BY Laura Berger
Anna Nicole Smith Doc in the Works at Netflix, Ursula Macfarlane Directing
Ursula Macfarlane is expanding her diverse filmography. With titles such as “Untouchable,” an investigation into Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct, and “The Life and Loss...
Trailer Watch: A Teenage Girl Has a Dangerous Spiritual Awakening in Horror Pic “A Banquet”
“I can feel something inside of me. I’ve been chosen,” a teenage girl insists in a new trailer for “A Banquet.” Ruth Paxton’s psychological horror pic tells the...
Trailer Watch: Janet Jackson Reflects on Stardom and Scrutiny in New Doc
Janet Jackson promises to show “a side that no one’s ever seen” in a new extended trailer for “Janet Jackson,” a two-night documentary event from Lifetime and A&E....
Trailer Watch: Mika Abdalla Wants to Master Her Sexuality in “Sex Appeal”
A teenage girl vows to “master sexual excellence” in a new trailer for “Sex Appeal.” The Hulu comedy follows Avery (Mika Abdalla, “Project Mc²”), an overachieving...
Jessica Chastain and Jude Weng Are Bringing “The School for Good Mothers” to TV
Jessica Chastain is following up HBO’s updated take on “Scenes from a Marriage” with another adaptation. The two-time Oscar nominee has optioned the TV rights to “The School...
Trailer Watch: Sofia Black-D’Elia Is a “Single Drunk Female”
“I miss being a drunk. There was a lot less accountability,” says Sofia Black-D’Elia in a new trailer for “Single Drunk Female.” The upcoming Freeform comedy sees the...
Jane Campion Named Best Director by L.A. Film Critics for “The Power of the Dog”
Jane Campion’s chances of receiving her second Oscar nomination for Best Director are looking better and better. She’s collected yet another honor for “The Power of the Dog,”...
A Donna Summer Documentary Is in the Works
A documentary about the chart-topping singer behind iconic hits including “Last Dance,” “Love to Love You Baby,” and “She Works Hard for the Money” is on the way....
Krystin Ver Linden’s “Alice” Acquired Ahead of Sundance Premiere, Keke Palmer Stars
“Alice” has found a home ahead of its world premiere at next month’s Sundance Film Festival. A press release announced that Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions acquired...
Trailer Watch: Alison Pill and Sarah Gadon Are Sisters in Crisis in “All My Puny Sorrows”
“Suffering is something that is passed on from one generation to the next,” says Alison Pill in a new trailer for “All My Puny Sorrows.” An adaptation of Miriam Toews’...
Halle Berry to Receive SeeHer Award from Critics Choice Association
Halle Berry has been named this year’s recipient of the Critics Choice Association’s SeeHer Award, “which honors a woman who advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with...
“The Power of the Dog” Leads Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
“The Power of the Dog” is as strong as ever. The AFI Awards honoree leads the Chicago Film Critics Association 2021 Awards. Jane Campion’s Western psychodrama took in a total of...
Isabelle Huppert to Receive Honorary Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival
In addition to premiering her latest film, “About Joan,” the Berlin Film Festival is set to award Isabelle Huppert an Honorary Golden Bear at this year’s edition. The fest’s...
Eva Longoria Will Lead CNN+’s “Searching for Mexico”
Meet your new, multi-talented tour guide: Eva Longoria. The “Desperate Housewives” alumna and “Black-ish” director is set to headline “Eva Longoria: Searching for...
“Sweet Valley High” Series from Ashley Wigfield in Development at The CW
Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are returning to the small screen. “Gossip Girl” creators Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz are bringing another YA adaptation to The CW: a teen drama...
Trailer Watch: Valérie Lemercier Brings Celine Dion’s Story to the Screen with “Aline”
Described as “a fiction freely inspired by the life of Celine Dion,” “Aline” tells the story of the best-selling Canadian musical artist of all-time. In addition to co-writing...
Trailer Watch: Michelle Yeoh Is “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
“The universe is so much bigger than you realize,” Michelle Yeoh is told in a new trailer for “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” The sci-fi sees the “Shang-Chi and the...
“The Watermelon Woman” & “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” Among Titles Added to National Film Registry
The Library of Congress has announced its annual selection of 25 titles to be inducted into the National Film Registry. “Selected for their cultural, historic, or aesthetic importance to...
Indie Spirit Award Nominations: Janicza Bravo’s “Zola” Leads with Seven Nods
Nominations for the Film Independent Spirit Awards are in, and “Zola” leads the pack with seven nods. Co-written and directed by Janicza Bravo, the comedy is inspired by a viral Twitter...
Black List 2021: Lily Hollander’s “See How They Run” Receives Second-Most Votes
The 2021 Black List has arrived. Featuring 73 screenplays and 71 writers/writing teams, the 17th annual list was decided by votes from more than 375 film execs and highlights the best-liked...
Jasmila Zbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Dominates the European Film Awards
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” continues to make a splash on the awards circuit. Jasmila Zbanic’s Bosnian war drama, which landed an Oscar nod for Best International Feature Film earlier this...
Pick of the Day: “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street”
Marilyn Agrelo traces the radical roots of “Sunny Days” spent with Elmo, Bert, and Big Bird in “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street.” The HBO doc examines how creators, artists,...
Trailer Watch: Chad Enters the Oscar Race with Abortion Drama “Lingui, The Sacred Bonds”
A trailer has dropped for “Lingui, The Sacred Bonds,” Chad’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2022 Oscars. Set on the outskirts of N’djamena, the capital...
Numa Perrier to Star in and Produce Audre Lorde Biopic
Currently in post-production on Gabrielle Union-starrer “The Perfect Find,” Numa Perrier has booked her next gig. The “Jezebel” writer, director, and actress is set to topline...
Lady Gaga to Receive Icon Award from Palm Springs International Film Awards
Father, Son, and House of Gucci: a press release announced that the Palm Springs International Film Awards has named Lady Gaga as the recipient of its Icon Award. The Oscar and Grammy winner is being...
Teaser Watch: Kristen Bell Is “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window”
Offering a satirical twist on psychological thrillers like “The Woman in the Window” and “The Girl on the Train,” Kristen Bell’s latest sees the “Good Place”...
Susan McMartin and Julia Fox Team Up for Pic About Hollywood Hairdresser Carrie White
The First Lady of Hairdressing is getting a biopic. Atmosphere Entertainment has acquired the rights to “Upper Cut: Highlights of My Hollywood Life,” Carrie White’s bestselling...
“The Sex Lives of College Girls” Renewed for a Second Season by HBO Max
Giddy up: “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is coming back for a second season. A press release announced that the coming-of-age comedy has been renewed by HBO Max. From creators Mindy...
“America ReFramed” to Launch 10th Season with World Premiere of “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America”
A portrait of a Mississippi sharecropper-turned-human rights activist will kick off the 10th season of “America ReFramed.” The award-winning documentary series from WORLD Channel and...
Pick of the Day: “The Slow Hustle”
“It’s Baltimore — don’t be surprised by anything that takes place here,” we’re warned early on in “The Slow Hustle.” The HBO doc sees Sonja Sohn, best...
Trailer Watch: Neo and Trinity Reunite in Lana Wachowski’s “The Matrix Resurrections”
“We can’t see it, but we’re all trapped inside these strange repeating loops,” Keanu Reeves is told in a new trailer for “The Matrix Resurrections.” “This is...
CineFAM Is Launching a Women of Color Content Creator Database
CineFAM is introducing a new initiative: a Women of Color (WOC) Content Creator Database. Set to launch soon on the Canadian not for profit company’s website, the goal of the database will be...
Trailer Watch: Suranne Jones Investigates a Murder On Board a Submarine in “Vigil”
“How are you with confined spaces?” Suranne Jones is asked in a new trailer for “Vigil.” The thriller sees the “Gentleman Jack” actress playing Amy Silva, a...
A Musical Adaptation of “Real Women Have Curves” Is in the Works
Ana García is heading to Broadway. A musical adaptation of “Real Women Have Curves,” the 2002 coming-of-age pic about a Mexican-American teen, is in the works from “Waitress”...
Audra McDonald to Narrate and EP New Doc About Whitney Houston
Audra McDonald is paying tribute to The Voice. The Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning actress and singer is set to narrate and executive produce “Whitney in Focus,” a doc about Whitney...
Trailer Watch: Gloria Calderón Kellett Tackles the Holidays “With Love”
Gloria Calderón Kellett is back with another multi-generational story led by Latinx characters. A trailer has dropped for “With Love,” the latest project from the co-creator of...
Connie Nielsen to Topline Danish Series About “Out of Africa” Author Karen Blixen
Connie Nielsen is heading from Themyscira to Denmark. The “Wonder Woman” actress is set to topline “The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen,” a drama based on the author of...
Halle Berry Inks Multi-Picture Netflix Deal as “Bruised” Tops the Charts
Halle Berry’s comeback story continues to pack a punch. “Bruised,” the Oscar-winning actress’ directorial debut, is a major hit. The story of a disgraced MMA fighter searching...
Shantira Jackson’s “Aunties” Lands Put Pilot Commitment from NBC
Shantira Jackson is eyeing her own show following stints on “Busy Tonight,” “Saved by the Bell,” and “The Amber Ruffin Show.” The writer and performer secured a...
“The Lost Daughter” Dominates the Gotham Awards
“The Lost Daughter” continues to gain momentum as awards season heats up. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut scored the most wins at last night’s Gotham Awards,...
Pick of the Day: “Writing with Fire”
“I believe that journalism is the essence of democracy,” announces Meera Devi, the central protagonist of Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s “Writing with Fire.” Devi is...
Trailer Watch: Marilyn Agrelo Explores Elmo’s Radical Roots in “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street”
“Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street” examines how creators, artists, writers, and educators teamed up to transform a medium and change lives. Directed by Marilyn Agrelo, the HBO...
Apply Now: Reel Sisters Microbudget Film Fellowship for Women of Color
Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series is offering women of color a chance to win $5,000 to produce a web series pilot or short film. Applications for the Reel Sisters...
Thembi Banks Will Direct Cardi B-Starrer “Assisted Living”
Thembi Banks will direct Cardi B in her first starring role. The pair are teaming up for “Assisted Living,” a Paramount Players comedy that will see Grammy winner Cardi B taking the lead...
“We Are Lady Parts” Returning for Season 2
Peacock and the U.K.’s Channel 4 are getting the band back together. “We Are Lady Parts” has been renewed for a second season, per Deadline. From Nida Manzoor and inspired by her...
Maya Cozier Talks “She Paradise” and Honoring the Beauty and Complexity of Sisterhood
Filmmaker Maya Cozier was raised in the Caribbean twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. She gained years of experience working as a dancer/choreographer for music videos and television shows both on...
Amber Sealey to Direct “Nod If You Understand,” Thriller About Plane Hijacking
Amber Sealey is tackling another film based on a true story. The director is set to follow up “No Man of God,” her Tribeca drama exploring Ted Bundy’s relationship with FBI agent...
Trailer Watch: Sonja Sohn Uncovers Police Corruption in “The Slow Hustle”
Sonja Sohn returns to Baltimore with “The Slow Hustle,” a documentary that sees the “Wire” alumna and “Baltimore Rising” director investigating the 2017 death of...
Pick of the Day: “The Sex Lives of College Girls”
“The Sex Lives of College Girls” isn’t nearly as raunchy as its eye-catching title suggests. The HBO Max comedy is unapologetically horny, yes, and considerably more invested in...
Trailer Watch: Jennifer Lopez Embraces the Moment and Weds a Stranger in Kat Coiro’s “Marry Me”
“They say if you want something different, you have to do something different,” says Jennifer Lopez in a new trailer for “Marry Me.” From director Kat Coiro, the rom-com tells...
DOC NYC 2021 Women Directors: Meet Trish Adlesic – “A Tree of Life”
Trish Adlesic is an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning producer/director. Her producing credits include “Gasland” and “Gasland Part II.” She co-directed and co-produced “I...