BY Laura Berger
Juliette Binoche to Star in Claire Denis’ Next Film
French powerhouses Juliette Binoche and Claire Denis are teaming up. Binoche will star in Denis’ next project, “Dark Glasses,” The Film Stage reports. Set to shoot in Paris and Guéret this...
“Coin Heist” Writer-Director Emily Hagins on Respecting the Teenage Perspective
Emily Hagins is a 23-year-old writer-director living in Los Angeles. She wrote and directed her first feature film at the age of 12, a zombie movie titled “Pathogen.” This project was the...
Sharyn Rothstein Adapting “Hester Street” for the Stage
“Hester Street” is heading to the stage. Playwright Sharyn Rothstein is penning a stage adaptation of the Oscar-nominated 1975 film, The New York Times reports. The film stars Carol Kane...
Trailer Watch: BAFTA-Winning Comedy “Chewing Gum” Returns for Season 2
“Chewing Gum” fans are in for a treat: A trailer for the upcoming second season of the BAFTA-winning series has been released, and it offers a look at the misadventures that await the comedy’s...
“Mean Girls” Musical to Make its World Premiere this Fall
“Mean Girls” is finally making its way to the stage. The long-awaited musical version of the beloved 2004 teen film is scheduled to make its world premiere this fall at the National Theater in...
Berlinale’s Panorama Program is 55% Women-Directed (So Far)
The Berlin International Film Festival has announced 11 films for its 2017 Panorama program, and six of them are directed or co-directed by women, amounting to about 55 percent of the slate. While...
Trailer Watch: A Pessimistic Doctor Finds Romance in “Everybody Loves Somebody”
“I see it every day: the illusion of love,” says Clara (Karla Souza, “How to Get Away with Murder”), an OB-GYN with a cynical stance on romance, in a newly released trailer for “Everybody...
Nina Simone to Receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Iconic singer-songwriter and civil rights activist Nina Simone will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy at the 2017 Special Merit Awards, Variety reports....
Clare-Hope Ashitey Joins the Cast of Veena Sud’s New Netflix Series “Seven Seconds”
Clare-Hope Ashitey (“Suspects,” “Children of Men”) has been added to the cast of Veena Sud’s upcoming Netflix series, “Seven Seconds.” The Hollywood Reporter writes that the British...
Trailer Watch: Hannah and Jessa Come to Blows in “Girls’” Final Season
The sixth and final season of Lena Dunham’s “Girls” is almost upon us. The series won’t return to HBO until February 12, but a newly released promo hints at what’s in store for Hannah...
Women Directed Ten Percent of 2016’s Top Grossing Films
2016 wasn’t a great year for female filmmakers at the domestic box office. Women directed or co-directed 24 of the top 250 highest grossing films in the U.S. this year, amounting to about ten...
Jandy Nelson to Adapt “The Sky Is Everywhere” for Warner Bros.
Jandy Nelson’s 2010 book “The Sky Is Everywhere” is headed for the big screen, and the YA author has been hired to pen the adaptation for Warner Bros., The Hollywood...
Trailer Watch: Alice Lowe Has the Worst Pregnancy Ever in “Prevenge”
Atrailer has landed for “Prevenge,” writer-director-actress Alice Lowe’s deliciously unconventional portrayal of pregnancy. “You’ve got this force of nature now inside you. Baby knows what...
Tracy Oliver to Adapt “The Sun Is Also a Star” for Warner Bros. and MGM
“Awkward Black Girl” writer, producer, and actress Tracy Oliver has signed on to adapt “The Sun Is Also a Star,” Nicola Yoon’s bestselling YA novel. Deadline reports that Warner Bros. and...
Oprah Winfrey Launches New Book Imprint
If you love Oprah’s Book Club, you’re in luck. Those who appreciate Oprah Winfrey-recommended books will be excited to learn that the mogul has a new book imprint under Flatiron Books, a...
Weekly Update for December 16: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” Films About Women Opening This Week Rogue One: A Star Wars Story The first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is an all-new...
Trailer Watch: Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn Go on Vacation in “Snatched”
A hilarious red band trailer has dropped for “Snatched,” the long-awaited mother-daughter comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer. Just as you’d expect, the two make a perfect...
“The Bad Kids’” Principal Talks Education, Oprah, and Leadership
We’re incredibly excited to see Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman” and Brie Larson in “Captain Marvel,” but as high school principal Vonda Viland proves, you don’t have to be a superhero to...
Oscar Foreign Language Shortlist 2017: “Toni Erdmann” Makes the Cut
The Academy has announced the shortlist for nominations in the Foreign Language Film category at the 2017 Oscars, and only one woman-directed film remains in the running: Maren Ade’s “Toni...
Laeta Kalogridis Signs Overall Deal With Skydance Media
“Terminator Genisys” screenwriter and executive producer Laeta Kalogridis is taking the next step in her relationship with Skydance Media. Deadline reports that she has inked an exclusive,...
Movie About Planned Parenthood Founder Margaret Sanger in the Works
Astory centered on the woman behind one of the most important organizations in the U.S. and abroad is coming to the big screen. A press release has announced that Black Bicycle Entertainment’s...
BAFTA Introduces New Rules to Exclude “Non-Diverse” Films
The BAFTA Awards are getting a makeover. According to The BBC, The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is changing eligibility rules for films competing in its annual awards as well as...
Women Film Critics Circle Nominations: “Hidden Figures,” “13th,” & More
“13th” Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain Women,” and “Hidden Figures” are among the films to be honored by The Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) this year. The...
The Match Factory Acquires International Rights for Cate Blanchett’s “Manifesto”
Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is renowned for her versatility, and the acclaimed actress’ next project “Manifesto,” sees her playing 13 different roles, including a choreographer,...
Meagan Good to Star in “Foxy Brown” TV Series Reboot
A TV adaptation of the 1974 cult classic “Foxy Brown” is in the works, Deadline reports. While Pam Grier originally played the iconic role, Meagan Good (“Think Like a Man,” “Deception”)...
Reba McEntire is Returning to TV
The Queen of Country is heading back to the small screen. TVLine reports that Reba McEntire has signed on to topline a new series from “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry. The Southern...
Black List 2016 Topped by Elyse Hollander’s Script about Madonna
The 2016 edition of the Black List has dropped. “Blond Ambition,” a Madonna biopic penned by Elyse Hollander, scored the most votes from the 250 film executives asked to participate. Each exec...
Margot Robbie’s Tonya Harding Biopic Lands Distribution
Margot Robbie is one step closer to bringing Tonya Harding’s life story to the big screen. Variety reports that Miramax has secured the U.S. distributions rights to “I, Tonya,” a comedy about...
Trailer Watch: Brit Marling Mysteriously Returns After 7 Years in Netflix’s “The OA”
Netflix launches a new series from “The East” actress and co-writer Brit Marling this Friday, December 16. The streaming giant just released a trailer for the genre-bending show, titled “The...
2017 Golden Globe Nominations: “Hidden Figures,” “Toni Erdmann,” and More
The 2017 Golden Globe nominations have been announced, and there’s much to celebrate and mourn. Women are shut out of a number of major categories. None of the films nominated for Best Motion...
Trailer Watch: Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried Get “The Last Word”
Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried have teamed up for “The Last Word,” a portrait of two women from different generations who forge a close connection under unlikely — and rather...
Amy Adams to Receive Chairman’s Award at Palm Springs International Film Fest
Five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams will be presented with the Chairman’s Award at the 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) for her performance in “Arrival.” She’ll receive...
Weekly Update for December 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“All We Had” Films About Women Opening This Week All We Had — Directed by Katie Holmes; Co-Written by Jill Killington (Also Available on VOD) Ruthie Carmichael (Stefania Owen) makes the...
Meryl Poster Developing Two Scripted Series for Lifetime
Meryl Poster is teaming up with Lifetime on two new female-centric projects. Deadline reports that the “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” executive producer is developing two scripted series for...
“The Good Wife” Spinoff Gets a Premiere Date
A premiere date has finally been set for “The Good Fight,” the hotly anticipated “Good Wife” spinoff. The Hollywood Reporter writes that the legal drama will debut on CBS and CBS All Access,...
Trailer Watch: Netflix’s Heartfelt Reimagining of “One Day at a Time”
Netflix has unveiled an emotional trailer for their reimagining of “One Day at a Time,” Norman Lear’s beloved sitcom. The original series aired on CBS from 1975 to 1984. Netflix’s version of...
“The Daily Show” Co-Creator Lizz Winstead to Release Pay-Per-View Special
Lizz Winstead, co-creator of “The Daily Show,” has announced that she’ll broadcast an end-of-year wrap-up on December 31, The A.V. Club reports. The pay-per-view special will be titled...
Trailer Watch: Love Triumphs in Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom”
Another trailer has landed for “Belle” director Amma Asante’s new film, “A United Kingdom.” The interracial romance is inspired by a true story, and a newly released spot for the film...
Denise Di Novi Books Second Directing Gig Before Her First Film is Released
Denise Di Novi’s directorial debut won’t be released until April 21, but the filmmaker has already lined up her second directing gig. Deadline reports that she will follow up Warner Bros.’...
Cheryl Boone Isaacs Wins Will Rogers Award
Cheryl Boone Iscaacs has been named as the 2017 recipient of the Pioneer of the Year Honor by The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, Variety reports. The president of the Academy of...
Whoopi Goldberg to Produce Drama about Harlem Crime Boss and Her Politician Son
Whoopi Goldberg may return to acting in a major way. The Hollywood Reporter writes that the Oscar winner is joining forces with Bravo to develop an untitled series for the network, and is eyeing one...
Annapurna’s Megan Ellison to Receive PGA’s Visionary Award
Megan Ellison has been selected by the Producers Guild of America as the 2017 recipient of the Visionary Award, Variety reports. The producer, whose credits include “20th Century Women,” “Zero...
Oscars 2017: Documentary Feature Shortlist Includes “13th,” “Weiner,” & More
The Academy has revealed the 15 titles to advance in the race for feature documentary, and four of them are women-directed or co-directed, amounting to nearly 27 percent of the contenders. The five...
“Queen Sugar” Season Finale Was the Night’s #1 Cable Telecast for Women
“Queen Sugar’s” first season concluded on OWN Wednesday, November 30, and many viewers tuned in to see what the Bordelon siblings got up to. OWN announced that it had ordered a second season...
Trailer Watch: Emma Watson Steps Outside of “The Circle”
A trailer has landed for “The Circle,” an upcoming sci-fi film led by Emma Watson. The former “Harry Potter” franchise star plays Mae, a young woman who gets hired for a job at The Circle, a...
Helen Marten Wins the Turner Prize
Helen Marten has been awarded the 2016 Turner Prize. According to the BBC, the artist intends to share the £25,000 award (about $31,500) with her fellow nominees. Including Marten, women accounted...
Sundance 2017 to Host World Premieres of Films by Barbara Kopple, Dee Rees, & More
The Sundance Film Festival has unveiled more of its 2017 slate. The Park City, Utah-based fest will host World Premieres of films by Oscar winner Barbara Kopple, Lucy Walker, Dee Rees,...
Save “Good Girls Revolt”
“Good Girls Revolt” has been cancelled by Amazon, but there’s still hope for the female-centric series. “Producer Sony Pictures Television has big plans for a sophomore season of the...
Amy Schumer to Write and Star in “Barbie” for a Woman Director
Amy Schumer is bringing the world’s most famous doll to the big screen. The “Trainwreck” star and screenwriter is in negotiations to play Barbie in a live-action Sony Pictures film based on...
Julie Delpy to Write, Direct, and Star in Family Drama “My Zoe”
Julie Delpy has booked her next gig. The screenwriter, director, and actress is moving forward with a project that she’s been working on for over 20 years, “My Zoe.” She’ll write, direct,...
Weekly Update for December 2: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Jackie” Films About Women Opening This Week Jackie “Jackie” is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of...