BY Laura Berger
Keira Knightley and Philippa Lowthorpe Bringing the Story of the 1970 Miss World Pageant to the Big Screen
Keira Knightley can currently be seen playing a trailblazing author in “Colette,” and now the two-time Oscar nominee has signed on to topline another feminist project. She’ll star...
Trailer Watch: Nicole Kidman Can’t Let the Past Go in “Destroyer”
“I just wanna do one good thing,” says Nicole Kidman in the first trailer for “Destroyer.” Directed by Karyn Kusama, the crime drama sees the Oscar winner playing Erin Bell, a...
Diablo Cody and Liz Astrof Working on “Alice” Reboot for Fox
“Alice” may be returning to TV. Oscar-winning “Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody and “2 Broke Girls” writer and exec producer Liz Astrof are working on a reboot of...
Female Basketball Drama in the Works at ABC
Another network is developing a series about a female basketball coach. Back in September it was revealed that “Pitch Perfect’s” Elizabeth Banks and NBA superstar LeBron James are...
Anna Odell’s “X&Y” to Open 2018 Stockholm Film Fest, 42% of Features in Competition Women-Directed
Anna Odell is set to kick off the 2018 edition of the Stockholm International Film Festival. According to ScreenDaily, the fest will host the world premiere of “X&Y,” the Swedish...
“Free Solo,” “RBG,” and “Dark Money” Among 2018 Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards Nominees
“Free Solo” tops the 2018 Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards nominations. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the National Geographic title tells the story...
Amy Winehouse Biopic in the Works from Alison Owen and Debra Hayward’s Monumental Pictures
An Amy Winehouse biopic is on the way thanks to “Harlots” executive producers Alison Owen and Debra Hayward. Their production outfit, Monumental Pictures, signed a deal with the family of...
Comedy About Undocumented Immigrants from Sara Saedi in the Works at ABC, Reese Witherspoon to EP
Reese Witherspoon is aiming to take Sara Saedi’s memoir about growing up in a family of undocumented immigrants to the small screen. ABC has handed out a script order to...
Roseanne Liang Is Directing a Feature Version of Her Short “Do No Harm”
Roseanne Liang is turning her 2017 Sundance short “Do No Harm” into a feature. The Chinese-New Zealand filmmaker will direct the pic and Justine Gillmer (“The 100”) will pen...
#FemaleFilmmakerFriday: Women Gather at BFI London Film Fest
The BFI London Film Festival gathered a seriously formidable crowd earlier today. Many of the female filmmakers screening works at LFF posed alongside female journalists, activists, jurors, and other...
Trailer Watch: A Fling Goes Off the Rails in Julia Davis’ HBO Comedy “Sally4Ever”
A trailer has dropped for Julia Davis’ new HBO show. The creator and star of the UK’s “Camping” — which inspired the U.S. version of the show starring Jennifer Garner...
Emma Roberts to Star in Netflix Figure Skating Drama
Emma Roberts is following in Margot Robbie’s footsteps and taking to the ice. The “American Horror Story” star is signed on to topline a project set in the world of competitive...
“UnREAL” Co-Creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro Inks Overall Deal with ABC Studios
“UnREAL” concluded its fourth and final season earlier this year, but series co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro has plenty more stories to tell. She just signed on to a two-year overall...
DOC NYC 2018 Unveils Lineup, 50 Percent of Features in Competition are Women-Directed
DOC NYC proves — yet again — that plenty of women-directed films are ready to be programmed at fests. This year’s edition of America’s largest documentary festival features...
Trailer Watch: Margarethe von Trotta Pays Tribute in “Searching for Ingmar Bergman”
“Bergman’s films have been my constant companions. This is where it all began for me,” says Margarethe von Trotta in a new trailer for “Searching for Ingmar Bergman.”...
Issa Rae and Stella Meghie Reteam for “American Princess”
Stella Meghie and Issa Rae are reuniting. Just a month after premiering her latest pic, “The Weekend,” at the Toronto International Film Festival, Meghie has lined up another feature. The...
Patricia Heaton-Starrer “Carol’s Second Act” Secures CBS Series Commitment
Patricia Heaton is eyeing a return to CBS. The former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star’s latest project has scored a series commitment from the network, The Hollywood Reporter...
Quote of the Day: Anita Hill on Ensuring the Industry Holds Sexual Harassers and Abusers Accountable
Despite protests and mass outrage, the Senate has confirmed accused sexual abuser Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Many Americans were appalled by this decision — including,...
Trailer Watch: Desiree Akhavan Is “The Bisexual”
“I’m pretty sure bisexuality is a myth invented by ad executives to sell flavored vodka,” says Desiree Akhavan in a new trailer for “The Bisexual.” “The...
Adult Girl Scouts Comedy in Development at NBC
Give Allison Hord all the badges and cookies — the “Late Night With Seth Meyers” writer has a feminist girl scout comedy in development at NBC. Deadline confirmed the news. Penned...
Trailer Watch: Sarah Jessica Parker Is a Singer in Crisis in “Here and Now”
“I’m grateful to have a life in music. There are things that I haven’t achieved , but I’m not done yet,” says Sarah Jessica Parker in a new trailer for “Here and...
Catherine Hardwicke to Direct Feature Adaptation of “Dissonance”
Catherine Hardwick has signed on to helm another genre adaptation. The “Twilight” and “Red Riding Hood” director will bring “Dissonance” to the screen for Straight...
Zoe Lister-Jones Lands Put Pilot Commitment from ABC
“Life in Pieces” star Zoe Lister-Jones has a new project in the works at ABC. The “Band Aid” writer, director, and actress secured a put pilot commitment for “Woman...
Foreign Language Oscar Submissions Are 23 Percent Women-Directed
Eighty-seven countries have submitted films for consideration for the upcoming 91st edition of the Oscars, and according to our count, 20 titles in the running, or 23 percent, are women-directed or...
Exclusive: “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” Cast and Crew on Producer Judy Craymer
“Judy Craymer is ‘Mamma Mia!'” says Julie Walters in an exclusive clip of bonus footage from “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” The creator of the “Mamma...
Soska Sisters to Pen New Black Widow Comic Book Series
A standalone Black Widow film is finally in the works — and with a woman at the helm — but there’s more great news for fans of the former Russian spy. Jen and Sylvia Soska have...
Mill Valley Film Festival Signs Gender Parity Pledge, Honors Dr. Stacy Smith
The 2018 edition of the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) features 45 percent women directors in its program. Already a proven supporter of women in film, MVFF has made it official and signed a Gender...
Trailer Watch: Bridey Elliott’s Family Is Haunted in “Clara’s Ghost”
Bridey Elliott’s debut feature is a family affair. “Clara’s Ghost” sees the writer-director casting her own family to tell the unusual story of the Reynolds clan. A new trailer...
Tig Notaro Has a Dramedy in the Works at ABC
“One Mississippi” was cancelled earlier this year, but the Amazon series’ co-creator and star has kept a high profile since. Tig Notaro released a new Netflix special in May, lined...
Quote of the Day: Jada Pinkett Smith on Ensuring #OscarsSoWhite Isn’t a Fad
Jada Pinkett Smith famously boycotted the 2016 Oscars — the year the ceremony was dubbed #OscarsSoWhite on account of its blindingly white nominees. Two years have passed, and while...
Maggie Gyllenhaal to Make Directorial Debut with Adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s “The Lost Daughter”
Maggie Gyllenhaal is following in the footsteps of her character on “The Deuce” and stepping behind the camera. The Oscar-nominated actress is set to make her directorial debut with...
Dark Comedy About Koreatown in Development at HBO, Greta Lee to Star and Co-Write
Contrary to what most films and TV shows would have you believe, Los Angeles is diverse city. Issa Rae-starrer “Insecure” has shown audiences a different side of LA than they’re...
The Academy Launches Action: The Women’s Initiative, Events Planned in LA and London
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences — the body behind the Oscars — has a famously bad track record when it comes to recognizing female filmmakers: just one woman, Kathryn...
Niki Schwartz-Wright Comedy Series “Exes in Law” in Development at NBC
“Speechless” writer-producer Niki Schwartz-Wright has a new project in development at NBC. She’s penning the half-hour comedy, titled “Exes in Law,” and is among its...
Trailer Watch: Nigerian Schoolgirls Speak Out in “Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram”
“Freedom means you can do what you want, and by God’s grace I will get it,” says one of the young women featured in “Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram.” Gemma...
Trailer Watch: “Feminists: What Were They Thinking?” Explores Feminism of Yesterday and Tomorrow
“All of us gained from the fact that there was a women’s rights movement,” says one of the characters in “Feminists: What Were They Thinking?” The upcoming Netflix doc...
Editor Carol Littleton to Be Honored by Camerimage
Film editor Carol Littleton is set to be honored at the upcoming 26th edition of the Camerimage’s International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography. She’ll receive the Camerimage...
Trailer Watch: The Teenage Witch Is Back in “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”
Sally Draper is all grown up and dabbling in the occult. A trailer has dropped for “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” an upcoming Netflix series that sees “Mad Men” alumna...
Michelle Williams to Portray Astronaut and Teacher Christa McAuliffe in “The Challenger”
It’s a big week for Michelle Williams. The four-time Oscar nominee’s first foray into the superhero genre, “Venom,” hits theaters this Friday, and she just signed on to...
Trailer Watch: Chef Samin Nosrat Explores What Makes Food Delicious in “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”
Chef Samin Nosrat has, by her own account, spent her entire life in pursuit of flavor. She’s traveled around the world exploring what defines good cooking — and she’s sharing her...
Nicole Kidman to Receive Career Achievement Award at Hollywood Film Awards
Nicole Kidman is set to receive the Hollywood Career Achievement Award at the 2018 Hollywood Film Awards, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. The event will take place November 4 in Los Angeles. HFO...
#TimesUp Names Lisa Borders as President and CEO
#TimesUp has locked in its first-ever President and CEO. Former WNBA President Lisa Borders will take on the position effective November 1. A press release announcing the news emphasized that the...
Merritt Wever to Topline Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Vicky Jones HBO Pilot “Run”
Hot off her Emmy win for “Godless” comes word that Merritt Wever will topline “Run,” an upcoming HBO pilot hailing from “Fleabag” creator and star Phoebe...
Trailer Watch: Michaela Coel Sings Her Heart Out and Falls in Love in “Been So Long”
Charmed by “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” but craving a romance that takes place post-high school? Netflix has got you covered. The streamer just dropped a trailer for...
Trailer Watch: “Weed the People” Explores Government Resistance to Cannabis Treatment
“When your kid’s got cancer, the rule book goes out the window,” says one of the characters featured in “Weed the People.” Abby Epstein’s new documentary explores...
New California Law Requires Talent Agencies to Address Sexual Harassment
Yet another major step has been taken to help ensure that #TimesUp on Hollywood’s sexist culture: a new law requiring talent agencies to “provide educational materials on sexual...
France Launches Financial Incentives for Productions with Gender Parity
France is launching a state funding bonus for productions in which the director and key crew members are women, ScreenDaily reports. Earlier this year the country’s — and arguably...
NBC Snags Hourlong Mother-Daughter FBI Drama from Wendy Calhoun and Elizabeth Banks
Wendy Calhoun has scored her second network sale of the season. According to Deadline, NBC has put an hourlong mother-daughter FBI drama from the former “Empire” scribe, Elizabeth Banks...
Julia Hart’s Sci-Fi “Fast Color” Acquired by Codeblack, Gugu Mbatha-Raw Stars
“Fast Color” is heading to theaters. Deadline reports that distribution rights to Julia Hart’s sci-fi have been obtained by Lionsgate’s label Codeblack Films. Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The...
Kenya Temporarily Lifts Ban on “Rafiki,” Making the Lesbian Love Story Eligible for Oscars
Audiences in Kenya are finally allowed to watch “Rafiki” — for now, at least. A Kenyan judge has temporarily lifted the country’s ban on Wanuri Kahiu’s lesbian romance,...
“The Good Place’s” Tiya Sircar to Topline Netflix Mystery “Good Sam,” Kate Melville Directing
Tiya Sircar is visiting Netflix from “The Good Place.” The recurring star of the NBC afterlife comedy is set to topline a film for the streamer, Deadline reports. Inspired by Dete...