BY Laura Berger
Frameline Completion Fund Winners Announced
Frameline has announced the awardees of the 2019 Frameline Completion Fund. Culled from 173 applications that included features and shorts in documentary, narrative, and episodic, the seven projects...
Radha Blank’s Sundance Winner “The 40-Year-Old Version” Lands at Netflix
Radha Blank’s banner week continues. Just days ago her feature directorial debut, “The 40-Year-Old Version,” landed her the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic at Sundance Film Festival,...
Emer Kenny Adapting Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie Novel “The Distant Echo” for ITV
Emer Kenny is taking Karen Pirie’s cold cases to the small screen. The “Harlots” scribe has been tapped to adapt Val McDermid’s “The Distant Echo” for ITV. Deadline...
Trailer Watch: Andrea Riseborough Returns to “Luxor”
“Don’t you miss how hopeful we were?” asks Andrea Riseborough in a new trailer for “Luxor.” Zeina Durra’s sophomore feature tells the story of Hana (Riseborough),...
“First Ladies” Ordered to Series at Showtime, Viola Davis Stars as Michelle Obama
Viola Davis is paying tribute to Michelle Obama’s legacy. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Showtime has given a series order to “First Ladies,” an anthology series that sees the...
Brenda Chapman Will Write and Direct “Ghost Squad”
Brenda Chapman is ready to step behind the camera again. Just weeks after the world premiere of “Come Away,” her “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” prequel,...
Trailer Watch: Elle Fanning and Sally Potter Reunite to Explore “The Roads Not Taken”
Elle Fanning struggles to make sense of her dad’s chaotic mind in Sally Potter’s latest. A trailer has landed for “The Roads Not Taken,” which will make its world premiere at...
“FanGirl” Series in the Works from NFL’s First Female Coach
If you’re still on a football high thanks to the Super Bowl — and Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s dazzling half-time performance — you’ll be happy to know a new project is...
Trailer Watch: Rosamund Pike Is Marie Curie in Marjane Satrapi’s “Radioactive”
“I have been haunted my entire life trying to understand the impossible,” says Rosamund Pike in a new trailer for Marjane Satrapi’s “Radioactive.” The biopic sees the...
Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s “On the Record” Lands at HBO Max Following Sundance Premiere
After much controversy, Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s “On the Record” has found a new home. The film made headlines weeks ahead of its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival when...
Toni Collette Will Star in Netflix’s “Pieces of Her” Series Adaptation
Toni Collette is joining another Netflix series. She’ll follow up her Golden Globe-nominated role in “Unbelievable” with “Pieces of Her,” an adaptation of Karin...
Zheng Lu Xinyuan’s “The Cloud in Her Room” Wins IFFR’s Tiger Award
“The Cloud in Her Room” has been named as the 2020 winner of International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) Tiger Award. Founded in 1995 with the aim of “discovering, raising...
Sundance: Women Sweep Major Directing Awards
The 2020 edition of Sundance Film Festival has come to a close. An awards ceremony was held Saturday in Park City, and “of the 28 prizes awarded … to 25 films – comprising the work of...
Trailer Watch: “Mulan” Takes the Oath of the Warrior and Goes to Battle
A new trailer for Disney’s live-action take on “Mulan” sees Yifei Liu taking the oath of the warrior, committing to be “loyal,” “brave,” and...
Sarah Shahi to Topline Netflix Series”Sex/Life,” Stacy Rukeyser Will Serve as Showrunner
Sarah Shahi is teaming up with former “UnREAL” showrunner Stacy Rukeyser on “Sex/Life,” a look inside an unusual love triangle that sees a woman torn between her past,...
Julie Delpy Will Write and Star in Netflix/Canal+ Dramedy Series
Julie Delpy is taking on another medium. The prolific multi-hyphenate is set to write, exec produce, and star in a dramedy series that will air on Canal+ in France and Netflix around the rest of the...
Trailer Watch: Issa Rae Is Afraid to Love in Stella Meghie’s “The Photograph”
“How are you supposed to know if you want to spend forever with someone?” asks Issa Rae in a new trailer for “The Photograph.” Stella Meghie’s romance sees the...
Heather Young’s “Murmur” Wins Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance
“Murmur” has been named as the winner of Slamdance Film Festival’s Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize. The fest’s awards were announced at a ceremony held Thursday, Deadline...
Trailer Watch: Erica Rivas Loses Touch with Reality in Berlinale Competition Title “The Intruder”
“I just ran into my ex-boyfriend — my dead ex-boyfriend,” says Erica Rivas (“Wild Tales”) in a new trailer for Berlinale Competition title “The Intruder”...
Natasha Lyonne, Maya Rudolph, and Cirocco Dunlap Team Up for Amazon Animated Series “The Hospital”
“Russian Doll” fans have more to look forward to than Season 2 of the Emmy-winning Netflix dramedy. A new project is in the works from series co-creator and star Natasha Lyonne and writer...
HBO Max Lands Rights to YA Novel About Korean-American K-Pop Hopeful, Nahnatchka Khan May Direct
Lyla Lee’s YA novel “I’ll Be the One” hasn’t hit shelves yet, but Hollywood seems certain that the story about an aspiring K-Pop star will strike a chord with readers...
Jodie Foster Is Directing a Drama Inspired by the 1911 Theft of the Mona Lisa
Jodie Foster is already attached to topline and direct a remake of “Woman at War,” Iceland’s submission for 2019’s Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, and now word comes that...
Submit Now: Breaking Through the Lens Financing Event at Cannes
Cannes Film Festival is notorious for its lack of women-directed programming, but Breaking Through the Lens is working towards making the fest, and the film industry, more inclusive. The grassroots...
Sundance Deals: “Identifying Features” and “I Carry You With Me” Find Homes
Two more women-directed films have secured distribution out of Sundance. Kino Lorber snagged North American rights to Fernanda Valadez’s “Identifying Features” and Sony Pictures...
Netflix Commissions British Figuring Skating Drama “Zero Chill”
Kat Baker isn’t the only figure skater on Netflix’s radar. The streamer, which is home to “Spinning Out,” has commissioned “Zero Chill,” a YA figure skating drama...
“Zola” Secures International Distribution via Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions
Florida was just the first stop on Zola’s epic adventure. A24 has sold international distribution rights to “Zola” to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA). SPWA will...
Trailer Watch: Haley Bennett Is Harboring a Dangerous Secret in “Swallow”
Haley Bennett can’t seem to distinguish the difference between being happy and pretending to be happy in a new trailer for “Swallow.” The thriller sees the “Girl on the...
Phyllida Lloyd’s “Herself” Acquired by Amazon Studios
“Herself” has found a home. Phyllida Lloyd’s latest made its world premiere at Sundance to strong reviews just days ago, and now word comes that Amazon Studios has snagged North...
“Ammonite” Lands at Neon, Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan Star
A love story starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan is one step closer to hitting the screen. Neon has secured North American rights to Francis Lee’s “Ammonite,” a press release...
“Little Women” and “Fleabag” Score USC Scripter Awards
Women claimed the top prizes at the 32nd annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards. A celebration of the best adaptations from literary materials, the event was held Saturday night in Los...
“Congratulations To Those Men” Film Series Spotlighting Women Directors to Screen at Nitehawk Cinema
“Congratulations to those men,” said Issa Rae after announcing the 2020 Oscar nominees for Best Director on a live telecast. The “Insecure” co-creator and star was emphasizing...
Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s “The Friend” Snagged by Roadside Attractions and Gravitas Ventures
Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s latest has found a home. Roadside Attractions and Gravitas Ventures are joining forces on the U.S. distribution of “The Friend,” a tearjerker inspired by a...
Eímear Noone Will Make History as the First Woman to Conduct at the Oscars
Eímear Noone will be conducting at the 92nd Academy Awards, cementing her place in history as the first woman to ever do so at the ceremony. The Irish-born composer “will conduct excerpts from...
Tina Fey Is Adapting the “Mean Girls” Musical for the Big Screen
Gretchen Wieners is getting yet another shot to make fetch happen. A film adaptation of the “Mean Girls” musical is in the works, a press release has announced. Based on the 2004 cult...
Trailer Watch: Anne Hathaway Is a Journalist in Peril in Dee Rees’ “The Last Thing He Wanted”
“In a perfect world, we make perfect choices. In the real world, we make real choices,” says Anne Hathaway in a new trailer for “The Last Thing He Wanted.” Dee Rees’...
Issa López Will Write and Direct “Lost Souls” for Fox Searchlight
Issa López’s profile continues to rise. The award-winning “Tigers Are Not Afraid” filmmaker has been tapped to write and direct “Lost Souls” for Fox Searchlight....
Rosario Dawson Will Topline Ava DuVernay’s “DMZ” Adaptation at HBO Max
Rosario Dawson is joining another comic adaptation. The “Luke Cage,” “Iron Fist,” and “Defenders” alumna is set to topline “DMZ,” an HBO Max pilot...
Trailer Watch: Taylor Swift Embraces Her True Voice in “Miss Americana”
“A nice girl doesn’t force their opinions on people. A nice girl smiles and waves and says thank you. I became the person everyone wanted me to be,” explains Taylor Swift in a new...
Trailer Watch: Unlikely Friends Bond Over Their Love of the Rodeo in Annie Silverstein’s “Bull”
A trailer has dropped for “Bull,” Annie Silverstein’s portrait of the unlikely friendship between two neighbors in Texas: Abe (Rob Morgan), a black, aging ex-bullfighter, and Kris...
Sundance 2020 Women Directors: Meet Josephine Decker – “Shirley”
Josephine Decker’s feature “Madeline’s Madeline” made its world premiere at Sundance 2018 and went on to receive a nomination for Best Picture at IFP’s Gotham Awards as well as two...
Gal Gadot and Vanessa Roth Are Teaming Up for Nat Geo Doc Series About Inspiring Young Women
Gal Gadot is helping pay tribute to other heroines. The “Wonder Woman” star is signed on to exec produce a Nat Geo short-form doc series that “follows the stories of young women...
Trailer Watch: Alison Brie Makes Her Screenwriting Debut with “Horse Girl”
Alison Brie conquered the squared circle as Zoya the Destroyer and now the “GLOW” star is continuing to flex her muscles behind the scenes. In 2019 Brie made her directing debut on the...
Trailer Watch: Blake Lively Transforms into an Assassin in Reed Morano’s “The Rhythm Section”
“I’m gonna do this my way,” says Blake Lively in a new trailer for Reed Morano’s “The Rhythm Section.” The action-packed thriller sees Lively’s grieving...
Teaser Watch: Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington Square Off in “Little Fires Everywhere”
A stunned Reese Witherspoon watches her picture-perfect home burn to the ground in a new teaser for “Little Fires Everywhere.” An adaptation of Celeste Ng’s best-selling novel, the...
An Adaptation of Nnedi Okorafor’s “Binti” Is in the Works at Hulu
“Binti” is making its way to the screen. An adaptation of Nnedi Okorafor’s award-winning sci-fi novella is in the works at Hulu. The streamer handed out a script order to the TV...
Trailer Watch: Amy Ryan Leads the Search for Her Missing Daughter in Liz Garbus’ “Lost Girls”
A trailer has arrived for Liz Garbus’ first narrative feature. “Lost Girls” is inspired by true events and sees the Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker telling the story of a...
Suranne Jones Will Lead BBC Thriller “Vigil”
Suranne Jones is adding yet another series to her packed slate. The “Gentleman Jack” star recently signed on to star and produce a series based on the life of five-time female world...
Trailer Watch: Grace VanderWaal Brings Magic to Her New School in Julia Hart’s “Stargirl”
“Don’t you want the universe to hear you?” asks Grace VanderWaal in a new trailer for “Stargirl.” Disney+’s film adaptation of the best-selling YA novel sees the...
Chinonye Chukwu Will Direct the First Two Episodes of Lupita Nyong’o-Led “Americanah” Adaptation
The dream team behind HBO Max’s adaptation of “Americanah” just added another member to their folds. Deadline reports that “Clemency” writer-director Chinonye Chukwu has...
Women Directed or Co-Directed 70 Percent of SXSW’s 2020 Competition Titles
Women-directed offerings dominate South by Southwest’s (SXSW) 2020 Competition lineups. The Austin, Texas-based fest just announced the program for its 27th edition, and women helmed or...
Elizabeth Banks Is Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year
Elizabeth Banks is following in the footsteps of the likes of Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Meryl Streep. The multi-hyphenate has been named Hasty Pudding’s 2020 Woman of the Year....