BY Rachel Montpelier
Women in the World & IFC Center Join Forces for Fest Celebrating Women’s Stories
Tina Brown’s Women in the World organization and IFC Center are collaborating on a new women’s festival. According to a press release, the inaugural 51Fest will be held July 18-21 in...
Submit Now: Amazon’s Inclusive All Voices Film Festival Competition
If you’re a U.S. filmmaker from an underrepresented community — or one who is dedicated to inclusion in film — this is for you. Amazon Prime Video is hosting the All Voices Film...
Kate McKinnon Will Play Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu Limited Series
The story of Elizabeth Holmes and the $9 billion hoax known as her company Theranos is coming to Hulu. Emmy winner Kate McKinnon is set to portray Holmes in a limited series based on ABC News/ABC...
“Real Women Have Curves” to Open UCLA Latin American, Latinx, and Iberian Film Fest: Women’s Voices
Women filmmakers will take center stage at the 7th UCLA Latin American, Latinx, and Iberian Film Festival. Subtitled “Women’s Voices” this year, the fest’s 2019 edition will...
Biopic About Soccer Star Hope Solo in the Works, Christine Crokos Will Write and Direct
Hope Solo’s story is on its way to the big screen. Deadline reports that an as-yet untitled biopic about the U.S. soccer star is in the works from writer-director Christine Crokos...
Cannes & Marché du Film Will Offer Childcare to Industry Attendees With Kids
The Cannes Film Festival just became a lot more welcoming to working parents. The world’s most prestigious fest and its film market, Marché du Film, have launched “Le Ballon Rouge,...
“Killing Eve” Renewed for Third Season, Suzanne Heathcote to Showrun
Eve and Villanelle will continue to play the world’s sexist game of cat-and-mouse for at least another season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Killing Eve” has been renewed...
Stacie Passon Directing Miniseries Inspired by Anaïs Nin’s “Little Birds”
Anaïs Nin’s “Little Birds” is the latest book to receive the TV treatment. Cineuropa confirms “Concussion” director Stacie Passon is helming a six-part series based on...
Weekly Update for April 5: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Unicorn Store – Directed by Brie Larson; Written By Samantha McIntyre (Available on Netflix) “Unicorn Store” After failing out of art school and taking a...
For the First Time in History, Women Are Running All Three Network Morning Shows
Yesterday Diana Miller was promoted to executive producer of “CBS This Morning,” succeeding Ryan Kadro, who stepped down three months ago. But Miller’s new position is much more...
Allison Pataki’s Empress Elisabeth of Austria Novels Being Developed as Series
Heads up, fans of “Victoria,” “The Crown,” and Starz’s Philippa Gregory series: another show about a trailblazing female monarch is on the way. Deadline confirms...
Time’s Up Now Accepting Applications for Who’s in the Room Mentorship Program
If you’re an assistant in the entertainment industry and looking to take the next step in your career, Time’s Up is here for you. A press release from the gender equality and inclusion...
One-Woman Show Based on Maya Angelou’s Life and Writing in the Works
A Broadway show about Maya Angelou’s life and work might be on the way. Deadline confirms one-woman show “Phenomenal Woman: An Evening With Maya Angelou” is being developed with the...
Lynn Shelton’s “Sword of Trust” Will Open 2019 Seattle International Film Festival
For the second time, a Lynn Shelton film will open the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). The Seattle Times reports that the Seattle filmmaker’s latest movie, “Sword of...
Quotes of the Day: Taraji P. Henson, Bette Midler, & Gigi Hadid on the Power of Women
As Variety Power of Women: New York honorees, it’s no surprise that Taraji P. Henson, Bette Midler, and Gigi Hadid have plenty to say about feminism and the way women are treated in show...
Time’s Up and NowThis Are Creating Content Focused on Women’s Experiences in the Workplace
Time’s Up is celebrating Equal Pay Day 2019 with a new partnership. According to Deadline, the gender equality advocacy group is joining forces with media outlet NowThis to create videos...
Trailer Watch: A Frontierswoman Is Plagued by Demons, New Neighbors, and “The Wind”
In the 19th century-set “The Wind,” protagonist Lizzy Macklin (Caitlin Gerard, “American Crime”) and her husband Isaac (Ashley Zukerman, “Succession”) are the only...
The Future of Film is Female Announces Funding for Four Women-Directed Shorts
The Future of Film is Female (FOFIF), an org providing financial and promotional support for women-made short films, has announced its first round of 2019 funding. According to a press release, FOFIF...
Trailer Watch: 20 Years Later, Survivors Share Their Stories in “We Are Columbine”
April 20 will mark the 20th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. Even though two decades have passed since Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12...
Beyoncé Wins Entertainer of the Year Prize at NAACP Image Awards
Beyoncé took home the top prize at Saturday’s NAACP Image Awards. The musical artist, activist, and feminist icon won Entertainer of the Year, Deadline confirms. The “Lemonade”...
Weekly Update for March 29: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Slut in a Good Way – Directed by Sophie Lorain; Written by Catherine Léger One tipsy evening, Charlotte (Marguerite Bouchard), the recently heartbroken, Megan (Romane...
Freeform Developing Two Women-Driven Animated Series
Freeform is getting into the animation game with two women-centric, women-made pilots. Per Deadline, the network is developing “Betches” and “Woman World.” The former is an...
AFI to Study Gender Parity in American Film History with $350K NEH Grant
The American Film Institute (AFI) has received a $350,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and plans to use those funds to conduct “an unprecedented, landmark study...
Trailer Watch: Aviva Kempner Tells the Story of Moe Berg, “The Spy Behind Home Plate”
Moe Berg was a man of many masks. The MLB catcher “loved being a mystery” and “was a loner who wanted to experience the world,” we’re told in a new trailer for...
Rita Moreno to Be Honored with Peabody Career Achievement Award
Hopefully this makes “One Day at a Time’s” cancellation sting a little less: the Peabody Awards are celebrating star Rita Moreno’s “indelible mark” on media. She...
Women Make Up Over Half of Berlinale’s New Selection Committee Members
Last month the Berlin International Film Festival vowed to work toward better gender representation when its artistic director signed the Gender Parity Pledge. The fest seems to be taking that...
Playwright Bess Wohl Making Her Broadway Debut with “Grand Horizons”
Bess Wohl is headed to the Great White Way. The “Small Mouth Sounds” playwright’s next production, “Grand Horizons,” will bow on Broadway at the Hayes Theater in...
Candace Bushnell’s Follow-Up Book to “Sex and the City” Is Getting the TV Treatment
More stories about sex, dating, friendship, New York City, and what it means for women to have it all are on the way. According to Deadline, “in a competitive situation,” Paramount...
Viola Davis & Wanuri Kahiu Teaming Up for TV Adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s “Wild Seed”
Ava DuVernay isn’t the only one bringing the work of Octavia E. Butler to the small screen. Oscar winner Viola Davis, “Rafiki” filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu, and sci-fi novelist Nnedi...
“Better Things” Renewed For a Fourth Season
Sam Fox’s busy life is showing no signs of slowing down. According to Variety, Pamela Adlon’s FX comedy series “Better Things” has been renewed for a fourth season. Season 3...
Tiffany Haddish Exec Producing Stand-Up Series for Netflix
Tiffany Haddish is teaming up with Netflix to showcase six rising comedians. A press release has confirmed the “Girls Trip” actress is executive producing stand-up series “Tiffany...
Trailer Watch: Dora the Explorer Heads to High School and “The Lost City of Gold”
Dora the Explorer, the adventure-loving protagonist of the beloved animated children’s show, has had her fair share of dangerous encounters. But she might face her scariest foe yet in...
Cannes 2019: “Capernaum” Director Nadine Labaki Named President of Un Certain Regard
In 2018 Nadine Labaki won the Jury Prize at Cannes for “Capernaum,” her third feature film. This year she’ll be returning to the prestigious fest as the President of the Un...
Quote of the Day: Amy Poehler On Why We Need More Stories About Women in Their 40s and 50s
Amy Poehler’s feature directorial debut, Netflix comedy “Wine Country,” not only reunites her with fellow “SNL” alumnae and friends such as Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph,...
Weekly Update for March 22: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Out of Blue – Written and Directed by Carol Morley (Also Available on VOD) “Out of Blue” “Out of Blue,” written and directed by Carol Morley,...
Writer to Watch: “Insecure” Scribe Amy Aniobi
“It’s something that we really want to preserve — this idea that black women are worthy of love, worthy of true friendship, can achieve it together,” Amy Aniobi has said of...
Ava DuVernay Romantic Anthology “Cherish the Day” Receives Straight-to-Series Order at OWN
Ava DuVernay has another TV project in the works. The “Queen Sugar” creator has lined up her second OWN series. Variety reports that the network has given DuVernay’s romantic...
Nataki Garrett Becomes Oregon Shakespeare Fest’s First Artistic Director of Color
Nataki Garrett has held a variety of posts throughout her 20-plus-year career in theater — director, playwright, producer, administrator, educator — and has worked at organizations such...
Ann Curry & Kim Bondy’s Nonfiction Medical Series “Chasing the Cure” Gets Premiere Date
Ann Curry will be taking on medical mysteries at her new gig. WarnerMedia Entertainment announced via press release that the journalist and TV anchor’s latest project, “Chasing the...
Hot Docs Announces Full Lineup, Tasha Hubbard’s “nîpawistamâsowin” to Open the Fest
Hot Docs has unveiled the full lineup for its 2019 edition and it’s set to be an exciting one for women filmmakers. According to a press release, the festival will present 234 films and...
Andrea Riseborough Will Star in Zeina Durra Romance “Luxor”
Zeina Durra is heading to Egypt for her next film. The “The Imperialists Are Still Alive!” filmmaker is directing “Luxor,” a romance set in the titular city starring Andrea...
Stephanie Allain and Madeline Di Nonno to Be Recognized with Special AAFCA Events
The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) will celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring veteran producer Stephanie Allain and Madeline Di Nonno of the Geena Davis Institute on...
Nelly Kaplan Will Be Honored with Film Retrospective at NYC’s Quad Cinema
Nelly Kaplan will soon receive her very first New York retrospective. NYC’s Quad Cinema announced it will be hosting “Wild Things: The Ferocious Films of Nelly Kaplan” from April...
Weekly Update for March 15: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase – Directed by Katt Shea; Written by Nina Fiore and John Herrera After the death of his wife, Carson Drew decides to leave Chicago...
Survey: 64% of Diverse TV Writers Have Encountered Discrimination on the Job
A new survey findings’ reveal that diverse writers are routinely isolated, tokenized, and mistreated in contemporary writers rooms. The Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity (TTIE) interviewed...
Trailer Watch: Sex Workers Receive Support in the Courtroom in “Blowin’ Up”
“No one in here wants to see you in jail,” a lawyer tells her client in “Blowin’ Up” — and that truly does appear to be the case. Stephanie Wang-Breal’s...
Amy Adams Inks First-Look Deal with HBO, Will Exec Produce “Poisonwood Bible” Adaptation
It’s unclear whether we’ll actually get another season of “Sharp Objects,” but Amy Adams is definitely sticking around HBO. The six-time Oscar nominee has signed a first-look...
Number of Women Directors in France Is Increasing, Study Finds
“Captain Marvel’s” record-breaking debut was in good company on International Women’s Day. March 8 also saw the publication of a new study concluding that the number of women...
Weekly Update for March 8: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Captain Marvel – Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck; Written by Anna Boden, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and Ryan Fleck The highly anticipated first Marvel movie with...
Isabel Coixet Writing and Directing Her First TV Series
Isabel Coixet fans and food lovers, rejoice. The “Bookshop” and “Elegy” filmmaker is writing and directing a TV show about a couple who meet via an app for foodies. The HBO...
Trailer Watch: Molly Shannon’s Emily Dickinson Is More Than a Recluse in “Wild Nights with Emily”
“Too much has been made of late of Emily Dickinson’s famous reclusivity,” the narrator of “Wild Nights with Emily” declares in the film’s new trailer. “Let...