BY Rachel Montpelier
Lily Rabe, Samantha Buck, and Marie Schlingmann’s Political Drama “The Big D” in Dev at HBO
Lily Rabe, Samantha Buck, and Marie Schlingmann will dive into the drama of 1980 Dallas. The “American Horror Story” star and the “Sister Aimee” filmmakers are joining forces...
Sarah Snook Will Topline Mahalia Belo’s Adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”
Anne Elliot will get yet another chance with Captain Wentworth. Deadline reports “Succession” star Sarah Snook will topline a film adaptation of Jane Austen’s...
ReFrame Awards 33 Shows Its Gender Equality Stamp, a 57% Increase from Previous Season
ReFrame is spotlighting 33 shows featuring gender-balanced casts and creative teams. A press release announced that “Euphoria,” “Normal People,” “Never Have I...
Hannah Rosenzweig & Wendy Sachs on “Surge” & Why We Should Tell (Many) Stories About Women in Politics
Hannah Rosenzweig is a documentary film director and long-time producer. She is the founder and president of Intention Media Inc. Since serving as Hillary Clinton’s personal videographer for...
Attagirl Film Lab Unveils Inaugural Class, Majority of Projects Are Directed by Women and POC
Attagirl, a film lab supporting women and non-binary writers, directors, and producers, has selected the projects for its inaugural edition. A press release announced that 13 films have been chosen,...
Women Represent Only 35 Percent of Non-Acting Emmy Nominees, New WMC Report Finds
The good news: more women received non-acting Emmy nominations in 2020 than in 2019. The bad news: gender parity is still a long way off. According to a new report from the Women’s Media Center...
“Boxed In” Report: Streaming Programs Feature More Female Protagonists Than Cable or Broadcast
Streamers such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon outstrip the likes of CBS, NBC, ABC, and HBO when it comes to the representation of women. According to the new “Boxed In” television report,...
TIFF 2020 Women Directors: Meet Jennifer Abbott – “The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel”
Jennifer Abbott is a Sundance and Genie award-winning filmmaker who has been making films about social, political, and environmental issues for 25 years. She is best known as one of the directors and...
Trailer Watch: CJ Crim Celebrates Women, Activism, and Social Justice in “Resisterhood”
People of color, immigrants, LGTBQ folks, women — life in America has become very frightening for all of these groups and more since Trump’s election nearly four years ago. But, in spite...
Trailer Watch: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Exposes “The Great American Lie” in Her New Doc
For too many people, the American Dream — the idea that, in the U.S., you can start with nothing but achieve anything — isn’t just a fantasy, but a complete hoax. Jennifer Siebel...
Study: The Number of Female Speaking Characters in Top Films Hasn’t “Meaningfully Increased Since 2007”
Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative have released their latest study, “Inequality in 1,300 Popular Films: Examining Portrayals of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, LGBTQ &...
Academy Introduces Representation and Inclusion Standards for Best Picture Oscar
Films will soon have to up their inclusion game if they want to be considered for the Best Picture Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced and outlined new...
Trailer Watch: Sabrina Van Tassel Unearths a Miscarriage of Justice in “The State of Texas vs. Melissa”
For 11 years, Melissa Lucio has been on death row: she was convicted for the murder of her two-year-old daughter, who died of blunt head trauma. But, according to Sabrina Van Tassel’s new...
Exclusive Featurette: Nicole Riegel on “Holler,” Her TIFF Pic About a Woman Struggling to Pay for College
“When I was a high school senior, I had a meeting with my guidance counselor. She told me that I would probably never go to college, and it was one of the most discouraging things that I think...
Chelsea Handler Sells Comedy Series to HBO Max and Peacock
Chelsea Handler has new shows in the works at both HBO Max and Peacock. Deadline reports the multi-hyphenate will executive produce “Blair” for the former and “Wiped Out” for...
Trailer Watch: Maya Newell’s “In My Blood It Runs” Chronicles an Aboriginal Boy’s School and Home Lives
In the trailer for “In My Blood It Runs,” an Aboriginal woman discusses her concerns about her children. “Dujuan is the one I worry about the most,” she says....
Jasmila Žbanić Announces New Projects Ahead of Venice Premiere of Her Latest, “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
“Quo Vadis, Aida?,” Jasmila Žbanić’s portrait of a U.N. translator trying to seek shelter during the Bosnian War’s Srebrenica massacre, is making its world premiere at Venice...
Trailer Watch: A Young Activist Becomes Radicalized in Venice’s “And Tomorrow the Entire World”
Is violence ever really justified? How far could — or should — one go to stop fascism or Nazism? Is peaceful protest actually effective? These are some of the questions Julia von Heinz...
Sabaah Folayan, Débora Souza Silva, Rachel Lears, & More Receive Gucci Tribeca Doc Fund Grants
Eleven feature-length non-fiction projects have been awarded Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund grants — and eight of them are helmed by women. A press released announced that the fund, from...
Mamie Till Mobley Limited Series Ordered at ABC, Gina Prince-Bythewood Will Direct First Ep
Another project about Mamie Till Mobley is in the works. On the heels of the announcement that Chinonye Chukwu is directing a feature about Emmett Till, his death, and Mobley’s galvanization of...
Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s “The Great American Lie” Acquired by Vertical Entertainment
Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s third feature documentary has secured distribution. Deadline reports Vertical Entertainment acquired North American rights to “The Great American Lie.” The...
Women and Diverse Directors Set to Helm 63 Percent of FX’s 2021 Productions
Next year, for the first time in the network’s history, white male directors will not be helming the majority of FX productions. John Landgraf, Chairman of FX Networks and FX Productions,...
Chinonye Chukwu to Direct Pic About Emmett Till’s Death, How His Mother Helped Spark Civil Rights Movement
Chinonye Chukwu’s next project will revisit a tragic, and galvanizing, moment in American history. According to Deadline, the “Clemency” filmmaker has signed on to direct a feature...
American Black Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Funmi Holder – “Efunsetan Aniwura”
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Funmi Holder has acted in over 25 movies since she made her debut in the Nigerian film industry. Her big break came in 2010, when she took the role of Amaka Okoh in the...
Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier Developing Live-Action “Powerpuff Girls” Reboot for The CW
Time to combine sugar, spice, and everything nice with Chemical X: a “Powerpuff Girls” reboot is in the works. Variety confirms a live-action update of Blossom, Bubbles, and...
TIFF: Tracey Deer to Receive Emerging Talent Award, Talks Lined Up with Halle Berry, Ava DuVernay, & More
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will present yet another award to a female filmmaker at its 2020 edition. Screen Daily has confirmed Tracey Deer, whose coming-of-age pic...
Amy Poehler Will Tell Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s Story in Her Doc Feature Directorial Debut
Amy Poehler will focus on fellow female comedy legend in her first documentary feature. According to Deadline, the “Parks and Rec” and “SNL” alumna will direct a documentary...
Cara Delevingne Will Explore Gender and Sexuality in Hulu/BBC Three Docuseries
Cara Delevingne has appeared in genre projects (“Suicide Squad,” “Carnival Row”), gritty dramas (“Her Smell”), and YA novel adaptations (“Paper Towns”)...
Alana Mayo Named Prez of Re-Launched Orion Pictures, Label’s New Focus Will Be Inclusive Storytelling
Under Alana Mayo’s leadership, MGM’s Orion Pictures will be dedicated exclusively to inclusion on-screen and off. Variety has confirmed Mayo has been hired as Orion’s new president,...
Kimmy Gatewood and Alison Becker Sell Feature Comedy Script “Girlworld” to Amazon Studios
Character actresses, comedians, and writing partners Kimmy Gatewood (“GLOW”) and Alison Becker (“Parks and Recreation”) have sold a script to Amazon Studios....
Trailer Watch: Fox Rich Fights for Her Husband’s Freedom in Garrett Bradley’s “Time”
Throughout the new trailer for “Time,” Garrett Bradley’s Sundance award-winning documentary, Fox Rich tries to get an update on a ruling concerning her husband, Rob. He’s...
AMPAS Launches Conversation Series Focusing on Inclusion in Industry, First Ep Features Whoopi Goldberg
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization behind the Oscars, has released the first installment of “Academy Dialogues: It Starts with Us,” a conversation series...
Quote of the Day: Issa Rae Talks Advocating for Herself and Holding the Door Open for Others
Issa Rae is an actress, creator, writer, and producer with three Emmy nominations to her name and a resume that includes “Insecure,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “The...
American Black Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Lineo Sekeleoane – “Zulu Wedding”
Lineo Sekeleoane is an award-winning film and television director and producer. She helmed the short film “My Zulu Promise,” and produced the short “Home Sweet Home” for M-Net...
Sarah Gavron’s “Rocks” Sets UK/Ireland Theatrical Release, Will Open in September
After its initial release plan was disrupted by COVID-19, Sarah Gavron’s ode to girlhood and female friendship, “Rocks,” is finally coming to theaters. According to a press release,...
Hannah Rosenzweig and Wendy Sachs’ “Surge” Will Premiere on Showtime’s SHOxBET Channel
Another documentary centering women in politics is on the way. On the heels of Hillary Bachelder’s “Represent” opening and the trailer for Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés’ “All...
Women Represent Just 35% of Film Reviewers, According to New Thumbs Down Report
Dr. Martha Lauzen and the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film have published the latest “Thumbs Down” report on gender representation in film criticism — and,...
Julie Taymor’s “The Glorias” Will Debut on Amazon Prime Video
COVID-19 has affected the theatrical release of Julie Taymor’s “The Glorias,” but we’ll still get to see the Gloria Steinem biopic before the election. Deadline reports the...
Trailer Watch: Stacey Abrams Stands Up for Voting Rights in “All In: The Fight for Democracy”
“If the power of the right to vote was truly made available to everyone in America, it would change the future of this nation,” Stacey Abrams says in the trailer for “All In: The...
“Clueless” Reboot Centering on Dionne Lands at Peacock
The long-in-the-works “Clueless” reboot is set to make a cameo at Peacock. According to Variety, an update of the classic ’90s high school comedy focusing on Dionne is in...
Teaser Watch: Elle Lorraine Deals with Some Truly “Bad Hair” in Hulu’s Horror Satire
“You’re not tender-headed, are you?” a hairdresser (Laverne Cox) asks her customer in the new teaser for “Bad Hair.” Anna (Elle Lorraine, “Insecure”), the...
Quote of the Day: Jurnee Smollett Calls Out Hollywood’s Fake Anti-Racism
“Lovecraft Country” sees Jurnee Smollett playing a young woman battling monsters both literal and figurative — including the horrors of Jim Crow America and nocturnal, flesh-eating...
Pick of the Day: “Lovecraft Country”
The supernatural, like everything else, informs and is influenced by systemic racism in “Lovecraft Country.” Misha Green’s new HBO series, developed from Matt Ruff’s novel of...
Pick of the Day: “Represent”
The past few years have seen a record-breaking number of women running for office. Hillary Bachelder follows three of these women — Myya Jones, Bryn Bird, and Julie Cho — in her feature...
Garrett Bradley’s “Time” Sets Theatrical, Streaming Release Dates
Garrett Bradley’s Sundance darling is coming to theaters and Amazon Prime Video. “Time,” a doc about a modern-day abolitionist, will open theatrically October 9 and launch on Amazon...
Roxane Gay Adapting Her Graphic Novel “The Banks” for the Big Screen
Roxane Gay is bringing “The Banks” to the movies. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the author and critic will pen the film adaptation of her graphic novel “The Banks,” the...
Sarah Cooper Lines Up Netflix Comedy Special, Natasha Lyonne Set to Direct
Sarah Cooper, the comedian who has lampooned Trump’s incoherent COVID-19 ramblings via viral lip-synching videos, is getting her own Netflix special. Variety reports “Sarah Cooper:...
Joey Soloway, Effie T. Brown, Tori Amos, and More Join Carla Diversity and Inclusion Conference
Carla 2020, a digital conference focusing on diversity and inclusion in film and TV, has booked a bunch of new attendees. A press release has announced that “Transparent” creator Joey...
Quote of the Day: Sierra Teller Ornelas Talks Native American Representation on Her New Show
According to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, 70 percent of female television characters in the 2018-2019 season were white. Seventeen percent were Black, seven percent were...
Women at Sundance | Adobe Fellowship Announces Inaugural Class
Eleven artists have been selected for the inaugural Women at Sundance | Adobe Fellowship. According to a press release, the program is “designed to meaningfully support women artists creating...
Ava DuVernay Becomes the First Female Filmmaker to Win the Gish Prize
Ava DuVernay is making history with her latest accolade. The New York Times reports she has won the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, marking the first time a woman filmmaker has received the award....