BY Laura Berger
Quote of the Day: Queen Latifah Accepts BET Lifetime Achievement Award, Emphasizes “Black Is Beautiful”
“Be Black. Black is beautiful,” Queen Latifah emphasized while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 BET Awards. The Grammy and Emmy-winning multi-hyphenate used her time...
Tracee Ellis Ross and Michaela Angela Davis Team Up for “Hair Tales” Docuseries at OWN and Hulu
Tracee Ellis Ross and Michaela Angela Davis are swapping “Hair Tales.” The pair are set to exec produce and narrate a docuseries that will see the real-life friends leading “a...
Pam Fryman Tapped to Direct “How I Met Your Father” Pilot, Hilary Duff Stars in the Spinoff
Pam Fryman is being recruited back into the “How I Met Your Mother” universe. After helming all but 12 episodes of the nine-season sitcom, she’s been tapped to direct and produce...
Trailer Watch: A Young Girl Escapes the Clutches of the Sea Maiden in Feminist Fable “Scales”
A strong-willed young girl faces the wrath of her community in “Scales.” Filmed in Oman, Shahad Ameen’s black-and-white feminist parable tells the story of Hayat (Basima Hajjar),...
Trailer Watch: The Hearing Child of Deaf Parents Follows Her Music Dreams in Sundance Smash “CODA”
“There are plenty of pretty voices with nothing to say. Do you have something to say?” Emilia Jones is asked in a new trailer for “CODA.” Sian Heder’s history-making...
Teona Strugar Mitevska on Telling a Story About Having the Audacity to Define Yourself in “God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya”
Teona Strugar Mitevska was born in Macedonia. She started as a child actor, and trained as a painter and a graphic designer before studying in the MFA program in film at New York University’s...
BFI Announces Program for Woman with a Movie Camera Summit
The BFI Woman with a Movie Camera Summit has announced its 2021 program. Set to take place July 17-18, the online event will feature more than 20 panels, discussions, and Q&As exploring...
Trailer Watch: Sonia Kennebeck Searches for Truth in the Age of Misinformation in “Enemies of the State”
An investigation into secrets, lies, and cover-ups, “Enemies of the State” explores the strange case of Wikileaks courier and hacker Matt DeHart. Sonia Kennebeck’s doc finds DeHart...
Chiara Atik Is Penning a Film Adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet”
“Hamnet” is coming to the big screen. Chiara Atik has been tapped to pen an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel for Amblin Partners, Hera Pictures, and Neal...
Kyra Sedgwick to Direct “Space Oddity,” Alexandra Shipp & Madeline Brewer Will Star
Kyra Sedgwick has lined up her next directing gig. She will follow up her DGA Award-nominated directorial debut, “Story of a Girl,” with “Space Oddity,” Rebecca Banner’s...
Trailer Watch: Laura Fairrie Pays Tribute to Jackie Collins in “Lady Boss”
Prior to debuting “Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story” at Tribeca Film Festival, director Laura Fairrie told us that the documentary “tells the story of a woman who defines her own...
Mattie Do’s “The Long Walk” Acquired by Yellow Veil Pictures
Mattie Do’s latest has secured North American distribution. Yellow Veil Pictures snagged rights to “The Long Walk” and is planning an early 2022 release, a press release announced....
Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Westfeldt Team Up For “The Idea of You” Adaptation
Anne Hathaway has escaped lockdown and is set to lead another book adaptation. She’s following up “Locked Down” and “The Witches” by signing on to “The Idea of...
Trailer Watch: “Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts” Brings Trailblazing Women Together
“It’s what I do. I bring people together,” says Robin Roberts in a new trailer for her upcoming Disney+ show. Each episode of “Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts”...
Tanya Wexler’s Bouncer Action-Comedy “Jolt” Acquired by Amazon, Kate Beckinsale Stars
Kate Beckinsale is switching gears from waging war with werewolves to keeping drunk partiers in check. The “Underworld” actress leads Tanya Wexler’s latest, “Jolt,” a...
Julia Stiles to Make Feature Directorial Debut with “Wish You Were Here”
While we await word about the fate of “Riviera,” series star Julia Stiles is branching out. She’s set to make her feature directorial debut with “Wish You Were Here,”...
Susanna Fogel, Michelle Ashford, & Emilia Jones Are Bringing “Cat Person” to the Big Screen
Hot off the buzziest title of Sundance 2021, Emilia Jones has signed on to “Cat Person.” The “CODA” breakout will topline Susanna Fogel’s adaptation of Kristen...
Trailer Watch: Julia Ducournau Returns to Cannes with “Titane”
Julia Ducournau’s first feature, cannibal coming-of-age story “Raw,” caused audience members on the festival circuit to pass out. Her follow-up looks like it could be similarly...
Lynne Ramsay and Rooney Mara Team Up For “Polaris”
Lynne Ramsay has another project in the works. Last year she signed on to direct an adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon,” and now word comes that the BAFTA Award...
Trailer Watch: Zoe Lister-Jones Faces Her Fears In Apocalyptic Comedy “How It Ends”
Zoe Lister-Jones embarks on an existential scavenger hunt for her soul in “How It Ends.” A trailer for the apocalyptic Sundance comedy sees the “Life in Pieces” alumna...
Lizzie Borden Revisits “Working Girls” and Reflects on its Origins
After receiving a BFA in art history at Wellesley College, Lizzie Borden moved to New York, painted, wrote for Artforum Magazine, and made an experimental documentary, “Regrouping,”...
Trailer Watch: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Is a Changed Woman in “Never Have I Ever” Season 2
“My mom doesn’t tell me how to live my life. Megan Thee Stallion does,” says Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in a new trailer for “Never Have I Ever.” The second season of Mindy...
Pick of the Day: “Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer”
“Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer” spotlights people and events that have been “disappeared by history,” as one interviewee puts it. Dawn Porter’s latest documentary...
Pick of the Day: “Physical”
“No one could ever hate me as much as I hate myself, okay? So any mean thing someone is going to think of to say about me, I’ve already said to me, about me, probably in the last half...
Cynthia Erivo Will Lead Remake of “The Rose” for Searchlight
Cynthia Erivo will follow-up her portrayal of the Queen of Soul by playing a rock goddess. Hot off her depiction of Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha,” the...
Gina Rodriguez Set to Make Film Directorial Debut with Boxing Drama
Gina Rodriguez has stepped out of the world of telenovelas and is stepping into the ring. The “Jane the Virgin” alumna is set to make her feature directorial debut with a sports drama...
Zoë Kravitz Will Make Directorial Debut with “Pussy Island”
With her buzziest on-screen role on the way, Zoë Kravitz is stepping behind the camera. The “Big Little Lies” star, who wrapped filming on highly anticipated DC title “The...
Trailer Watch: “Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes” Sees Ronan Farrow & Others Exposing Harvey Weinstein
“This is the story of a group of sources who risked everything to expose the truth. It’s the story of how media and law enforcement and the world of private espionage protected a powerful...
Cannes 2021: Andrea Arnold Named President of Un Certain Regard
Andrea Arnold is returning to Cannes. The writer-director premiered her last feature, 2016’s “American Honey,” in Competition, and now she’s set to serve as President of Un...
Rachel Winter Talks “The Space Between,” a Coming-of-Age Dramedy and Love Letter to Music
Rachel Winter is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and producer who is making her feature directorial debut with “The Space Between.” She received an Oscar nomination for producing...
Trailer Watch: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Fights for Equal Pay in “LFG”
“The story’s the same everywhere: women get paid less to do the same job,” says Megan Rapinoe in a new trailer for “LFG.” Directed by Academy Award-winners Andrea Nix...
“Girls5eva” Renewed for Season 2 at Peacock
Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Phillips are “gonna be famous 5eva ’cause forever’s too short.” The foursome will reteam on a second season of...
Teaser Watch: Reese Witherspoon & Jennifer Aniston Return for “The Morning Show’s” Second Season
Jennifer Aniston finds herself in the hot seat in a new teaser for “The Morning Show’s” second season, which sees Alex (Aniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) reckoning with their...
Sanaa Lathan Will Make Her Feature Directorial Debut With Adaptation of Angie Thomas’ “On The Come Up”
After more than two decades in front of the camera, Sanaa Lathan is stepping behind it. The “Affair” alumna is set to make her feature directorial debut with Paramount Players’...
Manjari Makijany on Telling an Empowering Story About Confidence and Courage in “Skater Girl”
Manjari Makijany is Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer with diverse film experience in India and the United States. Her journey as a director took off with her critically acclaimed...
Pick of the Day: “Tuca & Bertie”
Praise be: “Tuca & Bertie” has risen from the dead, and its resurrection is everything you’d hope and more. Adult Swim revived Lisa Hanawalt’s critically acclaimed...
Kerry Washington, Lena Waithe, & Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Among Gracie Awards Honorees
Kerry Washington, Lena Waithe, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan are among the dozens of women set to be honored by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation at the 2021 Annual Gracie Awards. Slated to take...
Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” Will Make its World Premiere at Venice, Kirsten Dunst Co-Stars
Jane Campion will unveil her first new feature in over a decade at this year’s Venice Film Festival. “The Power of the Dog,” a Netflix Original, is set to make its world premiere in...
“Hacks” Renewed for Second Season at HBO Max
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder’s HBO Max residency has only just begun. The streamer just renewed “Hacks” for a second season. A press release announced that the well-received...
Gina Prince-Bythewood to Direct Sci-Fi “Exoplanet”
Gina Prince-Bythewood has yet another project in the works. In the wake of her latest pic, “The Old Guard’s,” smash success, the writer and director has signed on to a slew of...
Trailer Watch: Jessica Chastain Transforms into Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
“You follow blindly. In the end, all you are is blind,” Jessica Chastain is told in a new trailer for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” The biopic sees the two-time Oscar nominee...
Michelle Zauner Adapting “Crying in H Mart” for the Big Screen
“Crying in H Mart” is getting the film treatment. MGM label Orion Pictures snagged rights to Michelle Zauner’s New York Times best-selling memoir in a “competitive...
Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Wins Peabody’s Institutional Award
Less than one week ago ARRAY, the arts collective for women and people of color founded by Ava DuVernay, announced that it was teaming up with Google for a $500K film grant dedicated to bringing one...
Eiza González and Jennifer Fox Team Up For “Wolf Country”
After supporting turns in “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “I Care A Lot,” Eiza González is set to take the lead in “Wolf Country,” a thriller directed by Jennifer Fox....
Tribeca 2021 Women Directors: Meet Hannah Marks – “Mark, Mary & Some Other People”
Hannah Marks made her feature co-directorial debut with the independent film “After Everything,” which she also co-wrote. The film premiered in competition at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival....
Trailer Watch: Marion Hill Tells a Polyamorous Love Story in “Ma Belle, My Beauty”
Described by writer-director Marion Hill as “a contemporary love story” with “a deep devotion to the exploration and authentic depiction of nuance: nuance of character,...
Michaela Coel Tops BAFTA TV Awards, Dedicates Win to “I May Destroy You’s” Intimacy Coordinator
Michaela Coel won big at Sunday’s BAFTA TV Awards, where “I May Destroy You” claimed two top prizes. The critically acclaimed drama landed the honor for best miniseries and Coel was...
Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Bergman Island” Acquired by IFC Films
Mia Hansen-Løve’s English-language debut has secured U.S. distribution ahead of its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival. Deadline reports that IFC Films snagged rights to Vicky Krieps-starrer...
Trailer Watch: “The Legend of the Underground” Tackles LGBTQ Discrimination in Nigeria
“I want to encourage billions and zillions of people, telling them that you have rights. You know why? Because you’re human,” says one of the characters featured in “The...
Tiffany Haddish Will Topline and Produce Biopic of Olympic Runner Florence Griffith Joyner
Tiffany Haddish is taking inspiration from Olympic history for her next role. The “Girls Trip” breakout will leave her competition in the dust in an as-yet untitled biopic about track and...
Trailer Watch: Thandiwe Newton and Lisa Joy Reteam for “Reminiscence”
Thandiwe Newton and Lisa Joy are joining forces on another sci-fi blockbuster. The “Westworld” collaborators reteam for “Reminiscence,” a futuristic thriller that centers on...