BY Rachel Montpelier
“Fleabag,” “GLOW,” “When They See Us,” and More Receive ReFrame’s TV Stamp
Twenty-one television series from the 2018-2019 season have received the ReFrame Stamp — “Fleabag” and “When They See Us” among them. As Variety reports, 10 of those...
Cynthia Nixon Will Direct Groundbreaking Lesbian Play “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” on Broadway
Theater mainstay Cynthia Nixon is returning to Broadway — but this time as a director. The “Sex and the City” alumna is set to helm a 40th anniversary production of Jane Chambers’...
Judith Helfand’s “Cooked: Survival By Zip Code” to Air on PBS’ “Independent Lens”
“Cooked: Survival By Zip Code” will air on PBS as part of “Independent Lens.” A press release confirmed that Judith Helfand’s documentary about the 1995 Chicago heat...
“The L Word: Generation Q” and “Work in Progress” Renewed at Showtime
Two series about the lives and loves of queer women are getting second seasons at Showtime. Variety confirms that the cabler has renewed both “The L Word: Generation Q” and “Work in Progress”...
Amy Sherman-Palladino, Nicole Kassell, and Linda Mendoza Snag DGA Award Noms
The Directors Guild of America announced the final round of television nominees for its 2020 DGA Awards and, per The Hollywood Reporter, each of the three categories features women contenders —...
Apply Now: 2020 Writers Lab for Women Screenwriters Over 40
The Writers Lab is gearing up for its 2020 edition. Applications for the program will be accepted beginning January 27. An intensive screenplay development retreat for women screenwriters who are 40...
Limited Series About Pioneering Stuntwoman Julie Ann Johnson in the Works
The story of trailblazing stuntwoman Julie Ann Johnson may soon be coming to the small screen. According to Deadline, Keshet Studios is working on a limited series based on “The...
Mara Brock Akil Inks Network-Direct Script Deal with Fox Entertainment
Mara Brock Akil is heading to Fox for her next TV project. Variety confirms the “Being Mary Jane” creator and veteran television writer-producer has signed a network-direct script deal...
ReFrame Teams Up with Delta Airlines for Women-Driven In-Flight Entertainment Channels
ReFrame, the coalition dedicated to improving gender representation across all areas of the film industry, is bringing women-led and -made entertainment to Delta Airlines. The two organizations have...
40 Percent of Last Year’s Top Films Featured a Female Protagonist, New Study Finds
Turns out 2019 wasn’t just a historic year for women behind the scenes. Women also fared very well on-screen last year, according to the latest “It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World”...
Trailer Watch: Gina Rodriguez Revisits the “Diary of a Future President”
Gina Rodriguez is bringing “The Diary of a Future President” to Disney+. A trailer for the upcoming series sees the president of the United States (Rodriguez) discovering her childhood...
Effie Brown Named CEO of Gamechanger, Plans to Make Fund More Inclusive
Gamechanger, the first film fund by and for women, has appointed veteran producer Effie Brown as its new CEO. According to IndieWire, the “Dear White People” producer will work to expand...
Awards Roundup: BAFTA Noms Exclude Actors of Color & “American Factory” Wins Big at Cinema Eye
The 2020 BAFTA nominations are in — and pretty damn disappointing. People of color, such as “Hustlers'” Jennifer Lopez and “The Farewell’s” Awkwafina, have been...
Apply Now: The Stephanie Rothman Fellowship for Women Student Horror Filmmakers
Attention, women-identifying undergrad or grad film students with a penchant for horror, sci-fi, and/or fantasy: the 2020 Stephanie Rothman Fellowship is now accepting submissions. Created by horror...
2019 Celluloid Ceiling Report: Women Hit Historic Highs Offscreen, But Are Still Far From Parity
From 2018 to 2019, the number of women directors working on the top 100 films tripled — from four percent to 12 percent — achieving a historic high. This is definitely something to...
Trailer Watch: A Young Woman Crosses State Lines for an Abortion in “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
The title of Eliza Hittman’s latest, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” refers to the counseling session a young woman undergoes prior to getting an abortion. A healthcare provider...
Shamim Sarif Is Adapting Her Novel “The Athena Protocol” for TV
A television series about a group of female vigilantes working to protect women and children could be on the way. Author and filmmaker Shamim Sarif is adapting her new novel, “The Athena...
Paula Patton to Topline and Produce “Josephine Baker’s Last Dance” Adaptation
Paula Patton is bringing Josephine Baker’s extraordinary life to the screen. The Hollywood Reporter confirms she has acquired film and television rights to “Josephine Baker’s Last...
Trailer Watch: Keira Knightley Disrupts Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Miss World Competition in “Misbehaviour”
In 1969, 100 million people tuned in live to Miss World — “more viewers than for the moon landings or the World Cup final,” we learn in a trailer for “Misbehaviour.”...
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Renewed for a Fourth Season
Tits up, everyone! Midge Maisel and Susie Myerson will be sticking around for at least another season. Deadline confirms “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” has been renewed for Season 4 at...
Trailer Watch: An Acid Attack Survivor Refuses to Be Silenced in Meghna Gulzar’s “Chhapaak”
Director Meghna Gulzar brings Laxmi Agarwal’s story to the big screen in “Chhapaak.” A trailer has arrived for the Hindi-language portrait of an acid attack...
Trailer Watch: “Surviving R. Kelly’s” Impact Is Explored in Follow-Up Docuseries “The Reckoning”
“Whoever’s acting like they didn’t know is lying,” an interviewee says about R. Kelly’s decades of sexual abuse. “Black women had been talking about this story...
Teaser Watch: Get to Know the Real “Hillary” in Nanette Burstein’s Hulu Docuseries
“I provoke strong opinions,” Hillary Clinton admits in an upcoming Hulu docuseries. A teaser for “Hillary” has dropped and features a few of the passionate viewpoints...
Jennie Snyder Urman, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, & Jessica Amento Have OCD Comedy in Dev at The CW
Jennie Snyder Urman is working on another show for The CW. According to Deadline, the “Jane the Virgin” creator is teaming up with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (“Sweet/Vicious”)...
Vanja Kaludjercic Named Festival Director of International Film Fest Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has appointed Vanja Kaludjercic as its new festival director. She will succeed current director Bero Beyer as IFFR’s artistic voice effective...
“Little Women, “The Farewell,” “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” & More Score Critics’ Choice Nods
The Critics’ Choice Award nominations are in — and they’ve bested the Golden Globes. While the latter nominated zero women in the directing category, “Little Women”...
Laura Dern to Receive Palm Springs Film Fest’s Career Achievement Award
It’s been an exciting week for Laura Dern. She just scored a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting turn in “Marriage Story,” was recently honored with the Actress Tribute at...
Weekly Update for December 6: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Written and Directed by Céline Sciamma (Opens in NY and LA) Brittany, France, 1760. Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter, is...
Women Make Up 46 Percent of Sundance 2020’s Competition Directors
The Sundance Film Festival has bested its ratio of women filmmakers for the third year in a row. Its 2020 competition lineup is 46 percent women-directed or co-directed, as compared to 2019’s...
Quinta Brunson Workplace Comedy Lands Put Pilot Commitment at HBO Max
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” star Quinta Brunson may soon have her own HBO Max show. According to Deadline, WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service has given a put pilot commitment...
Drama About Elizabeth I’s Early Life in the Works at Starz, Hails from All-Women Writing Team
Starz has explored the lives of royals Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York, and Catherine of Aragon in “The White Queen,” “The White Princess,” and “The Spanish...
Susanna Fogel’s Next Film Will Take on Russian Interference in the 2016 Election
Susanna Fogel will follow up “The Spy Who Dumped Me” with another outrageous tale of espionage, geopolitics, and women caught up in messes created by powerful, ridiculous men — only...
Gal Gadot Developing U.S. Adaptation of Hit Israeli Series “Queens”
Gal Gadot has lined up another project for the small screen. The “Wonder Woman” star and her producing partner and husband, Jaron Varsano, are developing a U.S. version of the hit Israeli...
Oprah, Amy Ziering, & Kirby Dick’s Doc About Sexual Misconduct in Music Industry Goes to Apple
Oprah Winfrey is joining forces with the filmmaking team behind “The Hunting Ground” and “The Invisible War.” The mogul is collaborating with Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick on an...
Trailer Watch: “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens” — and She’s Looking for a Purpose
“I wish I had purpose like you, you dumb bitch!,” Awkwafina tells her friend in the first trailer for “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens.” The “Farewell” star plays...
Heidi Hassan & Patricia Pérez Fernández’s “In a Whisper” Wins Top Prize at IDFA 2019
The 2019 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), which concluded this past weekend, featured the highest ratio of women filmmakers in the fest’s 31-year history. Fittingly, this...
16 Days 16 Films Initiative Spotlights Short Films Addressing Gendered Violence
Modern Films and The Kering Foundation have selected the finalists for the second annual 16 Days 16 Films, a short film initiative inspired by the UN Women campaign 16 Days of Activism Against...
“Frozen II” Earns $350 Million in Record-Breaking Opening Weekend
Anna and Elsa’s venture “Into the Unknown” turned out to be extremely lucrative. “Frozen II” netted $127 million domestically and $223.3 million abroad — $350.2...
“One Day at a Time’s” Gloria Calderón Kellett Inks History-Making Overall Deal with Amazon Studios
Gloria Calderón Kellett will soon be joining Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lena Waithe, and Amy Sherman-Palladino at Amazon. The “One Day at a Time” co-creator and co-showrunner has signed a...
“The Farewell,” “Booksmart,” & “Clemency” Among 2020 Film Indie Spirit Award Nominees
The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations are in — and a wide selection of women-directed pics, including “The Farewell,” “Booksmart,” and...
Nahnatchka Khan & Niki Schwartz-Wright’s “Valley Trash” Snags Put Pilot Commitment at ABC
“Fresh Off the Boat” is coming to an end, but creator Nahnatchka Khan has another project in the works at ABC. She and “Speechless” writer-producer Niki Schwartz-Wright are...
Directors UK Releases Guidelines for Directing Nudity and Sex Scenes
Directors UK, the United Kingdom’s association of screen directors, is taking steps to make the shooting of nude scenes and simulated sex safer. The organization has published “Directing...
Sierra Teller Ornelas Signs Multi-Year Overall Deal with Universal Television
Sierra Teller Ornelas is staying in business with Universal Television. According to Deadline, the writer-producer has inked a deal with the studio, the home of her forthcoming comedy...
Anita Hill’s Commission on Sexual Harassment Launches Industry Worker Survey
Attention anyone who has worked or sought work in the entertainment industry: The Hollywood Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment needs your input. According to Deadline, the Anita Hill-led...
DGA Report: Women & POC Directed Half of All TV Episodes in 2018-2019 Season, Marking a First
If you’re looking for some positive current events to discuss at Thanksgiving dinner next week, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) has got you covered. According to the guild’s new...
Projects from Alexandra Pelosi and Alexandra Shiva Added to MTV Documentary Films’ Slate
Alexandra Pelosi and Alexandra Shiva both have projects in the works at MTV Documentary Films. MTV Docs head Sheila Nevins announced the unit’s upcoming slate, and it includes a journey across...
Zoe Saldana and Reed Morano Team Up for Fact-Based CIA Thriller “Sabaya”
Zoe Saldana and Reed Morano are bringing the story of two heroines — one a CIA agent, the other a 15-year-old escaped ISIS captive — to the big screen. The duo are joining forces for...
Naomi Ekperigin’s Family Comedy “The Turners” Lands Script Commitment at ABC
Naomi Ekperigin is bringing the Turner Family’s story to the small screen. She is writing “The Turners,” a half-hour single-camera comedy inspired by the real-life family of...
French Culture Ministry and Film Board Unveil New Guidelines to Combat Sexual Misconduct
France’s film industry is stepping up its anti-sexual harassment efforts. In the wake of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” star Adèle Haenel’s revelation that she was harassed for...
Jennifer Lopez, Renée Zellweger, and More Talk Inclusion and Imposter Syndrome in THR Roundtable
Amidst the major buzz they’re generating this awards season, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Awkwafina, Laura Dern, and Renée Zellweger recently sat down with The...
Teaser Watch: Carrie May Have Been Turned in the Final Season of “Homeland”
A teaser for “Homeland’s” eighth and final season is here and asks the previously unthinkable question: Has Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) been turned? She’s been subjected to...