BY Laura Berger
Maria Schrader’s Berlin Winner “I’m Your Man” Goes to Bleecker Street
The Emmy-winning director of “Unorthodox’s” latest feature is heading stateside. Bleecker Street scored U.S. rights to Maria Schrader’s “I’m Your Man.” The...
Kateryna Gornostai’s Berlinale Coming-of-Age Pic “Stop-Zemlia” Lands at Altered Innocence
Kateryna Gornostai’s feature debut has secured U.S. distribution following its world premiere at the Berlinale. Altered Innocence snagged rights to “Stop-Zemlia,” a Ukrainian coming-of-age...
Trailer Watch: Hannah Olson’s HBO Doc Short Takes Us Aboard “The Last Cruise” Amidst COVID-19
A nightmare unfolds at sea in “The Last Cruise,” Hannah Olson’s short doc revisiting the early days of COVID-19 and the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship’s ill-fated journey from...
Lindsey Ferrentino to Make Her Feature Directorial Debut with “Amy and the Orphans” Netflix Adaptation
Lindsey Ferrentino is bringing “Amy and the Orphans” to Netflix. The playwright is set to make her feature directorial debut with the adaptation of her stage show. Variety broke the...
Quote of the Day: Andra Day Realized Her “Voice Is Worthy” Thanks to Billie Holiday
Andra Day is paying tribute to Billie Holiday and the jazz singer’s life-changing effect on her. Her leading performance in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” has already earned...
“Killing Eve’s” Fourth Season Will Be Its Last, BBC America Developing Potential Spinoffs
Eve and Villanelle’s twisted love story is coming to an end. BBC America announced that “Killing Eve’s” upcoming fourth season will be its last, but the network is...
Pick of the Day: “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” is celebrating its VOD release date with an Oscar nomination. Jasmila Žbanić’s war drama is up for Best International Feature at the 93rd edition of the Oscars. Set in...
Jasmila Žbanić on Revisiting the Srebrenica Massacre in International Feature Oscar Nominee “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
Jasmila Žbanić is a Bosnian writer, director, and producer. Her feature debut “Grbavica” won the 2006 Berlinale Golden Bear. She followed it up with 2010’s “On the...
Oscar Nominations: Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell Make History in the Best Director Category
For the first time in its 93-year history, the Academy Awards has a Best Director race that includes two women nominees. Oscar nominations are in, and Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell both landed...
Tiffany Haddish to Star in and Produce Netflix Adaptation of “Mystery Girl”
Tiffany Haddish is joining another comic adaptation. The Emmy winner is following up “The Kitchen” with “Mystery Girl,” a Netflix feature adaptation of the Dark House comic of...
Davita Scarlett Signs Overall Deal with CBS Studios
Davita Scarlett is setting up shop at CBS Studios. The writer and producer has signed a multi-year overall deal to develop new projects for the studios on all platforms, Deadline reports. “The...
Toni Collette to Make Directorial Debut with Adaptation of “Writers and Lovers”
Toni Collette’s stepping into a new role. The Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actor is set to make her feature directorial debut with an adaptation of “Writers and Lovers” for...
SXSW 2021 Women Directors: Meet Natalie Morales – “Language Lessons”
Natalie Morales is an actor, director, writer, and activist. “Dead to Me,” “Battle of the Sexes,” and “Abby’s” are among her on-screen credits. Her directing...
Pick of the Day: “Genera+ion”
Created by 19-year-old Zelda Barnz and her father, Daniel Barnz, “Genera+ion” invites us to tag along with an eclectic group of teenagers in the hallways of their high school and at home...
Natalie Portman, Lupita Nyong’o, & Alma Har’el Team Up for Apple TV+’s “Lady in the Lake” Limited Series
Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong’o are coming to the small screen. Deadline reports that the Oscar winners are both set to take on their first major TV roles in Apple TV+’s “Lady in...
Sonia Kennebeck’s “Enemies of the State” Lands at IFC Films
“Enemies of the State” has found a home. IFC Films snagged North American rights to Sonia Kennebeck’s doc about alleged Wikileaks courier and Anonymous hacker Matt DeHart, a press...
Elizabeth Banks to Direct “Cocaine Bear”
Elizabeth Banks is moving on from ass-kicking Angels to a headline-making black bear. The “Charlie’s Angels” helmer is set to direct “Cocaine Bear” for Universal, The...
Maggie Kiley to Direct The CW’s Live-Action “Powerpuff Girls” Pilot
“The Powerpuff Girls” has found its director. Maggie Kiley has signed on to helm the pilot of The CW’s live-action take on the iconic Cartoon Network animated series, The Hollywood...
DGA Awards Nominations: Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell Score Nods in Feature Directing Category
Chloé Zhao’s historic awards season just reached another milestone. The Directors Guild of America has announced the nominees for the 2021 DGA Awards, and the “Nomadland” filmmaker...
“Nomadland” and “Rocks” Lead BAFTA Nominations, Women Directors Make History
BAFTA nominations are in, and Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Sarah Gavron’s “Rocks” lead the pack with seven nominations apiece. It’s a historic year for...
Pilar Palomero’s “Schoolgirls” Wins the Top Honor at Spain’s Goya Awards
Pilar Palomero’s directorial debut won the night’s biggest honor at Spain’s Goya Awards. “Schoolgirls” was named Best Film at Saturday’s hybrid ceremony, which took...
Amy Jo Johnson Writing and Directing “Ends of the Earth”
Amy Jo Johnson’s third directorial effort is on the way. The “Flashpoint” actor will follow up 2017’s “The Space Between” and 2019’s “Tammy’s...
Critics Choice Awards: “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman” Win Big
Another day, another accolade for Chloé Zhao. The “Nomadland” writer, director, and producer has already made history as the most awarded filmmaker in a single awards season and...
Kate Taverna on Exploring the Aftermath of the Agent Orange Catastrophe in “The People vs. Agent Orange”
Kate Taverna has edited more than 50 films over her career, including “Asylum” and “Killing in the Name,” which were Academy Award nominees in the Best Short Documentary...
Trailer Watch: A U.N. Translator Faces a Crisis in Jasmila Žbanić’s Oscar Contender “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
“What will happen to us?” asks Jasna Đuričić in a new trailer for “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Set in 1995 during the Bosnian War, Jasmila Žbanić’s Oscar-shortlisted drama...
Annette Bening Will Topline Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Swimmer Biopic “Nyad”
Annette Bening is headed to the Straits of Florida on a harrowing journey. The “Captain Marvel” actor is set to play a real-life superhero in “Nyad,” a biopic of swimmer Diana...
Pick of the Day: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Funny, heartfelt, and most of all, visually stunning, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is the kind of movie that makes me miss the theater experience. Disney’s latest animated pic is a...
Janet Jackson Two-Night Doc Event Greenlit by Lifetime and A&E
It’s time to dust off your cassette player and blast “Young Love” and “Say You Do”: Janet Jackson is celebrating the 40th anniversary of her first album, “Janet...
Céline Sciamma’s “Petite Maman” Acquired by Neon
Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” has found a home. Neon scored North American rights to “Petite Maman” following its world premiere at the Berlin...
Trailer Watch: Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer Are Superheroes in “Thunder Force”
Just this week photos leaked from the set of “Thor: Love and Thunder” providing a peek at Melissa McCarthy in costume for the highly anticipated Marvel title, but we won’t have to...
Athena Film Festival Announces 2021 Awardees and Grant Winners
The Athena Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2021 awardees. Dedicated to highlighting films showcasing women’s leadership, the fest is running digitally this year due to COVID-19. AFF 2021...
Sundance Meta Comedy “The Nowhere Inn” Lands at IFC Films, Carrie Brownstein and St. Vincent Star
Carrie Brownstein and Saint Vincent — AKA Annie Clark — have found a home for their big-screen collaboration. The multi-hyphenates’ meta comedy “The Nowhere Inn” will be...
Tracey Deer’s Oka Crisis Coming-of-Age Drama “Beans” Lands at FilmRise
“Beans” has secured distribution ahead of its European premiere at the Berlinale. FilmRise scored U.S. rights to Tracey Deer’s coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of the...
Aisha Tyler to Direct Psychological Thriller About Institutional Abuse “Silent John”
Aisha Tyler has booked her next directing gig. The “Criminal Minds” star, who most recently helmed an episode of The CW’s “Roswell, New Mexico,” is set to step behind...
Joana Hadjithomas Talks “Memory Box,” Her Berlinale Drama About Three Generations of Women
Joana Hadjithomas is an artist and filmmaker. She and collaborator Khalil Joreige have directed award-winning films such as “The Lebanese Rocket Society,” “A Perfect Day,” and...
Lisa Cortés in Production on “The Empire of Ebony,” Doc About Ebony Magazine’s Impact
Lisa Cortés is following up voter suppression doc “All In: The Fight for Democracy” with a tribute to the first Black media empire. She’s in production on “The Empire of...
Pick of the Day: “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry”
Clocking in at nearly two-and-a-half hours, “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” charts the teenage singer-songwriter’s meteoric rise, all the way from recording her...
Exclusive: A Killer Hairdresser May Have Found Her Next Victim in “The Stylist” Clip
A lonely hairstylist finds a terrifying way to pass the time in “The Stylist,” Jill Gevargizian’s feature directorial debut. In our exclusive clip of the psychological thriller,...
Film Fatales Launches First International Digital Film Market for Womxn, Will Run Alongside Berlinale
The first-ever international digital film market for womxn is set to take place alongside the 2021 Berlinale’s European Film Market. A joint initiative from Film Fatales and Cinemarket, The...
Rock Doc “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché” Lands at Utopia, Ruth Negga Narrates
Celeste Bell’s ode to her trailblazing mother has secured worldwide distribution. Utopia scored rights to “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché” ahead of its world premiere at this...
Sophia Loren to Receive Legend Award from L.A., Italia Film Fest
Sophia Loren’s earning rave reviews for her comeback performance in “The Life Ahead,” and now the Oscar winner is adding more trophies to her collection. She’s been named as...
“Nomadland” Named Best Feature by Vancouver Film Critics Circle, Chloé Zhao Wins Best Director
Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” has claimed yet another prize. The Frances McDormand-starrer was named best international feature by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. Zhao landed the...
Trailer Watch: Soleil Moon Frye Relives Her Child Stardom in “kid 90”
Soleil Moon Frye takes an eye-opening stroll down memory lane in “kid 90,” an upcoming Hulu documentary that sees the former child actor rediscovering hundreds of hours of footage she...
Teaser Watch: “Tina” Traces Tina Turner’s Meteoric Rise
A new HBO documentary sees the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll reflecting on her roots and her celebrated discography. A teaser has dropped for “Tina,” an intimate portrait of Tina...
Prano Bailey-Bond’s Psychological Horror Pic “Censor” Lands at Magnolia
“Censor” has found a home ahead of its European premiere at the Berlinale in March. Magnolia Pictures snagged North American rights to Prano Bailey-Bond’s Sundance pic, Variety...
“Stargirl” Sequel in the Works at Disney+, Julia Hart to Reprise Directing Duties
We haven’t heard the last of Stargirl Caraway’s songs: Disney+ is prepping a “Stargirl” sequel. Released in 2020 and based on the best-selling YA book of the same name,...
Shannon Walsh’s Gig Economy Doc “The Gig Is Up” Lands at Dogwoof
Cue up “5 to 9,” Dolly Parton’s re-imagined take on “9 to 5.” The song is a fitting soundtrack for “The Gig Is Up,” Shannon Walsh’s exploration of the...
Jasmila Žbanić’s Oscar-Shortlisted War Drama “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Acquired by Neon’s Super Ltd
Following screenings at last year’s Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, Jasmila Žbanić’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” landed on the shortlist for the 2021...
Mila Kunis Will Topline “Luckiest Girl Alive” Adaptation at Netflix
Mila Kunis is bringing a page-turner to the screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the “Bad Moms” actress is set to topline and produce Netflix’s adaptation of...
Samara Weaving Set to Star in Sony TV Adaptation of Holly Madison’s “Down the Rabbit Hole”
Samara Weaving is following up her lethal game of hide and seek in “Ready or Not” by showing a different side of the Playboy Mansion. Deadline reports that the “SMILF” alumna...
“Rocks” Wins Best Film at British Independent Film Awards
“Rocks” claimed the top prize at this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). Sarah Gavron’s coming-of-age drama was named Best British Independent Film at the online...