd (Opens in LA)
1000 Rupee Note (Opens in NY)
Bridget Jones’s Baby — Directed by Sharon Maguire; Co-Written by Helen Fielding and Emma Thompson
Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four (Documentary) — Directed by Deborah S. Esquenazi
Miss Stevens — Co-Written and Directed by Julia Hart
Wild Oats — Co-Written by Claudia Myers
Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?
a beautiful now — Written and Directed by Daniela Amavia
As I Open My Eyes — Directed by Leyla Bouzid; Written by Leyla Bouzid and Marie-Sophie Chambon
Cameraperson (Documentary) — Directed by Kirsten Johnson
Author: The JT LeRoy Story (Documentary)
White Girl — Written and Directed by Elizabeth Wood
Morgan
Fatima
Mia Madre — Co-Written by Valia Santella
A Tale of Love and Darkness — Written and Directed by Natalie Portman
Ixcanul
Florence Foster Jenkins
My King (Mon Roi) — Co-Written and Directed by Maïwenn
Equity — Directed by Meera Menon; Written by Amy Fox
Bad Moms
Miss Sharon Jones! (Documentary) — Directed by Barbara Kopple
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie — Directed by Mandie Fletcher; Written by Jennifer Saunders
Lights Out
Nerve — Written by Jessica Sharzer
Ghostbusters — Co-Written by Katie Dippold
Our Little Sister
The Innocents — Directed by Anne Fontaine; Co-Written by Anne Fontaine, Sabrina B. Karine, and Alice Vial
Finding Dory
Maggie’s Plan — Written and Directed by Rebecca Miller

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

Among the Believers (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Hemal Trivedi

Firebrand cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi, an ISIS supporter and Taliban ally, is waging jihad against the Pakistani government with the aim of imposing Shariah law. His primary weapon is his expanding network of Islamic seminaries for children as young as four. "Among the Believers" follows Aziz's personal quest, and charts the lives of two of his teenage students who are pawns in his ideological war. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Hemal Trivedi.

The Last Film Festival – Co-Written and Directed by Linda Yellen (Opens in LA)

There are over 4,000 film festivals around the world. Where would you go if your film was turned down by 3,999 of them? A failing producer’s (Dennis Hopper) last hope is an obscure film festival, where he and his "disaster" of a movie collide with the homespun innocence of small town America. Neither will ever be the same. (Press materials)

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

“My Blind Brother”

My Blind Brother – Written and Directed by Sophie Goodhart (Also Available on VOD)
Generation Startup (Documentary) – Directed by Cheryl Miller Houser and Cynthia Wade
Chicken People (Documentary) – Directed by Nicole Lucas Haimes

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Written by Jane Goldman

When Jake (Asa Butterfield) discovers clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers — and their powerful enemies. Ultimately, Jake discovers that only his own special "peculiarity" can save his new friends. (Press materials)

Masterminds – Co-Written by Emily Spivey

David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig) who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime. Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash…the only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and is set up to take the fall. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade hilarious hit man Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis), and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most. (Press materials)

Milton’s Secret – Co-Written by Sara B. Cooper (Also Available on VOD)

Milton Adams (William Ainscough) is stressed. It’s no picnic being 11-years-old in a world that is growing more uncertain every day. Milton’s mom and dad argue every night as their careers and financial security unravel around them, his community is in crisis, and, to top it all off, he is tormented by the neighborhood bully. When his Grandpa (Donald Sutherland) comes to visit, Milton discovers that rehashing bad experiences and worrying about the future only make things worse. With a little practice, Milton learns his Grandpa’s secret for coping: most things have a surprising way of working out when you flow with the power of now. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

Mr. Church – Written by Susan McMartin
London Road – Written by Alecky Blythe
Come What May – Co-Written by Laure Irrmann
Nine Lives – Co-Written by Gwyn Lurie
The Infiltrator – Written by Ellen Brown Furman
The BFG – Written by Melissa Mathison

TV Premieres This Week

Westworld – Co-Created by Lisa Joy Nolan (Series Premieres October 2 on HBO)

“Westworld”

"Westworld" is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. (Press materials)

Conviction – Created by Liz Friedman and Liz Friedlander (Series Premieres October 3 on ABC)

Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell, "Marvel's Agent Carter") is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Conner Wallis (Eddie Cahill), to avoid jail time and hurting her mother's Senate campaign due to past cocaine possession. Working with Wallis’s team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let Hayes use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family. (Press materials)

No Tomorrow – Co-Created by Corinne Brinkerhoff (Series Premieres October 4 on The CW)

Evie (Tori Anderson), a risk-averse quality-control assessor, falls for free-spirited thrill seeker Xavier (Joshua Sasse) only to find out he lives his life that way because he believes the apocalypse is coming. (Press materials)

Frequency (Series Premieres October 5 on The CW)

This reimagining of the 2000 sci-fi film centers on a cop (Peyton List) who discovers that she can communicate with her long-dead father (Riley Smith), also a cop, via ham radio. Together, they work to solve a murder case, but learn there are unintended consequences of meddling with two different time periods. (Press materials)

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

Amanda Knox (Documentary) (Netflix, Available Now)
Pray the Devil Back to Hell (Documentary) – Directed by Gini Reticker (VOD, Available Now)
Hot Type: 150 Years of The Nation (Documentary) – Directed by Barbara Kopple (DVD/VOD, October 4)
Into the Forest – Written and Directed by Patricia Rozema (DVD, October 4)
Wild Oats – Co-Written by Claudia Myers (DVD, October 4)

Picks of the Week from Women and Hollywood

Celebrating Nine Years of Women and Hollywood
Making Your Own Way: September Web Series and VOD Picks
Quote of the Day: Amma Asante on Trusting Female Filmmakers

On Women and Hollywood This Week

60th BFI London Film Festival Lines Up Diverse Jury
Margot Robbie and Emily Blunt to Host “Saturday Night Live”
Felicity Huffman Signs on to New ABC Series from “Black-ish” Creator
Chicken & Egg Productions Launches 2017 Accelerator Lab
Fox 2000 Snags Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson Comedy
Dawn Porter to Be Honored at DOC NYC Film Fest
Trailer Watch: Revisit 1979’s Feminism with “20th Century Women”
Sarah Ruhl to Receive Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award
How Ryan Murphy is Fighting Ageism in Hollywood
Vivica A. Fox Makes History, Will Play U.S. President in Sci-Fi Film
Amy Schumer is the First Woman to Make Highest-Paid Comedians List
“The Daily Show’s” Jessica Williams Takes on First Starring Role
Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson Team Up for Comedy About a Late-Night Host
Viola Davis Takes the Lead in Gillian Flynn Heist Thriller
“Guardians of the Galaxy” Writer Nicole Perlman Signs on to Amazon’s “True Skin”
Jordan Chooses Mai Masri’s “3000 Nights” as its Oscar Pick
Jodie Foster to Receive Britannia Award for Excellence in Film
Pam Grier and Jessye Norman to Receive W.E.B. DuBois Award
Amandla Stenberg to Star in Jennifer Yuh Nelson’s Live-Action Directorial Debut
Trailer Watch: “The Crown” Feels Like It Could Take Place Today
Actors Can Now Request to Have Their Ages Removed from IMDb
Script Based on Female Soldier in Revolutionary War Acquired by Amy Pascal
Trailer Watch: Ava DuVernay’s “The 13th” Critiques Mass Incarceration
“Bridget Jones’s Baby” Tops Foreign Box Office For Second Week in a Row
Jane Pauley to Anchor CBS’s “Sunday Morning”
Freeform and Comedian Iliza Shlesinger Are Developing a Late-Night Show
Trailer Watch: “Good Girls Revolt” Tackles Sexism in Journalism
Guest Post: How to Be an Ally — Tips for Men Working with Women in Film Production
“Audrie & Daisy” Director Bonni Cohen Talks Cyberbullying and Sex Crimes
You’re Invited! USC Annenberg Hosts Diversifying Entertainment Event
Female-Led “Magnum P.I.” Sequel in the Works at ABC
“Generation Startup” Directors on Pushing Boundaries and Starting Companies
AFI Fest to Celebrate Dorothy Dandridge, Ida Lupino, and Anna May Wong
Elite Zexer’s “Sand Storm” is Israel’s Oscar Pick
Jamie Lee Curtis to Direct an Episode of “Scream Queens”
Annie Howell and Lisa Robinson’s “Claire in Motion” Goes to Breaking Glass

Weekly Reads from Around the Internet

Why The Rom-Com Bitch Should Evolve Herself Into Retirement by Bim Adewunmi
Our trainwrecks, ourselves: Why women hate on hot messes and other toxic female tropes by Marcie Bianco
The Very Uncomfortable Experience of Rewatching "Election" in 2016 by Maureen O'Connor
Ugandan Actress's Journey Mirrors That Of Her "Queen Of Katwe" Character as heard on NPR's All Things Considered with Robert Siegel
Your Film Isn't "Transgressive," It's Transphobic by s.e. smith

Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein@melsil.

To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com

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