Features, Films, Women Directors, Women Writers

Weekly Update for January 19: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Lupita Nyong’o: Instagram
“Forever My Girl”

Films About Women Opening This Week

Mary and the Witch’s Flower — Co-Written by Riko Sakaguchi

“Mary and the Witch’s Flower”

Mary (Ruby Barnhill) is a plain, young girl, stuck in a rural British village with her great-aunt Charlotte (Lynda Baron) and seemingly no adventures or friends in sight. But a chance encounter with a pair of mysterious cats leads Mary into the nearby forest, where she finds an old broom stuck in the overgrowth of nearby tree, and the strange blue glow of the fly-by-night flower, a rare plant that blossoms only once every seven years. As the broom comes to life and lifts Mary high into the skies, she discovers a mysterious school for witches above the clouds. But the charming headmistress Madam Mumblechook (Kate Winslet) and bumbling Doctor Dee (Jim Broadbent) are not all that they appear, in a twisting tale that reveals even the most ordinary-seeming children are capable of the most extraordinary adventures. (Press materials)

Find tickets and screening info here.

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba (Documentary)

“Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba”: EKE Pictures

“Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba” introduces a new generation to Miriam Makeba, South African singer and anti-apartheid activist, the voice and the hope of Africa. Using rare archival footage of her performances, interviews, and intimate scenes filmed over the years, this powerful documentary expertly exposes the biography of a unique person, a world icon. Friends and colleagues, some of whom knew her since she started performing in the dance halls of South Africa, together with her grandchildren Zenzi Monique Lee and Nelson Lumumba Lee, allow us to learn about the remarkable journey of Miriam Makeba, “Mama Africa.” (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Step Sisters (Available on Netflix)

Jamilah (Megalyn Echikunwoke) has her whole life figured out. She’s the president of her sorority, captain of their champion step dance crew, is student liaison to the college dean, and her next move is on to Harvard Law School. She’s got it all, right? But when the hard-partying white girls from Sigma Beta Beta embarrass the school, Jamilah is ordered to come to the rescue. Her mission is to not only teach the rhythmically-challenged girls how to step dance, but to win the Steptacular, the most competitive of dance competitions. With the SBBs’ reputations and charter on the line, and Jamilah’s dream of attending Harvard in jeopardy, these outcast screw-ups and their unlikely teacher stumble through one hilarious misstep after another. Cultures clash, romance blossoms, and sisterhood prevails as everyone steps out of their comfort zones. (Press materials)

The Midnight Man (Also Available on VOD)

“The Midnight Man”

A girl (Gabrielle Haugh) and her friends find a game in the attic that summons a creature known as the Midnight Man, who uses their worst fears against them. (Press materials)

Ridge Runners

When a 12-year-old girl goes missing, detective Rachel Willow (Jennica Schwartzman) discovers that human trafficking can happen anywhere, even in her small town. (Press materials)

Films About Women Currently Playing

“Proud Mary”: Dana Starbard/CTMG

Proud Mary
Vazante — Co-Written and Directed by Daniela Thomas
My Art — Written and Directed by Laurie Simmons
Lover for a Day — Co-Written by Caroline Deruas-Garrel and Arlette Langmann
A Woman’s Life — Co-Written by Florence Vignon (UK)
Inside (Also Available on VOD)
In Between — Written and Directed by Maysaloun Hamoud
Molly’s Game
Insidious: The Last Key
Pitch Perfect 3 — Directed by Trish Sie; Co-Written by Kay Cannon
In the Fade
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Permanent — Written and Directed by Colette Burson
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water — Co-Written by Vanessa Taylor
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Alexandra Dean
The Breadwinner — Directed by Nora Twomey; Written by Anita Doron and Deborah Ellis
Big Sonia (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Leah Warshawski
On the Beach at Night Alone
Thelma
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Lady Bird — Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig
A Bad Moms Christmas
Novitiate — Written and Directed by Margaret Betts
Jane (Documentary)
The Florida Project

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

“Forever My Girl”

Forever My Girl — Written and Directed by Bethany Ashton Wolf

“Forever My Girl” tells the story of country music superstar Liam Page (Alex Roe) who left his bride, Josie (Jessica Rothe), at the altar, choosing fame and fortune instead. However, Liam never got over Josie, his one true love, nor did he ever forget the small community where he was born and raised. When he unexpectedly returns to his hometown for the funeral of his high school best friend, Liam is suddenly faced with the consequences of all that he left behind. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Kangaroo: A Love-Hate Story (Documentary) — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Kate McIntyre Clere (Opens in NY and LA)

This groundbreaking film reveals the truth surrounding Australia’s love-hate relationship with its beloved icon. The kangaroo image is proudly used by top companies, sports teams, and tourist souvenirs, yet as they hop across the vast continent, many consider them pests to be shot and sold for profit. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

The Open House — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Suzanne Coote (Available on Netflix)

“The Open House”

A teenager (Dylan Minnette) and his mother (Piercey Dalton) find themselves besieged by threatening forces when they move into a new house. (Press materials)

Blockbuster — Co-Written and Directed by July Hygreck (Available on Netflix January 24)

“Blockbuster”

Jeremy and Lola decide to film their everyday life in the style of a diary. The reason behind it is that Jeremy’s father has cancer, and is bedridden at the hospital. Through his son’s videos, he can witness firsthand the young couple’s happiness, his own private favorite TV show. But when Lola (Charlotte Gabris) discovers that she has been a bet in a stupid game initiated by Jeremy (Syrus Shahidi), she leaves him, putting an end to the show. Jeremy will do everything it takes to win her back, going as far as forming a fake gang of superheroes. (Press materials)

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

“Freak Show”

Freak Show — Directed by Trudie Styler; Co-Written by Beth Rigazio (Also Available on VOD)
Goldbuster — Directed by Sandra Kwan Yue Ng
The Party — Written and Directed by Sally Potter (UK)
Faces Places (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Agnès Varda
Loving Vincent — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Dorota Kobiela

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

Delirium — Co-Written by Lisa Clemens (Also Available on VOD)

The Hell Gang, an exclusive group of friends, promise a schoolmate that he can join their gang if he can just make it to the porch of a legendary mansion that has a dark and sinister past. Others have tried but none have made it within sight of the mansion before fleeing back in terror. Eddie (Ian Bamberg), who is rigged with a camera to prove he did it, does not return at all. Five members of the gang must now go in to find him. They set off, confident that Eddie is trying to prank them. But what they find in the old mansion is even more terrifying than the campfire stories and legends of the murdered children that once lived there. (Press materials)

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

“The Post”

The Post — Co-Written by Liz Hannah
The Insult — Co-Written by Joëlle Touma
A Demon Within — Co-Written by Michelle Beyda-Scott and Helene Gonze (Also Available on VOD)
The Greatest Showman — Co-Written by Jenny Bicks
The Man Who Invented Christmas — Written by Susan Coyne
Let There Be Light — Co-Written by Sam Sorbo

TV Premieres This Week

“Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart”

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Tracy Heather Strain (Premieres January 19 on PBS)

Award-winning filmmaker Tracy Heather Strain examines the activism and art of Lorraine Hansberry beyond her best-known play, “A Raisin in the Sun.” The film features interviews with Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Harry Belafonte, and Louis Gossett Jr., narration by award-winning actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and the voice of Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose as Hansberry. The result is a timely and revealing portrait of an activist and artist whose popular recognition has, until now, remained long overdue. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Tracy Heather Strain.

ABBA: When All Is Said and Done (Documentary Special) — Written and Co-Directed by Storm Theunissen (Premieres January 20 on Reelz)

In 1999 “Mamma Mia,” the smash hit stage musical based on ABBA’s music, opened in London. Benny and Bjorn, the Swedish super-group’s songwriters were back on top, but where were ABBA’s women? Agnetha Faltskog was one of the world’s best-known women but had turned her back on fame and Frida Lyngstad may have gone from orphan to princess but her life had fallen apart. This is the untold story of the two different women in the words of ABBA’s close circle and the women themselves. (Press materials)

Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story (TV Movie) (Premieres January 20 on Lifetime)

Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in “Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story,” a Lifetime feature based on the life of drug lord Griselda Blanco, a pioneer in the Miami-based cocaine trade. In her lifetime, Griselda’s drug distribution network spanned across the United States and she was suspected of ordering over 200 murders. (Press materials)

The Resident — Co-Created by Amy Holden Jones and Hayley Schore (Premieres January 21 on Fox)

“The Resident”

“The Resident” centers on an idealistic young doctor who begins his first day under the supervision of a tough, brilliant senior resident who pulls the curtain back on all of the good and evil in modern day medicine. Lives may be saved or lost, but expectations will always be shattered. (Press materials)

Bellevue — Created by Jane Maggs and Adrienne Mitchell (Premieres January 23 on WGN America)

“Bellevue”: Jan Thijs/WGN

Thrilling and eerie, “Bellevue” is a mystery set in a small blue-collar town with a lot of “good people” who “live right” and take it upon themselves to make sure the neighbors do too. Driving the series is Detective Annie Ryder (Anna Paquin), a cop whose intense and brazen personality has always been at odds with her hometown. When a transgender teen goes missing, Annie dives in to unravel the disappearance that suggests foul play, despite finding herself in a difficult position as she must cast suspicion on people she has known all her life. As the case pulls her further away from her family, she is also confronted by a mysterious person from her past with disturbing answers and a terrifying need to get inside her head. (Press materials)

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

“Act & Punishment”

The Revival — Directed by Jennifer Gerber (VOD/DVD, January 23)
Act & Punishment (Documentary) (VOD, January 23)
Félicité — Co-Written by Delphine Zingg (DVD, January 23)
Red Trees (Documentary) — Directed by Marina Willer; Co-Written by Marina Willer and Leena Telén (VOD/DVD, January 23)
The Woman Who Left (VOD/DVD, January 23)

Women and Hollywood in the News

Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe in “Master of None”: K.C. Bailey/Netflix

Growing pains for #MeToo as Ansari tale sparks backlash talk (Reuters)

Sharing Salaries: How Actresses Are Fighting Hollywood’s Gender Pay Disparity With Transparency (The Hollywood Reporter)

How Jessica Chastain Is Changing the Hollywood Game (Wall Street Journal Magazine — subscription needed)

How Time’s Up Could Help Close Hollywood’s Pay Gap (Forbes)

Timothée Chalamet is just the latest actor who won’t work with Woody Allen (Washington Post)

When will Woody Allen’s reckoning come? Some say that’s up to the actors (Mic)

Female trouble: how can the Oscars fix the scandal of all-male director lists? (The Guardian)

Mark Wahlberg and Agency Will Donate $2 Million to Time’s Up After Outcry Over Pay (NY Times)

Picks of the Week from Women and Hollywood

Sundance 2018 Preview: Films About the Apocalypse, LGBTQ Teens, RBG, and More

On Women and Hollywood This Week

Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Christina Choe — “Nancy”
Barbara Kopple Will Receive Hot Docs’ 2018 Outstanding Achievement Award
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Alexandra Shiva — “This Is Home”
Take The Lead Announces Inaugural 50 Women Can Change the World Cohort
“Yours in Sisterhood” Doc Brings ’70s Era Ms. Magazine Letters to Life
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Sara Colangelo — “The Kindergarten Teacher”
Lupita Nyong’o Will Celebrate Beauty With Children’s Book
American Society of Cinematographers to Honor Angelina Jolie
Lea Thompson’s Feature Directorial Debut “Year of Spectacular Men” Acquired by MarVista
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Coralie Fargeat — “Revenge”
Guest Post: Why I Made a #MeToo PSA With a Team of Survivors
Quote of the Day: Ellen Pompeo on Asking for What She Deserves
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Cathy Yan — “Dead Pigs”
Kristen Wiig to Star in Reese Witherspoon-Produced Comedy Series for Apple
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Jordana Spiro — “Night Comes On”
Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer to Team Up for Holiday Comedy
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Marina Zenovich — “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind”
#GreenlightHer Screenwriting Contest Finalists’ Pilots Set to Debut This Week
Regina King & Rashida Jones Among Women Directors Spotlighted in Alice Initiative List
PBS to Air Five-Part Series About #MeToo
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Bridey Elliott — “Clara’s Ghost
Trailer Watch: Zosia Mamet May Fall for “The Boy Downstairs”
Quote of the Day: Keira Knightley on Hiring More Women and #TimesUp
Rachel Israel’s Award-Winning “Keep the Change” Acquired by Kino Lorber
Sharon Horgan Signs Overall Deal With Amazon Studios
2018 NAACP Image Awards Praises Ava DuVernay, “Girls Trip,” and More
Trailer Watch: Gloria Allred Refuses to Be Silenced in “Seeing Allred”
Vicky Krieps on “Phantom Thread” and Why She Considers It a Women’s Film
Quote of the Day: Sarah Jessica Parker on the Launch of #TimesUp
Trailer Watch: Whitney Cummings Investigates Romantic Impulses in “The Female Brain”
Guest Post: Mary Pickford, Frances Marion, and the Influence of Women in Hollywood’s Early Days
Abigail Disney and Killer Content Team Up to Form New Studio Spotlighting Women and POC
Trailer Watch: Offred Is Back and Covered in Blood in “The Handmaid’s Tale” Season 2
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Acquired by Kino Lorber
Taraji P. Henson to Star in and Produce Drama About Emmett Till’s Murder
Carrie Brownstein Is Adapting Her Memoir for Hulu
Chicken & Egg Pictures Announces Breakthrough Filmmaker Award Recipients
Trailer Watch: Gabrielle Union Is a Heroic Mom on a Mission in “Breaking In”

Weekly Reads from Around the Internet

Why Hollywood’s Pay Gap for Women of Color Is Wider: Infrequent “Golden Opportunities” by Rebecca Sun (The Hollywood Reporter)

New Bechdel Test Reveals Lack of Latina Representation in Hollywood by Frances Solá-Santiago (People)

“I’ll Never Let Any Woman Direct Me”: 11 Female Directors Recount Sexism and Discrimination (Guest Blog) by Rachel Feldman (TheWrap)

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

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

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