Features, Films, Women Directors, Women Writers

Weekly Update for August 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

“Girls Trip”
“Step”

Films About Women Opening This Week

Step (Documentary) — Directed by Amanda Lipitz

Baltimore is a city that is fighting to save its youth. “Step” chronicles the trials and triumphs of the Senior girls on the high school step team as they prepare to be the first in their families to go to college — and the first graduating class of The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. “Step” is more than just a hobby for these girls — it is the outlet that keeps them united and fighting for their goals. (Press materials)

Read Women & Hollywood’s interview with Amanda Lipitz.

Find screening info here.

Fun Mom Dinner — Directed by Alethea Jones; Written by Julie Yaeger Rudd (Opens in Limited Release) (Also Available on VOD)

“Fun Mom Dinner”

Four moms (played by Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett, and Molly Shannon), whose only connection is their kids’ preschool class, decide to get together for a harmless “fun mom dinner.” The night begins as a disaster, but the combination of alcohol, karaoke, and a cute bartender leads to an unforgettable night where these seemingly different women realize they have more in common than motherhood and men. (Press materials)

Kidnap

“Kidnap”

A typical afternoon in the park turns into a nightmare for single mom Karla Dyson (Halle Berry) when her son suddenly disappears. Without a cell phone and knowing she has no time to wait for the police, Karla jumps in her own car and sets off in pursuit of the kidnappers. A relentless, edge-of-your seat chase ensues, where Karla must risk everything to not lose sight of her son. (Press materials)

Find tickets and screening info here.

This Time Tomorrow — Written and Directed by Lina Rodriguez (One Week Only in NY)

“This Time Tomorrow”

“This Time Tomorrow,” a quietly wrenching family drama set in Bogotá, is about 17-year-old Adelaida (Laura Osma), a gorgeous, rebellious force of nature, and her loving parents, Lena (Maruia Shelton) and Francisco (Francisco Zaldua), with whom she lives. One day, unexpected tragedy strikes and the family must confront their biggest struggle yet. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Films About Women Currently Playing

“Atomic”

Atomic Blonde
Strange Weather — Written and Directed by Katherine Dieckmann (Also Available on VOD)
From the Land of the Moon — Co-Written and Directed by Nicole Garcia
It Stains the Sands Red
Imperfections (Also Available on VOD)
Women Who Kill — Written and Directed by Ingrid Jungermann
The Girl Without Hands
The Untamed
The Midwife
Landline — Directed by Gillian Robespierre; Written by Gillian Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm
Girls Trip — Co-Written by Tracy Oliver
Wish Upon — Written by Barbara Marshall
Lady Macbeth — Written by Alice Birch
Birthright: A War Story (Documentary) — Directed by Civia Tamarkin; Written by Civia Tamarkin and Luchina Fisher
The Little Hours
The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Documentary (Documentary)
Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge — Directed by Marie Noelle; Written by Marie Noelle and Andrea Stoll
The Beguiled — Written and Directed by Sofia Coppola
The Bad Batch — Written and Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
Rough Night — Co-Written and Directed by Lucia Aniello
Maudie — Directed by Aisling Walsh; Written by Sherry White
47 Meters Down (Also Available on VOD)
Lost in Paris — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Fiona Gordon
Whitney: Can I Be Me (Documentary) (UK)
Megan Leavey — Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite; Co-Written by Pamela Gray and Annie Mumolo
Beatriz at Dinner
Moka
Wonder Woman — Directed by Patty Jenkins
Letters from Baghdad (Documentary) — Directed by Sabine Krayenbühl and Zeva Oelbaum
Past Life
Love, Kennedy
Hermia & Helena
The Women’s Balcony — Written by Shlomit Nehama
Everything, Everything — Directed by Stella Meghie
Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Linda Saffire
Snatched — Written by Katie Dippold
Paris Can Wait — Written and Directed by Eleanor Coppola
The Wedding Plan — Written and Directed by Rama Burshtein
Manifesto
Like Crazy — Co-Written by Francesca Archibugi
Hidden Figures — Co-Written by Allison Schroeder

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

None.

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

“Detroit”: Annapurna Pictures/Francois Duhamel

Detroit — Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Bonni Cohen
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (Documentary) — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Catherine Bainbridge
False Confessions — Co-Directed by Marie-Louise Bischofberger
Swim Team (Documentary) Directed by Lara Stolman
Pop Aye — Written and Directed by Kirsten Tan
Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami Who Started It All (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Jean Griesser and Lauren Ross
Band Aid — Written and Directed by Zoe Lister-Jones (Also Available on VOD)
Obit. (Documentary) — Directed by Vanessa Gould

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

“After Love”

After Love — Co-Written by Fanny Burdino and Mazarine Pingeot (Opens in NY)

Boris (Cédric Kahn) and Marie (Bérénice Bejo) have decided to separate after 15 years together. They have two girls that they adore. However, cash-strapped Boris is still living in the family home. When all is said and done, neither of the two is willing to give up — and now the apartment is a war zone and their situation a nightmare. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

“The Fencer”

The Fencer — Written by Anna Heinämaa
13 Minutes — Co-Written by Léonie-Claire Breinersdorfer
The Big Sick — Co-Written by Emily V. Gordon
Cars 3 — Co-Written by Kiel Murray
Churchill — Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Smurfs: The Lost Village — Written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon

TV Premieres This Week

“Brillo Box (3¢ Off)”

Brillo Box (3¢ Off) (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Lisanne Skyler (Premieres August 7 on HBO)

In 1969, Lisanne Skyler’s parents bought an Andy Warhol “Brillo Box (3¢ Off)” sculpture for $1,000. An exact replica of a shipping carton for Brillo soap pads, Warhol’s Brillo Boxes were at first dismissed by the art world. But 40 years later, with Warhol’s reputation as a contemporary-art visionary long secured, the same piece sold for more than $3 million at a record-breaking Christie’s auction. Blending a humorous family narrative with Pop Art history, and debuting the week of Warhol’s 89th birthday, “Brillo Box (3¢ Off)” follows this iconic work as it makes its way from a New York family’s living room to the contemporary global art market, exploring the ephemeral nature of art and value, and the decisions that shape a family’s history. (Press materials)

The Story of Diana (Documentary) (Premieres August 9 on ABC)

This two-night documentary event, marking the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic passing at age 36, will capture the most comprehensive interviews ever conducted on the woman known as the People’s Princess: in-depth conversations with those who knew her best as well as the world’s leading Diana experts. These interviews will be woven together with original reporting and captivating archival footage of the Princess of Wales. The documentary will not only explore the remarkable chapters of Diana’s life, but will also delve deeply into the ways in which her story remains relevant today. (Press materials)

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

“Snatched”

The Good Time Girls (Short) — Written and Directed by Courtney Hoffman (Refinery29, Available Now)
Chantal Akerman by Chantal Akerman (Documentary) — Directed by Chantal Akerman (VOD/DVD, August 8)
In the Shadow of Women — Co-Written by Caroline Deruas-Garrel and Arlette Langmann (DVD, August 8)
Snatched — Written by Katie Dippold (VOD/DVD, August 8)

Picks of the Week from Women and Hollywood

August 2017 Film Preview

On Women and Hollywood This Week

Issa Rae’s series “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” is a popular #FirstTimeISawMe subject: awkwardblackgirl.com

Amy Brenneman to Star in TNT Pilot “Deadlier Than the Male”
Writers Lab for Women Screenwriters Over 40 Announces 2017 Participants
People of Color Share #FirstTimeISawMe Representation Stories on Twitter
“Anne With an E” Renewed for Season 2
NBC Launches Initiative to Train and Hire Women Directors
Apply Now for the 2018 Diverse Voices in Docs Program
TIFF’s Platform Program 50% Women-Directed, Includes World Premiere of Clio Barnard’s “Dark River”
Trailer Watch: History Is Made in Gurinder Chadha’s “Viceroy’s House”
Amanda Lipitz on the Inspiring Girls of “Step”
“Patti Cake$” Breakout Danielle Macdonald to Star in “White Girl Problems”
Academy to Host Event Celebrating Trailblazing Women of Animation
Audra McDonald Joins “The Good Fight” as Series Regular
Quote of the Day: Halle Berry Loves Seeing “A Woman of Color Get to Save the Day”
Trailer Watch: Angelina Jolie Tells a Harrowing Story in “First They Killed My Father”
London Feminist Film Fest Unveils 2017 Lineup
Quote of the Day: Jessica Lange Says “Ageism is Pervasive” in the Film Biz
Starz Developing Series Based on Stephanie Danler’s “Sweetbitter”
August 2017 Film Preview
Carol Burnett to Star in Unscripted Netflix Comedy
TIFF Announces More Lineups: “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” to Open Doc Program
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady Doc About Hasidic Judaism Lands at Netflix
Study: Stereotypes About Gender, Race, and Age Still Abound in Film
Trailer Watch: Noomi Rapace Plays Seven Identical Sisters in “What Happened to Monday”
Study: The Last Decade’s Most Popular Films Are Lacking in Inclusivity
Jane Campion’s “Top of the Lake: China Girl” Gets U.S. Premiere Date
Quote of the Day: Phoebe Waller-Bridge Calls People-Pleasing “A Fucking Nightmare”
Bryce Dallas Howard to Make Feature Directorial Debut with “Sorta Like a Rock Star”
Lifetime Renews “UnREAL” for Fourth Season and “Mary Kills People” for Second
Priyanka Chopra’s Comedy Series About Bollywood Star in Development at ABC
Trailer Watch: Stana Katic Is An FBI Agent Who Comes Back from the Dead in “Absentia”
The First Season of HBO’s “Room 104” is Over 50 Percent Women-Directed
Zoe Saldana Lauches Digital Media Company Focused on Empowering Latinos
Trailer Watch: The Pfeffermans Go to Israel in “Transparent” Season 4
Bonni Cohen on Why “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” Gives Viewers A Bucket of Hope
Could “Wonder Woman” Be an Oscar Contender? Warner Bros. Thinks So
“Harlots” Renewed for Second Season
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston to Star in Series About Morning Shows
Kerry Washington to Be Honored for LGBTQ Advocacy
Jenna Mattison’s Directorial Debut “The Sound” Acquired, Rose McGowan Stars

Weekly Reads from Around the Internet

Hollywood is ignoring women over the age of 45, and these experts know why by Abbey Schubert (Mic)

Four Girlfriends on the Groundbreaking Black Friendship in “Girls Trip” by Britt Julious (Broadly)

Thanks to sexism, we still need “A League of Their Own” 25 years later by Britni de la Cretaz (Bitch Media)

Before “Atomic Blonde,” These 8 Female Assassins Had Killer Style by Liana Satenstein (Vulture)

Jessica Williams Won’t Let Anyone Make Her Apologize for Being Herself by Rachel Simon (Bustle)

Google Doodle honors actress Dolores del Río by Michelle Starr (CNET)

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

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

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