BY Laura Berger
Kaouther Ben Hania’s International Oscar Hopeful “The Man Who Sold His Skin” Goes to Samuel Goldwyn
Currently eyeing a trip to the Academy Awards, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Tunisian drama “The Man Who Sold His Skin” has secured U.S. distribution in the meantime. A press release...
Lupita Nyong’o’s Children’s Book “Sulwe” Being Adapted into an Animated Musical at Netflix
Lupita Nyong’o’s debut children’s book will serve as the inspiration for an upcoming animated musical at Netflix. Deadline confirmed that the Oscar-winning actor’s New York...
Sara Colangelo’s 9/11 Victim Compensation Drama “Worth” Acquired by Netflix & the Obamas’ Higher Ground
Sara Colangelo’s follow-up to “The Kindergarten Teacher” has secured distribution. Netflix and Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, scored rights to...
Regina King to Star in Shirley Chisholm Biopic “Shirley”
Regina King is eyeing the White House. The Oscar-winning actress and Best Director hopeful is set to star in “Shirley,” a biopic of Shirley Chisholm. The Hollywood Reporter broke the...
Teaser Watch: Kate Winslet Investigates a Murder in “Mare of Easttown”
Kate Winslet is following up her turn as a fossil hunter searching for relics on the southern coastline in “Ammonite” by playing a small-town Pennsylvania detective searching for clues in...
Chloé Zhao Makes History as Most Awarded Filmmaker in a Single Awards Season
Since its world premiere with simultaneous screenings at Toronto International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival in September, “Nomadland” has taken home award after award. After...
Trailer Watch: Emma Stone Is Ready to Make a Statement in “Cruella”
“From the very beginning I realized I saw the world differently than everyone else. That didn’t sit well with some people, but I wasn’t for everyone,” says Emma Stone in a new...
Trailer Watch: “Allen v. Farrow” Goes Behind the Scenes of Hollywood’s Biggest Scandal
“It doesn’t matter what’s true. What matters is what’s believed,” says Mia Farrow in a new trailer for “Allen v. Farrow.” Hailing from “On the...
Minkie Spiro and Charlotte Stoudt to Adapt Kate Summerscale’s “The Haunting of Alma Fielding”
Minkie Spiro and Charlotte Stoudt are re-teaming. The pair are following up their collaboration on FX’s Emmy-winning series “Fosse/Verdon” by adapting Kate Summerscale’s book...
Ruth Negga to Topline Josephine Baker Limited Series from Dee Harris-Lawrence & Millicent Shelton
Ruth Negga is set to play another trailblazer. The Oscar-nominated “Loving” star has signed on to topline and exec produce “Josephine,” a limited series inspired by the...
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Francesca Sloane, & Donald Glover Are Rebooting “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” at Amazon
Two of TV’s most celebrated multi-hyphenates are teaming up. Emmy winners Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Donald Glover are rebooting “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” as a TV series for Amazon,...
Angela Washko Shines a Spotlight on a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Alum in Slamdance Doc “Workhorse Queen”
A recent recipient of the Creative Capital Award, Impact Award at Indiecade, and the Franklin Furnace Performance Fund, Angela Washko’s art practice has been highlighted in The New Yorker, Frieze...
Svetlana Cvetko on Painting a Different Picture of LA in “Show Me What You Got”
Svetlana Cvetko is renowned for her cinematography work on a list of critically acclaimed documentaries, including Oscar winner “Inside Job,” Oscar-nominated “Facing Fear,”...
Gia Coppola’s “Mainstream” Goes to IFC Films, Maya Hawke Stars
Gia Coppola’s follow-up to “Palo Alto” has secured distribution. A press release announced that IFC Films snagged North American rights to Maya Hawke-starrer...
Pick of the Day: “To All the Boys: Always and Forever”
Lara Jean Covey is growing up, and the “To All the Boys” franchise is maturing alongside her. The third and final installment of the franchise has dropped, and what began as an...
Pick of the Day: “The World to Come”
Vanessa Kirby follows up her powerhouse performance in “Pieces of a Woman” with another awards contender. The winner of the Queer Lion at last year’s Venice Film Festival, Mona Fastvold’s...
Minhal Baig Inks Overall Deal with Amazon, Sets First Project
Minhal Baig is going into business with Amazon Studios. The “Hala” writer-director has signed an overall deal which will see her developing and producing content for the streamer, per...
Cathy Yan Reflects on Her “Prescient” Debut Film “Dead Pigs,” and the Evolution of the Film Industry
Cathy Yan’s debut film, “Dead Pigs,” premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018, where it won a Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting, and garnered numerous...
Berlinale 2021: 28 Percent of Competition Titles Are Women-Directed
The Berlin International Film Festival has announced its 2021 Competition lineup. Eighteen titles will compete for the fest’s highest honor, the Golden Bear, and five of them are directed or...
Trailer Watch: Cynthia Erivo and Suzan-Lori Parks Tell the Queen of Soul’s Story in “Genius: Aretha”
“There will never be another one like me,” says Cynthia Erivo in a new trailer for “Genius: Aretha.” The third season of the National Geographic anthology series sees the...
Trailer Watch: Frances McDormand Is Ready to Get Busy Living in Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland”
“My dad used to say, ‘What’s remembered lives.’ I maybe spent too much of my life just remembering,” says Frances McDormand in a new trailer for “Nomadland.”...
Nicole Kassell Directing “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” Adaptation for New Line
Nicole Kassell will follow up her Emmy-winning adaptation of “Watchmen” by revisiting another beloved story. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she’s been tapped to helm New...
Hannah Einbinder Joins Jean Smart in Untitled HBO Max Comedy From “Broad City” Alumnae
HBO Max’s untitled Jean Smart comedy has found its co-lead. A press release announced that Hannah Einbinder, best known for her work as a stand-up comedian, will play Smart’s protegee in...
Ninja Thyberg’s Sundance Pic About L.A.’s Porn Industry “Pleasure” Lands at A24
Ninja Thyberg’s feature debut has secured distribution following its world premiere at Sundance. A24 acquired U.S. rights to “Pleasure,” a look inside L.A.’s adult film industry, and...
“To All the Boys” Author Jenny Han Bringing “The Summer I Turned Pretty” to Amazon
Lara Jean Covey’s story is coming to an end but her creator is starting a new chapter. “To All the Boys” author Jenny Han has a project in the works at Amazon. The streamer ordered...
Trailer Watch: Cathy Yan Tells a Stranger than Fiction Story in “Dead Pigs”
A trailer has landed for “Dead Pigs,” Cathy Yan’s feature directorial debut. Before taking the reins on 2020 Harley Quinn standalone pic “Birds of Prey,” the...
Viola Davis Set to Receive Acting Honor from Palm Springs International Film Festival
Currently eyeing her fourth Oscar nomination, Viola Davis is set to collect another accolade in the meantime. She’s been named as the recipient of the Palm Springs International Film...
“Nomadland” Named Best Film by Toronto Film Critics Association and London Critics’ Circle
“Nomadland” continues to dominate awards season. Hot off its Golden Globe nominations, Chloé Zhao’s third feature has just been named Best Film by The Toronto Film Critics Association...
Cathy Yan to Write and Direct Sci-Fi Pic “The Freshening”
Cathy Yan will follow up her tribute to Harley Quinn’s fantabulous emancipation — and breakfast sandwiches — with a sci-fi love story. The “Birds of Prey” helmer is set...
Bert & Bertie Directing Municipal Fraud Pic “Queen Bitch & The High Horse,” Cate Blanchett Producing
Bert & Bertie are partnering up with Cate Blanchett. The directing duo are set to direct “Queen Bitch & The High Horse,” which is being produced by Blanchett’s Dirty Films...
Andra Day to Receive Breakthrough Performance Honor from Palm Springs International Film Awards
Just days ago Andra Day landed a Golden Globe nomination for her starring role in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” and now word comes that the rising star will be the recipient of...
Kim A. Snyder’s March For Our Lives Doc “Us Kids” Lands at Greenwich Entertainment
Described by director Kim S. Snyder as “a coming-of-age story about a bunch of regular teenage kids who live their lives against the backdrop of this horrendous national issue of gun...
Renée Zellweger Will Topline “Dateline”-Inspired NBC Limited Series “The Thing About Pam”
Renée Zellweger is playing another murderer. The two-time Oscar winner received a nomination for her turn as Roxie Hart in “Chicago,” and now she’s set to topline and exec produce...
Michelle Williams to Play Peggy Lee in “Fever”
Michelle Williams is set to portray another icon of yesteryear. The Oscar-nominated “My Week with Marilyn” actress will topline a biopic of Peggy Lee. Titled “Fever,” the...
Nicole Riegel’s Jessica Barden-Starrer “Holler” Lands at IFC Films
Nicole Riegel’s feature debut has found a home. IFC Films acquired North American rights to “Holler,” a coming-of-age drama led by “End of the F*cking World’s”...
Chloé Zhao to Direct “Dracula” for Universal
Hot off her Golden Globe noms for “Nomadland,” Chloé Zhao has signed on to write, direct, and produce “Dracula” for Universal Pictures. The auteur will be putting a fresh...
Rebecca Hall’s “Passing” Goes to Netflix in $15 Million Deal, Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga Star
Rebecca Hall has landed a massive deal for her directorial debut. Netflix landed international rights to period drama “Passing” for a reported $15.75 million following its world premiere...
Sally Aitken’s Sundance Doc “Playing With Sharks” Lands at National Geographic
Sally Aitken’s tribute to a pioneering marine conservationist has found a home. National Geographic Documentary Films snagged worldwide rights to “Playing with Sharks,” a portrait...
PGA Awards Doc Nominees: “Time,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” and More
The Producers Guild of America has announced the seven titles nominated in the documentary motion picture category at the 2021 PGA Awards, and four of them are directed by women: “Dick Johnson...
Oscars 2021 International Feature Contenders: Meet Barbara Paz – “Babenco: Tell Me When I Die”
Barbara Paz is an award-winning Brazilian actress, producer, and director. In her acting career she has performed in over 25 plays. She is also a popular television star under permanent contract to...
Oscars 2021 International Feature Contenders: Meet Julie Schroell – “River Tales”
Julie Schroell is a filmmaker and audiovisual artist living in Berlin. She started her career by directing a series of commissioned films, such as “The Farmer’s Blues” (2011), in...
Trailer Watch: Billie Eilish Takes Fans Behind the Scenes in “The World’s a Little Blurry”
After taking home five Grammy Awards at the 2020 edition of music’s biggest night, Billie Eilish told the press room, “We made this album in a bedroom in our house that we grew up in, so...
Naomi Watts Will Topline and Produce Malgorzata Szumowska’s Survival Story “Infinite Storm”
Malgorzata Szumowska is eyeing an Oscar nomination for “Never Gonna Snow Again,” Poland’s pick for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards, and now word comes...
Oscars 2021 International Feature Contenders: Meet Zaida Bergroth – “Tove”
Zaida Bergroth is a Finnish director and screenwriter. Her films include 2019’s “Maria’s Paradise” and 2017’s “Miami.” Her film “Skavabölen Pojat” (“Last Cowboy...
Trailer Watch: Teen Girls Start a Feminist Revolution in Amy Poehler’s “Moxie”
“When I was 16 all I cared about was smashing the patriarchy and burning it all down,” says Amy Poehler in a new trailer for “Moxie.” The “Parks and Recreation”...
Céline Cousteau on “Tribes on the Edge,” Her Doc About Indigenous Peoples Protecting Their Land and Lives
Céline Cousteau is a humanitarian and environmental activist working with a variety of media, ranging from documentaries to art, from consulting with corporations and foundations, to public...
Lena Dunham & Julia von Heinz Team Up for “Iron Box,” a Drama Exploring the Legacy of the Holocaust
Julia von Heinz has lined up her next project. The German filmmaker will follow up Oscar hopeful “And Tomorrow the Entire World” with “Iron Box,” a family drama set to star...
Jennifer Lopez Will Topline and Produce “The Mother” at Netflix, Niki Caro in Talks to Direct
Jennifer Lopez may be teaming up with another woman director. The multi-hyphenate collaborated with Lorene Scafaria on 2019’s “Hustlers,” and her upcoming film slate includes Kat...
Siân Heder’s “CODA” Scores Record-Breaking $25 Million Apple Deal Out of Sundance
“CODA” has set a record at Sundance Film Festival. The worldwide rights to Siân Heder’s coming-of-age drama were acquired by Apple “for a number just north of $25 million,”...
Claire Foy Will Topline Gillian Robespierre’s Adaptation of “The Pisces”
Claire Foy’s next project is taking her very far from Buckingham Palace indeed. The Emmy winner is following up her cameo in the latest season of “The Crown” with an adaptation of...
Pick of the Day: “True Mothers”
A sensitive and nuanced exploration of motherhood and adoption, Naomi Kawase’s “True Mothers” tells the story of two women whose lives collide. We’re first introduced to...