BY Rachel Montpelier
Rebecca Thomas Will Direct Sci-Fi Thriller “Intelligent Life”
Rebecca Thomas will be taking the reins on another sci-fi film. The “Stranger Things” director — who signed on for the sci-fi action-thriller “Malignant” earlier this...
Movies Announced from Directors St. Vincent, Emily Harris, & Brittany Poulton
Several new women-directed films are on the way. According to recent reports, we can expect the feature directorial debut from musical artist St. Vincent as well as Emily Harris’ first solo...
Trailer Watch: Neither Zoë Kravitz nor Lola Kirke Is Safe in “Gemini”
“You know how you were saying that you don’t feel safe?” Heather, a young celebrity (Zoë Kravitz), asks her assistant (Lola Kirke) in the trailer for “Gemini.” “I feel like that all...
Weekly Update for August 18: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Patti Cake$” Films About Women Opening This Week Patti Cake$ (Opens in Limited Release) In a coming-of-age story straight out of Jersey, an unlikely rapper (Danielle Macdonald) finds her voice...
Patty Jenkins in Final Talks to Direct “Wonder Woman 2”
Patty Jenkins will return to direct “Wonder Woman 2.” After more than two months of speculation and rumors, Deadline reports that Jenkins is close to signing on for the sequel in a historic...
Quote of the Day: Amandla Stenberg on the Power of Seeing Complex Black Women in Film
Despite evidence that films with diverse casts enjoy higher box office receipts than their non-diverse counterparts, on-screen racial inclusivity is still a rarity. This was on Amandla Stenberg’s...
Trailer Watch: A Newly Single Woman Learns to Like Herself in “Year by the Sea”
“Men may want out,” Liz (S. Epatha Merkerson, “Law & Order”) tells her newly single friend Joan (Karen Allen, “Indiana Jones” franchise). “But I think they usually set it up so...
All-Female Theater Company Established in London
Thirty-six actresses have come together to fight theater’s woman problem. According to The Stage, a new, all-female acting company, Dangerous Space, has been introduced in London. Voice coach and...
Emma Stone Tops Forbes’ 2017 Highest-Paid Actresses List
Emma Stone has achieved another milestone. Less than six months after winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, the “La La Land” star took the top spot on Forbes’ annual list of the...
“Captain Marvel” Lands New Screenwriter
“Tomb Raider” reboot scribe Geneva Robertson-Dworet will be writing the story of Carol Danvers. Marvel has hired her to take over “Captain Marvel” screenwriting duties from Meg LeFauve...
Jennifer Aniston in Talks to Topline Comedy from Sophie Goodhart
It looks like Jennifer Aniston will star in another woman-directed film. The “Friends” actress is in talks with STXfilms to topline an untitled comedy from writer-director Sophie Goodhart,...
Sanaa Lathan to Star in Haifaa Al-Mansour Netflix Film “Nappily Ever After”
Sanaa Lathan is the latest Hollywood player to get into the Netflix business. Deadline confirms that the “Love & Basketball” actress will topline “Nappily Ever After,” a Netflix film...
Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Acquires Sonia Lowman Doc “Teach Us All”
Ava DuVernay’s independent distribution company, ARRAY, has acquired its 17th film: Sonia Lowman’s “Teach Us All.” The documentary explores the U.S. education system and how it has...
Liz Garbus Directing Doc Series About New York Times in the Trump Era
Liz Garbus’ next project will give viewers an inside-look at The New York Times. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the “What Happened, Miss Simone?” director is helming a documentary series for...
Dee Rees Discusses Charlottesville, History, & Storytelling in Powerful Speech to Sundance…
Dee Rees Discusses Charlottesville, History, & Storytelling in Powerful Speech to Sundance Institute “Our voices are all that we have,” director Dee Rees argued as she accepted the 2017...
TIFF 2017 Announces More Galas and Special Presentations, Brie Larson’s “Unicorn Store” to Premiere
The Toronto International Film Festival unveiled yet another round of films and projects set to screen at its 2017 edition next month. With these new numbers, there is now a total of 20 Galas and 64...
Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s “Battle of the Sexes” Set as American Express Gala at BFI…
Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s “Battle of the Sexes” Set as American Express Gala at BFI London Film Fest The BFI London Film Festival will be hosting the “Battle of the Sexes.”...
Nia Vardalos to Star in Dramedy Series for Bravo
Nia Vardalos has booked her next TV role. The writer, director, and actress will star in a dramedy series for Bravo, tentatively titled “Suburbs Famous.” Vardalos will portray a suburban...
“Wonder Woman” Is Now the Top Female-Helmed Film at the Domestic Box Office
Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” can add another accomplishment to its ever-growing list of milestones. As you might have heard, the superheroine pic surpassed the $400 million mark at the...
Teaser Watch: The Most Powerful Men in the World Play “Molly’s Game”
“I’m Molly Bloom. Do you know about me?” a confident Jessica Chastain asks an unimpressed Idris Elba in the new teaser for “Molly’s Game.” If he doesn’t, he will soon. You see, at the...
New Award Launched in Honor of Veteran Cinematographer Sue Gibson
A new award has been organized in honor of veteran cinematographer Sue Gibson. The National Film and Television School (NFTS) has introduced the Sue Gibson BSC Cinematography Award, a prize...
Weekly Update for August 11: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Glass Castle”: Jake Giles Netter/Lionsgate Films About Women Opening This Week The Glass Castle Chronicling the adventures of an eccentric, resilient, and tight-knit family, “The Glass...
“Simpsons” Writer Mimi Pond on Being Shut Out of All-Male Writers’ Room
For a show that gave us Lisa Simpson, one of the most feminist TV characters of all time, “The Simpsons” hasn’t always been a welcoming environment for women. Just the opposite in fact,...
“GLOW” Gets Renewed for Season 2, New Jenji Kohan Series Picked Up
Like the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling themselves, Jenji Kohan is kicking ass. News has broken that the Kohan-executive produced Netflix series “GLOW” will be back for a second season, and that...
Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger to Star in Period Romance from Annabel Jankel
Oscar winner Anna Paquin is switching from one period project to another. The “True Blood” star, who will next be seen in Sarah Polley’s “Alias Grace” miniseries on Netflix, has signed on...
Lena Waithe Talks Her Emmy Nod, Coming Out Stories, and #FirstTimeISawMe
“Master of None’s” Season 2 episode “Thanksgiving” traces the years-long coming out story of Denise, played by Lena Waithe. But Waithe, who wrote the episode with series co-creator and...
Female TV Directors Share Stories, Talk Ryan Murphy’s Half Program at FX Panel
Seven female directors gathered for a panel hosted by FX Networks on Wednesday to talk about their professional experiences. One of the main topics of conversation? The catch-22 most new episodic...
“The Crown” Season 2 Has a Premiere Date and Teaser
Netflix has unveiled a premiere date and teaser for “The Crown’s” second season, and things are looking especially stressful for Queen Elizabeth II. “The rumors still haven’t gone away,”...
Ava DuVernay Bringing Octavia E. Butler Novel “Dawn” to TV
Ava DuVernay is adding another television project to her impressive, ever-expanding oeuvre. The creator of “Queen Sugar” and writer-director of the upcoming Central Park Five miniseries will be...
TIFF 2017 Adds More Programs: “Alias Grace” Series to Make World Premiere
The Toronto International Film Festival announced even more programs for its 2017 edition today. In addition to the Canadian and Cinematheque film lineups, TIFF unveiled the finalists for Telefilm...
Melissa McCarthy to Topline and Produce Film About Boston’s First Female Cops
Melissa McCarthy has lined up her next project. The comedy superstar will team up with her producing partner, frequent collaborator, and husband Ben Falcone on an untitled film about Boston’s...
Quote of the Day: Brie Larson Hopes by Directing She Can Inspire Others to “Take the Risk”
Brie Larson’s feature directorial debut, “Unicorn Store,” won’t hit theaters until later this year, but the Oscar-winning actress is already gauging the movie’s success. And,...
Janelle Brown’s “Watch Me Disappear” Optioned by The Gotham Group
Another compulsively readable “Gone Girl”-esque book is getting the big screen treatment. Deadline reports that Janelle Brown’s bestseller “Watch Me Disappear” — which has drawn...
Amazon Snags Lucille Ball Biopic Starring Cate Blanchett
Looks like the long-gestating Lucille Ball biopic is finally happening. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the untitled film about comedy legend Ball has landed at Amazon and Oscar winner Cate...
Paula Vogel’s “Indecent” Ends Broadway Run with Highest Weekly Gross Yet
Paula Vogel’s Tony-winning play “Indecent” ended its Broadway run last night on a new high. After 128 performances and 15 previews at Cort Theatre, the show closed with its highest weekly...
Laverne Cox, Jill Soloway, & Alexandra Billings Talk Trans Representation on TV
With the Blowhard in Chief’s recent push to ban trans individuals from serving in the military, there is even more of a need for nuanced trans characters in pop culture. This was the topic of...
Australia’s Smart for a Girl: ROAR Program Supports Entry-Level Female TV Writers
Producer Imogen Banks and screenwriter Alice Bell have launched a new program for women starting out as television writers: Smart for a Girl: ROAR. With financial support from Gender Matters:...
Quad Cinema to Screen Films from Joan Micklin Silver and Sheila McLaughlin
Two rarely screened films from women directors will be shown at the Quad Cinema in New York City. Joan Micklin Silver’s “Between the Lines” will screen as part of the venue’s monthly...
Weekly Update for August 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Step” Films About Women Opening This Week Step (Documentary) — Directed by Amanda Lipitz Baltimore is a city that is fighting to save its youth. “Step” chronicles the trials and...
Writers Lab for Women Screenwriters Over 40 Announces 2017 Participants
New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and IRIS have selected the participants of its third Writers Lab for Women Screenwriters over 40. Sponsored by Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey, the...
People of Color Share #FirstTimeISawMe Representation Stories on Twitter
It’s powerful when you see a character in TV or film who’s like you. It can make you feel seen, understood, and important. However, there are swaths of viewers — people of color in...
Apply Now for the 2018 Diverse Voices in Docs Program
Applications are now being accepted for Kartemquin Films and The Community Film Workshop of Chicago’s sixth Diverse Voices in Docs (DVID) program. DVID will provide eight filmmakers of color from...
Audra McDonald Joins “The Good Fight” as Series Regular
Audra McDonald will soon be fighting “The Good Fight.” Deadline confirms that McDonald is joining Season 2 of the CBS All Access show as a series regular. The Tony-winning actress will be...
London Feminist Film Fest Unveils 2017 Lineup
“In these politically and socially turbulent times we felt a real need to address the rising levels of misogyny, racism, and xenophobia,” write the organizers of the fifth London Feminist Film...
Study: Stereotypes About Gender, Race, and Age Still Abound in Film
With the success of convention-defying, female-led films like “Hidden Figures,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Girls Trip,” it’s easy to think Hollywood is finally moving beyond reductive...
Study: The Last Decade’s Most Popular Films Are Lacking in Inclusivity
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the top-earning film of 2016 in the U.S. Conversations about more inclusivity and better representation in film have undoubtedly increased within the last decade;...
Brie Larson’s “Unicorn Store” to Be First Film Produced by Gender Balanced Prod Co.
Brie Larson’s “Unicorn Store” to Be First Film Produced by Gender Balanced Prod Co. 51 Entertainment Producer Lynette Howell Taylor (“Big Eyes,” “Captain Fantastic”) has launched 51...
Trailer Watch: Noomi Rapace Tries to Prevent Biological Warfare in “Unlocked”
“We need you for an emergency assignment in London. We’ve got a prisoner waiting,” a CIA analyst tells expert interrogator Alice Racine (Noomi Rapace) over the phone. “I’m already on...
Felicity Jones Replacing Natalie Portman in Mimi Leder’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Biopic
Felicity Jones is taking on the role of the Notorious RBG. The “Rogue One” star is set to replace Natalie Portman as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Mimi Leder’s “On the Basis...
Updated Info for Women and Hollywood’s 10th Anniversary
Note: The Los Angeles anniversary event is now October 25, 2017. Invitations are still available for Women and Hollywood’s 1oth anniversary celebrations. This fall Founder and Publisher Melissa...
Raising Films Publishes Report on Working Conditions for Parents & Carers in the Film Industry
Raising Films, an organization for parents and carers in UK film and TV, has published a report entitled “Raising our Game: Next Steps for the UK Film and Television Industry.” According to a...