BY Rachel Montpelier
Trailer Watch: A GOP Wife Stands Up to Nixon in “The Martha Mitchell Effect” Short Doc
“I do say what I please,” Martha Mitchell declares via archival footage in the new trailer for “The Martha Mitchell Effect.” From directors Anne Alvergue and Debra McClutchy,...
Angela Lansbury Will Be Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at 2022 Tonys
Angela Lansbury will soon have a sixth Tony to add to her mantel. The stage and screen legend will be presented with the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at the 2022 awards...
Cannes’ Vicky Krieps-Starrer “Corsage” Heading to IFC Films, Marie Kreutzer Directs
Vicky Krieps is continuing her Cannes hot streak. One of her upcoming projects, Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s “Hot Milk,” was acquired out of the Marché du Film; she’s starring in two Un...
Nina Menkes Doc “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power” Acquired by Kino Lorber
Nina Menkes’ investigation of the male gaze is headed to Kino Lorber. A press release announced the company has snagged North American rights to “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power.” As...
Cynthia Erivo to Topline and Produce Refugee Drama “Drift,” Alia Shawkat Will Also Star
Cynthia Erivo and Alia Shawkat are joining forces for a film about migration, trauma, and unexpected connection. The pair are set to star in “Drift,” an adaptation of Alexander...
“Vida’s” Tanya Saracho Working on a New Show at Starz
It’s been nearly two years since “Vida” took its final bow at Starz, and now there’s word that the network and series creator Tanya Saracho are joining forces on a new...
Diversity in Cannes Creator Yolonda Brinkley Launches “Dear Cannes, Do Better,” Calls for More Inclusion
Yolonda Brinkley, the creator of inclusion movement Diversity in Cannes, is celebrating the festival’s 75th edition by urging it to make more of an effort — specifically to...
Naomi Denamur & Julie Billy Launch June Films, Slate Includes Pics from Clémence Poésy & Hafsia Herzi
French film industry execs Naomi Denamur and Julie Billy have launched their own firm. The duo have started Paris-based production company June Films, with features from actress-filmmakers Clémence...
Watch: Bella Ramsey Shares Her Passions in “Catherine Called Birdy” Clip, Lena Dunham Directs
After 13 years in development, we finally have a glimpse of Lena Dunham’s adaptation of Karen Cushman’s 1994 historical YA novel, “Catherine Called Birdy.” Teen Vogue...
Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s Directorial Debut Heading to IFC, Jessie Buckley, Fiona Shaw, & Vicky Krieps Star
“Hot Milk” has found a home. A press release confirms that the adaptation of the bestselling Deborah Levy novel, which marks renowned screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s directorial...
Lizzo Documentary in the Works at HBO Max
It’s about damn time: a film about Lizzo is finally on the way. According to a press release, HBO Max will premiere an as-yet untitled documentary about the music superstar this fall. Lizzo,...
Julianne Moore, Sandra Oh, & Lynne Ramsay Teaming Up for Margaret Atwood Adaptation “Stone Mattress”
Another Margaret Atwood adaptation is on the way, this time with Lynne Ramsay at the helm. Deadline confirms the “You Were Never Really Here” filmmaker is directing “hot Cannes...
Lisa Cortés Making a Little Richard Documentary for CNN Films & HBO Max, Dee Rees Producing
Less than a month after she inked a first-look deal with Blue Ant Studios — and announced she’s working on a docuseries about women in hip-hop, a drama about Black and Indigenous women...
Maxine Peake Will Play Hero Journalist and Putin Critic Anna Politkovskaya in “Mother Russia”
Maxine Peake is adding “crusading journalist” to the list of the 90+ characters she has brought to life. The BAFTA and BIFA-nominated actress has signed on to portray Anna Politkovskaya,...
Pick of the Day: “The Essex Serpent”
I have not read “The Essex Serpent” by Sarah Perry, so I don’t know if the snake it’s named for is real, a metaphor, regional folklore, or some combination of the three. I do...
Pick of the Day: “Hacks”
The Odd Couple of stand-up comedy are hitting the road. That’s right, “Hacks” is back and everyone’s favorite diva comedienne, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), is going on tour,...
Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Paul Feig Returning for “A Simple Favor” Sequel
Get ready for more mystery, twists, yuppie passive aggression, and (hopefully) custom suits. A sequel to “A Simple Favor,” the hit 2018 thriller starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively,...
Exclusive: Chicken & Egg’s New Project: Hatched Grantees Tackle Gender Identity, Mental Illness, & More
A portrait of an abolitionist trying to heal her family in the wake of incarceration, an animated short presenting gender fluidity through a child’s eyes, and the story of 30 women crossing...
Cannes Market: “Dirty Dancing” Sequel Planning 2024 Release, Script Hails from Elizabeth Chomko
Get ready to have the time of your life — again. Lionsgate is bringing its long-in-the-works, “Dirty Dancing” sequel to the Cannes Market. The “hot market package” is...
Projects Starring Ann Dowd, Maisie Williams to Launch Sales at Cannes Market
Women-penned pics starring Ann Dowd and Maisie Williams are among the latest projects heading to the 2022 Cannes Film Market. Dowd will be toplining “The Undertaker’s Children,” a thriller...
Delegates Selected for Stories x Women, Program Working to Boost Diversity in Global Animation
Women in Animation (WIA) and the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) have announced the delegates for Stories x Women, a new program designed to boost the diversity of...
Maryam Touzani’s Cannes Pic “The Blue Caftan” Acquired by Films Boutique
We’re still more than a week out from Cannes 2022 but its films are already being picked up for distribution. Among them are Maryam Touzani’s sophomore feature, “The Blue...
Metrograph Hosting “It Happens to Us” Film Series About Abortion in America Through May 21
As the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. lies on the chopping block, New York’s Metrograph is hosting a film series exploring the topic and its role in American life. (Spoiler alert:...
Pick of the Day: “Happening”
Shortly after I watched “Happening,” a French drama about a student trying to obtain an illegal abortion in 1963, a draft Supreme Court decision signaling the overturning of Roe v. Wade...
Janelle Monaé to Topline Josephine Baker Series from Jennifer Yale and A24
Having already portrayed Mary Jackson in “Hidden Figures” and Dorothy Pitman Hughes in “The Glorias,” Janelle Monaé has been tapped to play another pioneering woman. She will...
Quote of the Day: “Doctor Strange” Cast & Crew Discuss Importance of On-Screen Visibility & Representation
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” marks the introduction of the MCU’s first LGBTQ+ Latina superhero, America Chavez, played by “The Baby-Sitters...
Martyna Majok’s Pulitzer-Winning Play “Cost of Living” Will Make Broadway Debut This Fall
Martyna Majok’s play “Cost of Living” is getting another staging — this time on Broadway. Deadline reports the production will make its debut on the Great White Way at the Samuel...
“Insecure” and “Black and Missing” Among Television Academy Honors Selections
“Insecure,” “Black and Missing,” and more are being recognized for their use of “powerful and innovative storytelling to advance social change.” As Deadline...
Cannes 2022: Valeria Golino & Rossy de Palma to Respectively Head Un Certain Regard & Camera d’Or Juries
The 2022 Cannes Film Festival has tapped multi-hyphenate Valeria Golino and actress Rossy de Palma to lead two of its juries. According to press releases from the fest, Golino has been named...
Pick of the Day: “Gentleman Jack”
The Yorkshire lady of renown is back and as charming, witty, and confident as ever. It’s been three years since “Gentleman Jack” aired its first season and, as protagonist Anne...
Pick of the Day: “A Very British Scandal”
From “I, Tonya” to “Framing Britney Spears,” the past few years have seen no shortage of films, docs, and TV seeking to vindicate — or at least humanize — women...
Kelly Reichardt to Receive Carrosse d’Or Award at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight Sidebar
Kelly Reichardt is one of the three women with films screening in Competition at Cannes this year. She’ll also be making an appearance at the prestigious fest’s sidebar, Directors’...
Julie Cohen & Betsy West’s Gabby Giffords Doc Acquired by Briarcliff Entertainment, Sets Release Date
Oscar-nominated “RBG” filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen have found a home for their latest documentary. “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down,” which chronicles the titular...
Pick of the Day: “Russian Doll”
In Season 2, “Russian Doll” has broken out of the time loop but can’t seem to escape the past. On the verge of her 40th birthday, Nadia Vulvokov (Natasha Lyonne) — who,...
Aidy Bryant, Ariella Elovic, and Sudi Green Are Bringing “Cheeky” to Peacock
Peacock is going to get real about women’s bodies — without shame or judgement. According to Deadline, an animated comedy based on illustrator Ariella Elovic’s book, “Cheeky: A...
Stuntwoman Zoë Bell to Direct Lionsgate Action Comedy Based on Her Short “Boss Bitch Fight Challenge”
Get ready to enter the Boss Bitch Fight Challenge. As Deadline reports, stuntwoman and actress Zoë Bell is directing a feature action comedy inspired by her 2020 viral short, “Boss Bitch Fight...
Sarita Choudhury to Topline “The Colony,” Potential HBO Max Series from Sonejuhi Sinha & Charlotte Rabate
Sarita Choudhury is making herself at home at HBO Max. Her character Seema became a fan favorite during the first season of its “Sex and the City” revival, “And Just Like...
Pick of the Day: “Roar”
In the new show from “GLOW” creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, a tall, statuesque blonde model becomes an actual trophy wife. A Black author realizes no one can see or hear her. A...
Olivia Newman to Direct Apple Limited Series “The Last Thing He Told Me,” Jennifer Garner Stars
Olivia Newman has joined Apple TV+’s adaptation of Laura Dave’s bestseller “The Last Thing He Told Me.” The “Where the Crawdads Sing” filmmaker is set to direct and...
Amy Schumer’s “Life & Beth” Renewed for Season 2 at Hulu
It’s turning out to be a great year for Amy Schumer. She co-hosted the Oscars with Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes, announced a new stand-up tour, and debuted a series on Hulu. Now news has broken...
Cannes’ Ratio of Women-Directed Competition Films Remains Stagnant at 17 Percent
Update: Cannes announced additional titles April 21. Revised stats can be found below our original post. It’s been nearly four years since Cannes Film Festival head Thierry Frémaux signed...
Trailer Watch: Hazel’s Back in The Hub in “Made for Love” Season 2
At the end of “Made for Love’s” first season, Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti) was on the verge of finally divorcing her controlling tech CEO husband, Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen). He...
Thuso Mbedu Strikes Deal to Create Social Justice-Driven Shows for Paramount+
Thuso Mbedu won an Independent Spirit Award and a Gotham Award for her leading role in “The Underground Railroad,” a miniseries that drew startling connections between America during the...
Jessica Henwick Joins Julia Garner in Kitty Green Thriller “The Royal Hotel”
“Matrix Resurrections” star Jessica Henwick is heading to “The Royal Hotel” with Julia Garner. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed Henwick has boarded Kitty Green’s...
Live-Action “Casper” Series from Kai Yu Wu in Development at Peacock
“The Ghost Bride” creator Kai Yu Wu is resurrecting Casper the Friendly Ghost. Deadline reports Peacock is developing a live-action series about the iconic specter, with Wu writing and...
Kate Winslet and Daughter Mia Threapleton Board Channel 4’s “I Am”
Kate Winslet and her daughter Mia Threapleton are the latest actresses to delve into the “emotionally raw, thought-provoking, and personal” experiences of women. According to Deadline,...
Gloria Calderón Kellett’s “With Love” Renewed for Second Season
Love will stay in the air at Amazon Studios. According to Variety, Gloria Calderón Kellett’s Prime Video series “With Love” has been renewed for Season 2. The show premiered in...
Trailer Watch: Mira Nair’s 1991 Romance “Mississippi Masala” Gets a 4K Restoration
Mira Nair’s “Mississippi Masala” is getting some much-overdue love. A press release has announced that her 1991 tale of romance, racism, and migration has received a 4K restoration...
WGA West Reports Significant Increases for Women & BIPOC Writers Since 2010, but White Men Still Dominate
From the rise of streaming and huge blockbuster franchises to the onset of the pandemic, a lot has changed for screenwriters since 2010. And, happily, some solid progress in inclusion and diversity...
An “Orphan Black” Spinoff Is On the Way
Clone Club will soon be back in session. Deadline reports “Orphan Black,” the feminist sci-fi series that marked Tatiana Maslany’s breakout, is getting a spinoff at AMC+ and AMC...
Submit Now: Pano Microgrants for Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers
Pano, formerly known as NYC Women Filmmakers, is now accepting submissions for its second round of microgrants. Designed to assist projects and develop the careers of women, non-binary, and gender...