BY Rachel Montpelier
Jane Fonda Donates Collection of Films, Letters, & More to Smith College
Smith College’s Sophia Smith Collection — an archive “of the history of women changing the world” — has received its latest donation from a Hollywood and feminist icon....
Weekly Update for June 29: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK Woman Walks Ahead – Directed by Susanna White (Also Available on DirecTV) Based on true events, “Woman Walks Ahead” tells the story of...
Three Women-Created YA Pilots in the Works at Amazon
Amazon Studios has given the green light to three YA pilots from women. As Deadline reports, the projects are “Panic” from Lauren Oliver, “The Wilds” from Sarah Streicher,...
Theater: Maisie Williams Lines Up First Play, Glenda Jackson to Star in “King Lear”
Maisie Williams and Glenda Jackson are both taking to the stage. “Game of Thrones” star and theater newbie Williams will make her drama debut in Lauren Gunderson’s “I And...
Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, and More Discuss the Aftermath of #MeToo
A lot has changed since the #MeToo movement took force last fall. Many sexual harassment and abuse survivors are feeling more confident in speaking out. And many predators are facing consequences....
Abigail Disney’s Level Forward Financing Hollywood Misconduct Database
This winter Abigail Disney and Killer Content launched Level Forward, a startup studio boosting projects from women and people of color. Five months after that announcement comes word that Disney...
Queen Latifah to EP Travel Docuseries About Women Comedians
Queen Latifah is pivoting from one “Girls Trip” to another. The multi-hyphenate is executive producing a documentary series following female comedians and their globe-trotting adventures....
Trailer Watch: An Aspiring DJ Lives in Minsk But Dreams of Chicago in “Crystal Swan”
Twenty-two-year-old Evelina (Alina Nasibullina), also known as Velya, is a law school grad who enjoys living in her native Minsk, Belarus. But, as Velya proudly announces in a trailer for...
Bruna Papandrea Is Bringing Jessica Knoll’s “The Favorite Sister” to TV
Jessica Knoll’s novel “The Favorite Sister” is getting a television adaptation. “Big Littles Lies” producer Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories obtained the rights...
Toni Collette, Lisa Cholodenko, and More Join Netflix’s “Unbelievable Story of Rape”
Netflix limited series “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” has lined up a cast and director. The Hollywood Reporter confirms Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, and Kaitlyn Dever will star in the...
Korean-American Superheroine Pic “Silk” in the Works at Sony, Amy Pascal Producing
Cindy Moon could be getting her own movie. Deadline reports a pic centering on the Marvel character, aka Silk, is in early development at Sony and Amy Pascal’s Pascal Pictures. Created by Dan...
Trailer Watch: A Friend’s Murder Spurs Amandla Stenberg to Activism in “The Hate U Give”
Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) loves her family and her neighborhood, Garden Heights. She goes to predominantly white high school, but is fine with being the non-“ghetto” “Starr,...
Laurene Powell Jobs Investing in Documentary Film Studio Startup
Businesswoman Laurene Powell Jobs is using her fortune to produce and finance documentary filmmaking. According to Bloomberg, the world’s sixth-richest woman is backing a documentary studio...
Weekly Update for June 22: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts – Co-Written and Directed by Mouly Surya (Opens in NY; Opens in LA July 6) In the windswept uplands of the Indonesian...
Queen Latifah and Katie Couric Partner with P&G to Support Women Directors and Creators
Earlier this week Procter & Gamble announced half of its commercials would be women-directed by 2023. The conglomerate also mentioned it would be teaming up with Queen Latifah and Katie Couric...
“Sweat” Playwright Lynn Nottage Will Pen Michael Jackson Broadway Musical
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage is taking on the King of Pop for her next gig. The New York Times confirms the “Sweat” writer will pen the book for a Broadway...
MTV Is Rebooting “Daria”
Daria Morgendorffer will deadpan once more. According to Variety, the iconic ’90s cartoon “Daria” will receive a reboot at MTV’s new production unit, MTV Studios....
Liz Garbus to Receive San Francisco Jewish Film Fest’s Freedom of Expression Award
The Jewish Film Institute (JFI) will present Liz Garbus with the 2018 Freedom of Expression Award. The Academy Award-nominated documentarian is set to accept the prize at the 38th San Francisco...
WGA East Survey: There Are “Significant Barriers” to Reporting Sexual Harassment
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGA East) has announced the findings from a sexual harassment survey given to its members in January and February — and the results are not encouraging. Per...
Study Shows Wide Gender Gap Persists on Telefilm Canada’s Big Budget Pics
The good news: Telefilm Canada’s goal of closing its movies’ off-screen gender gap by 2020 has resulted in tangible change. The bad news: the gap is still stubbornly wide on...
Women Will Direct Half of Procter & Gamble Commercials by 2023
The powerhouse conglomerate behind products including Olay, Pantene, Tide, Gillette, and Tampax has committed to hiring more women directors for its commercials. According to CNN Money, Procter &...
BAFTA Introduces New Diversity Criteria for 2019 Film Awards
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced new rules for films competing for the BAFTA Film Awards’ Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British...
Apply Now: Sony TV’s 2018 Diverse Directors Program
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is now accepting applications for this year’s Diverse Directors Program. The initiative gives emerging directors from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to...
Laverne Cox Exec Producing Doc About Trans Representation On-Screen
Laverne Cox made history last year when she became the first transgender actress cast as a series regular on a broadcast show, CBS’ legal drama “Doubt.” It was a major feat for...
Films from Melanie Mayron, Valerie Buhagiar, & More Screening at 2018 Female Eye Film Fest
The upcoming Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) will include more than 90 pics directed by women, a press release has announced. Established in 2001 in response to the lack of women-helmed fare at...
Mariska Hargitay Applauds #MeToo in Monte Carlo TV Fest Award Speech
Mariska Hargitay was awarded the Monte Carlo Television Festival’s Crystal Nymph Award on Friday and the “Law & Order: SVU” star used the occasion to commend the #MeToo...
Turkish Culture Ministry Pulls Funding from Ankara Women’s Film Fest
The Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival in Ankara, Turkey will no longer receive funding from the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry. The ministry has been supporting the fest for...
“Americanah” Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Wins 2018 PEN Pinter Prize
Renowned author, feminist, and speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is this year’s recipient of the PEN Pinter Prize. As The Guardian reports, the honor, named after the late author Harold Pinter,...
Quote of the Day: Ava DuVernay Sees Activism as “Inherently Creative”
In these turbulent times the desire to do something can be overwhelming. At the same, time many of us can feel powerless against the actions of Trump, Sessions, and the rest of their brigade of...
BFI Southbank Hosting Woman With a Movie Camera Summit This Saturday
The centerpiece of BFI Southbank’s all-June-long celebration of women in film sounds like it will be one hell of a shindig. The South Bank, London theater is hosting The Woman with a Movie...
New Research Reveals Film Markets Are a Boys’ Club
The movies accessible to viewers often come down to film markets at major festivals. High-profile fests such as Cannes host markets where sales and distribution professionals present, buy, or pass...
“Vida” Is Getting a Second Season
Emma, Lyn, Mari, Eddy, and the rest of the “Vida” gang are sticking around for a while. Deadline confirms Starz’s groundbreaking half-hour drama has been renewed for a second...
The Quad to Celebrate “The New York Woman” in Upcoming Film Series
The Quad has announced an upcoming film series titled “The New York Woman,” a collection of 50-plus films that will be screened June 29-July 19 at the NYC venue. The selected pics,...
Paul Feig’s Digital Media Company Greenlights Series About Muslim Women
Given his Leading Man Award from the Athena Film Festival and his history of feminism on-screen and off, it comes as no surprise that the first original series from Paul Feig’s digital media...
Summer 2018 TV Preview: Mark Your Calendars for These Shows By and About Women
Summer might be known as the season of blockbuster movies, but there are plenty of offerings on TV, too. The next couple months will see a deluge of new and returning series by and about women, so,...
Julia Roberts to Star in “Little Bee” Adaptation, Kathleen Robertson to Write
The “Little Bee” adaptation is back on. Deadline reports that Julia Roberts has signed on to the project and writer-actress Kathleen Robertson is writing the script. Nicole Kidman and her...
Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher Elected PGA Presidents, Make History
Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher are the new presidents of the Producers Guild of America. According to Deadline, this is the first time two women have held the co-equal positions. The duo ran unopposed...
Shonda Rhimes Bringing Con Artist Anna Delvey’s Story to Netflix
Shonda Rhimes has lined up her first Netflix series. The mogul, who signed a huge deal with Netflix last summer, will adapt Jessica Pressler’s New York Magazine feature on con artist/phony...
Weekly Update for June 8: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK Ocean’s 8 – Co-Written by Olivia Milch “Ocean’s 8”: Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros. Five years, eight months, 12 days and counting —...
Study: Pay Disparity and Harassment Prevalent in Women-Dominated Crafts Jobs
Hollywood obviously has a women problem — that’s no secret. However, when we discuss gender inequality in show business, higher-profile positions, such as actors, directors, producers,...
Lena Waithe, Eva Longoria, & More Join Forces for MACRO Episodic Lab for POC
Lena Waithe and Eva Longoria are championing episodic storytellers of color alongside MACRO founder/CEO Charles D. King and The Black List’s Franklin Leonard. The foursome have introduced The...
Seed&Spark, Color Farm Media, & Black&SexyTV Team Up to Champion Creators of Color
Crowdfunding and streaming platform Seed&Spark, diversity-focused company Color Farm Media, and entertainment/lifestyle network Black&SexyTV are joining forces to support creators of color...
Watch: Millie and Jean Take On a New Case in “The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco”
Bletchley Park code-breakers Millie (Rachael Stirling) and Jean (Julie Graham) are taking their crime-solving skills stateside. A new clip for “The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco” sees...
Billie Holiday Biopic on the Way, Suzan-Lori Parks to Write
Lady Day is getting another biopic treatment. Variety reports that a Billie Holiday film is in the works with R&B artist Andra Day possibly taking on the lead role. Suzan-Lori Parks is writing...
Anita Hill-Led Harassment Commission Appoints Trista Schroeder as Interim Exec Director
The Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace has named an interim executive director. Deadline reports entertainment lawyer Trista Schroeder has taken on...
Trailer Watch: Amy Adams Reports on a Crime and Riles Up Her Hometown in “Sharp Objects”
Reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) isn’t keen on returning to her hometown in the trailer for HBO’s “Sharp Objects,” but she has little choice when her boss sends her there...
“Younger” Renewed for Season 6
Liza Miller will continue living a double life for at least another year. Variety confirms that “Younger,” the Sutton Foster-led series about a 40-something woman posing as a 20-something...
Margot Robbie to Produce Female Firefighters Pic Based on NYT Article
Margot Robbie has lined up yet another producing project. The “I, Tonya” actress will produce “Firefighters,” a film about the real-life female inmates who took on California...
Producer Pippa Harris Named BAFTA’s Next Chair
“Call the Midwife” producer Pippa Harris is taking on another leadership role at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Per a press release, she will succeed Jane Lush...
Trailer Watch: Viola Davis and Michelle Rodriguez Take Over Their Husbands’ Work in “Widows”
Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki (“The Night Manager”), and Cynthia Erivo’s (“Mr Selfridge”) characters all lose their husbands in the trailer for...
Weekly Update for June 1: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (Theatrical Re-Release) – Written and Directed by Agnès Varda (One Week Only in NY) Agnés Varda’s enchanting ode to female...