BY Laura Berger
ABC Is Developing a Legal Drama from “Scandal’s” Raamla Mohamed and Kerry Washington
“Scandal” wrapped its seventh and final season in 2018, but the political thriller was just the beginning for star Kerry Washington and writer and producer Raamla Mohamed’s...
Trailer Watch: “Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops” Preach and Practice Empathy
“No one calls us to give us good news. They call us because something bad is happening so they’re in a crisis,” a voiceover explains in a new trailer for Jenifer McShane’s...
Kirstie Swain Adapting C.J. Skuse’s “Sweetpea” for Sky Atlantic
“Sweetpea” is heading for the small screen. See-Saw Films is developing an adaptation of C.J. Skuse’s novel with “Pure” scribe Kirstie Swain signed on to pen it....
British Independent Film Award Nominations: “The Souvenir,” “For Sama,” & More
Nominations for the 2019 British Independent Film Awards have been unveiled. Set to take place December 1, this year’s ceremony will celebrate a number of women-directed titles, with Joanna...
AFI Fest Announces 2019 Lineup, Features 51 Percent Women-Directed Films
The American Film Institute (AFI)’s complete 2019 festival program is in, and overall, 51 percent of the titles set to screen are women-directed. AFI Fest previously announced its Special Galas...
Toronto’s Female Eye Film Festival to Honor Mina Shum, Includes 75+ Films By Women
The 17th annual Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) kicks off in just over a week. Featuring more than 75 films directed by women, this year’s edition of the fest will open with Heather...
Series Adaptation of Juno Dawson’s “Hollow Pike” in the Works
Fans of “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Nancy Drew,” take note: another supernatural teen story is on the way. Lime Pictures is developing an adaptation of...
Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley Team Up for “Falling for Figaro”
“Patti Cake$” breakout Danielle Macdonald and “Absolutely Fabulous” star Joanna Lumley are joining forces on rom-com set in the world of opera singing competitions. The pair...
Marta Kauffman to Receive PGA’s Norman Lear Achievement Award
Marta Kauffman has been named the recipient of the Producers Guild of America’s (PGA) Norman Lear Achievement Award. Given in recognition of producers “who have made a remarkable impact...
Trailer Watch: A Plant Breeder Gets in Over Her Head in “Little Joe”
A plant breeder must reckon with her dangerous creation in a new trailer for Jessica Hausner’s “Little Joe.” Alice (Emily Beecham, “Daphne”) has admirable aims —...
Rachel Weisz Will Play Elizabeth Taylor in Bert & Bertie’s Next Pic
Rachel Weisz is set to play a fellow Oscar-winning actress. She’s signed on to topline an Elizabeth Taylor biopic with Bert & Bertie attached to direct. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the...
Lucy Boynton to Topline Marianne Faithfull Biopic
Lucy Boynton is stepping up to the mic. Best known for playing the love interest of musicians in Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” and coming-of-age pic “Sing...
Jill Soloway Is Heading to Space with Sally Ride Biopic
“Transparent’s” musical series finale dropped less than a month ago, but its Emmy-winning creator, writer, director, and exec producer Jill Soloway is showing no signs of slowing...
Rebecca Lenkiewicz to Pen Movie About NYT Writers Who Helped Bring Down Harvey Weinstein
It’s difficult to overstate the impact that Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s investigation into Harvey Weinstein had — and continues to have — on the entertainment industry and...
Trailer Watch: Zoe Kazan Relies on “The Kindness of Strangers” in Lone Scherfig’s Latest
“I want you to be worldly,” Zoe Kazan tells her kids in a new trailer for “The Kindness of Strangers.” Lone Scherfig’s latest sees “The Deuce” actress...
Gotham Awards Nominations: “The Farewell,” “Hustlers,” & More
Nominations for the 29th Gotham Awards have been announced, and if they’re any indication of what’s to come this awards season, Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” is off to a...
Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne to Direct Feature Inspired by “Ellen” Head Writer Lauren Pomerantz
“One Mississippi” collaborators Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allyne will bring “Ellen” head writer Lauren Pomerantz’s story to the big screen. The married couple are making...
Rory Kennedy’s Next Doc Will Tackle a Little-Known 1939 Refugee Crisis
Rory Kennedy is revisiting the past to provide timely commentary on the present in a new documentary. The Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director of “Last Days in Vietnam” will helm an...
“The Nightingale” Tops Nominations for the Australian Academy Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA) has announced its 2019 nominations, and “The Nightingale” leads the pack. Jennifer Kent’s revenge thriller scored...
Jessica Goldberg and Amy Poehler Thriller “The Mother-In-Law” in Development at NBC
Best known for her comedy work on-screen in “SNL” and “Parks and Rec” and behind the scenes as an exec producer on “Broad City” and “Russian Doll,” Amy...
Judi Dench Will Be Honored with Screen International’s Outstanding Contribution to UK Film Award
Judi Dench is set to be celebrated by Screen International at the upcoming Screen Awards. The Oscar-winning actress been named as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to UK...
Mary Shelley-Inspired Series Gets Pilot Order from HBO Max
“Frankenstein’s” creator may be heading to HBO Max — and coming face to face with her most famous character. The upcoming service has ordered a pilot and an additional script...
Hot Springs Doc Film Fest’s 2019 Lineup Is Over 50 Percent Women-Directed
The 28th annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) is currently underway, and according to the fest, over 50 percent of the program hails from women filmmakers, and 25 percent of the...
Amy Schumer Pregnancy Doc Coming to HBO Max
Earlier this year Amy Schumer dropped her most recent stand-up special, Netflix’s “Growing.” While the title acknowledged her changing body, the comic was adamant that pregnancy...
Trailer Watch: A Pet Carp Comes Between a Married Couple in “A Fish in the Bathtub” Restoration
A wife and husband must decide whether “fighting with somebody is better than not having anybody” in a trailer for a newly restored version of “A Fish in the Bathtub.” Joan...
Trailer Watch: Laura Vandervoort Is Insatiable in The Soska Sisters’ “Rabid”
An aspiring fashion designer is left disfigured following a freak accident in a new trailer for “Rabid,” The Soska Sisters’ remake of David Cronenberg’s 1977 horror pic of the...
Margaret Atwood Doc Coming to Hulu
Hulu just can’t get enough of Margaret Atwood. Already home to an acclaimed adaptation of Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” and currently developing a series based on her...
Trailer Watch: Hailee Steinfeld’s Writes Her Way into History Books in “Dickinson”
Hailee Steinfeld won’t let sexism stand in the way of her dreams in a new trailer for “Dickinson.” The Apple TV+ series sees the Oscar nominee playing a rebellious young Emily...
Oscars: 16 Percent of Films Submitted to Feature Animation Race Are Directed by Women
Academy Award nominations won’t be announced until January 13, but the 2020 Oscar race is heating up. Submissions for the International Feature category closed earlier this month, and now the...
Josephine Decker Is Bringing “The Sky Is Everywhere” to the Big Screen
Josephine Decker’s latest, Elisabeth Moss-starrer “Shirley,” hasn’t received a release date yet, but the director has already lined up her next feature. Apple and A24 are...
Trailer Watch: Kat Dennings Loses Her Boyfriend and Reunites with Her Friends in “Dollface”
Kat Dennings gets unexpectedly dumped and reevaluates her life choices in a new trailer for “Dollface.” The Hulu comedy series sees the “2 Broke Girls” alumna re-entering the...
Sonia Sebastián to Direct “The Virgin of Highland Park”
Sonia Sebastián has lined up her next feature. The Spanish filmmaker is set to direct “The Virgin of Highland Park,” Deadline reports. Penelope Ann Miller (“American Crime,”...
Quote of the Day: Mindy Kaling Calls the Women of Hollywood “Gate Crashers”
Mindy Kaling delivered a powerful call to action at Elle’s 2019 Women in Hollywood event, held Monday in LA. While accepting an award, the “Late Night” screenwriter and star urged...
Amy Adams and Laura Dern Team Up to Bring “The Most Fun We Ever Had” Adaptation to HBO
HBO’s adaptations of “Big Little Lies” and “Sharp Objects” drew big ratings, critical acclaim, and awards attention for the premium cabler. Laura Dern scored an Emmy for...
Ilene Rosenzweig Developing Anthology Based on Mary Higgins Clark’s Novels
“Station 19” writer and co-exec producer Ilene Rosenzweig is bringing Mary Higgins Clark’s “I”ll Be Seeing You” to the small screen. She’s joining forces...
Sarah Silverman Has an HBO Special and Pilot in the Works
Sarah Silverman may be joining Lilly Singh and Samantha Bee on the late-night circuit. HBO has handed out a pilot order for a late-night series hosted by the comedian and actress, Variety reports....
Trailer Watch: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, & Margot Robbie Drop a “Bombshell” About Fox News
Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie team up to take Fox News boss Roger Ailes and the toxic, sexist culture he promoted down in a new trailer for “Bombshell.” The drama is...
Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo Share the Booker Prize
Despite being told that the rules prohibit more than one winner, the judging panel for this year’s Booker Prize have decided to crown two books: Margaret Atwood’s “Handmaid’s...
Queen Latifah to Receive W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard
Already an Oscar nominee and Emmy winner, Queen Latifah is poised to add another prestigious honor to her resume. The actress and musical artist is being recognized by Harvard University for her...
Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards: “Knock Down the House,” “One Child Nation,” & More Up for Honors
Nominations for the 2019 Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards have been announced. Familiar titles dominate the fourth edition of the awards, with festival winners such as “One Child...
BFI London Film Fest Winners Include “Atlantics” and “White Riot”
“Atlantics” just snagged another prestigious honor. Mati Diop’s refugee crisis drama about star-crossed lovers won the prize for best debut feature at the BFI London Film Festival,...
BFI London FF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Haifaa Al Mansour – “The Perfect Candidate”
Haifaa Al Mansour is considered the first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia and her feature film “Wadjda” was the first feature ever to be shot entirely inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia....
Gal Gadot Forms Production Company, Will Star in & Produce Holocaust Drama “Irena Sendler”
Best known for her gravity-defying role as caped crusader with superpowers in”Wonder Woman,” Gal Gadot is switching gears and taking a fact-based historical thriller to the screen. The...
Popstar Drama Inspired by Mandy Moore’s Life in Development at ABC
Currently best known for her Emmy-nominated role as Rebecca Pearson on “This Is Us,” Mandy Moore first launched onto the scene as a teenage popstar. A series inspired by her days singing...
Trailer Watch: Elizabeth Banks Celebrates Sisterhood in “Charlie’s Angels”
“As a filmmaker I wanted to tell a story about women working together and expand upon the idea of sisterhood and sorority that was meaningful to me when I was making ‘Pitch Perfect,’”...
Geena Davis to Topline Leena Yadav’s “Cowgirl’s Last Ride”
Geena Davis is headed from the Vegas strip to rugged Texas terrain. The Oscar winner is following up her guest spot as a casino entertainment director on “GLOW” by teaming up with Leena...
Trailer Watch: Octavia Spencer Is a Podcast Host with a Guilty Conscience in “Truth Be Told”
“I am for truth no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against,” says Octavia Spencer in the first trailer for “Truth Be Told.” The...
“Atlantics,” “Blind Spot,” & More Up for Discovery Prize at European Film Awards
Women directors are often underrepresented on the festival circuit in Europe — at Cannes and Venice in particular — but films helmed by women didn’t escape the notice of the...
Felicity Jones & Shailene Woodley to Topline Augustine Frizzell’s “The Last Letter From Your Lover”
High-profile leading ladies have been cast for Augustine Frizzell’s latest. Back in August it was announced that the “Euphoria” director would helm a feature adaptation of...
Oscars: International Feature Category Receives 93 Submissions, 28 Directed by Women
The Academy has confirmed which films have been submitted to the International Feature category for the 2020 Academy Awards. Of 93 titles from around the globe, 28 are directed or co-directed by...
Annie Silverstein’s “Bull” Lands at Samuel Goldwyn Films
“Bull” is charging ahead. Samuel Goldwyn Films has secured North American rights to Annie Silverstein’s feature debut, Deadline confirms. The coming-of-age rodeo drama made its...