Features
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...
In Search of Self: Crowdfunding Picks
Almost every woman can relate to the pressure to conform or compromise oneself — the struggle to be heard and seen, valued and understood. Yet so few stories accurately or realistically...
Coming Out, Dialing In: June’s VOD and Web Series Picks
Each of our three web series and VOD picks this month includes a scene with two women walking in nature: friends Isobel and Cam hiking and letting out primal screams in the comedic web series...
Quotes of the Day: Frances McDormand and Brie Larson on the Importance of Inclusion
“I’m here to take responsibility for my actions and restate a call to action,” said Frances McDormand as she took the stage at Women in Film’s Crystal + Lucy Awards. “I have this...
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...
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,...
Women Coming Together: Crowdfunding Picks
Women in charge. Women leading their communities. Women joining together to share power and resources with other women. Whether in real life or fiction, our current political and cultural moment has...
“Humans” Offers Some of Sci-Fi TV’s Most Touching Explorations of Motherhood
AMC’s “Humans” is, on the surface, a television show about artificial intelligence, and its place within a society that is much like ours. Set mostly in the UK, in a parallel present, the...
Quote of the Day: Sandra Bullock on Nearly Quitting Acting Over Sexism
Sandra Bullock is among the highest-paid actresses in the world and an Oscar winner, but the “Ocean’s 8” star reveals that she nearly left the industry in a new interview with USA...
Exclusive: Vivienne Westwood Defies Expectations in “Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist” Clip
Vivienne Westwood is credited with bringing punk and new wave clothes to the mainstream, but the British designer wasn’t always celebrated for her innovations. “When she started, people...
“RBG” Is Flexing Her Muscles at the Box Office
Best known for kicking ass in the courtroom, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is proving to be a major force at the box office as well. Julie Cohen and Betsy West’s new documentary about the iconic Justice of...
June 2018 Film Preview
By Beandrea July and Sophie Willard As highlighted in our Summer 2018 Film Preview, this summer is set to impress with its varied range of female-led and woman-helmed films, and that all kicks off...
After Cannes and Weinstein’s Arrest, What’s Next?
On Friday morning, people across the world watched as one of the kings of the Cannes Film Festival, Harvey Weinstein, turned himself into police and was arraigned on charges of rape and a criminal...
Under the Radar: Memory Meets Brooklyn for AOBFF Women Filmmakers
Under the Radar is Women and Hollywood’s newest feature. Published monthly, the post offers a chance for us to highlight works by and/or about women that haven’t received big releases or...
Summer 2018 Film Preview
By Beandrea July and Sophie Willard This summer’s movie slate boasts an impressive array of female-led and woman-helmed films, from reboots to period pieces, and coming-of-age tales to...
Exclusive: Oprah and Ava DuVernay Reflect on Inclusion in “A Wrinkle in Time” Bonus Feature
Ava DuVernay brought “A Wrinkle in Time” to the big screen with a twist of her own. The director ensured that her adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic 1963 fantasy novel...
Quote of the Day: Rashida Jones On the Creative Advantages of Writing and Producing
Rashida Jones might be best known for her onscreen work in “Parks and Recreation,” “Angie Tribeca,” and “The Office,” but she’s also a prolific writer and...
Quote of the Day: Jane Campion Explains Why “We’re in a Really Special Moment”
“Right now, we’re in a really special moment,” says Jane Campion in a new interview with The Guardian. Thanks to movements including #MeToo and #TimesUp, the entertainment industry seems to...
Quote of the Day: Veena Sud Is Tired of Seeing Asian-Americans Play “The Quirky Best Friend”
In news that’s disappointing yet entirely unsurprising, “The Killing” creator Veena Sud has revealed that when she was first pitching the crime drama, she wanted the homicide cops...
Addressing Adversity: Crowdfunding Picks
Whether it’s an inescapable reality of everyday life, or catalyzed by a change in our circumstances, we’ve all faced adversity. For many, multiple systems of oppression intersect to pose...
Quote of the Day: Diane Kruger Talks Sexist Resistance to Female-Led Biopics
Diane Kruger is back in Cannes and offering a refreshingly honest take on what it’s been like to transition from acting to producing. When The Hollywood Reporter asked what she makes of the...
Quote of the Day: Benedict Cumberbatch Demands Equal Pay for Female Co-Stars
Unlike many powerful players in Hollywood, Benedict Cumberbatch isn’t skirting around equal pay. The “Sherlock” and “Doctor Strange” star is taking a proactive approach...
Quote of the Day: Inclusion Rider Creators on How Hollywood Needs to Change
At long last, it seems like Hollywood is on the brink of substantive change. Stacy Smith, Kalpana Kotagal, and Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni are among those pushing the needle towards a more inclusive film...
Feminist Takes on Sci-Fi: May’s VOD and Web Series Picks
While science-fiction is usually associated with flashy VFX, aliens, spaceships, and advanced technology, the genre is incredibly varied and nuanced, and beloved by many as a means to explore complex...
Quote of the Day: Gabrielle Union Says Women Have To Be Superheroes “Every Day”
Gabrielle Union is tired of women being depicted as damsels in distress. In a candid interview with Vulture, the “Being Mary Jane” actress sounded off about what women “live with...
Infographic: Women Directors at Cannes 2018 #SeeHerNow
The 2018 Cannes Film Festival is almost here. Beginning tomorrow, May 8, the renowned fest will screen films from veteran directors and newcomers alike. And, as per usual, the number of female...
Weekly Update for May 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
Films About Women Opening This Week Angels Wear White — Written and Directed by Vivian Qu (Opens in NY; Opens in LA May 18) In a small seaside town, two schoolgirls are assaulted by a...
Quote of the Day: Cate Blanchett Wants Artists to Be “Fearless” in Fight for Equality
“I feel really positive about the inevitable, positive moves toward equality in the face of a lot of fear and adversity,” two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett told Variety in an in-depth...
May 2018 Film Preview
“Tully” Plenty of women-helmed, female-fronted flicks are premiering alongside the superhero and sci-fi blockbusters this month. Kicking the month off on May 1 is the Netflix debut of C. Fitz’s...
Weekly Update for April 27: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Let the Sunshine In” Films About Women Opening This Week Let the Sunshine In — Directed by Claire Denis; Written by Claire Denis and Christine Angot (U.S. Release) (Also Available...
Why Does Hollywood Dismiss Women-Directed Films About Queer Women?
Opening today, Sebastián Lelio’s widely praised adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s “Disobedience” will hit theaters in New York and Los Angeles before rolling out nationwide. Led by Rachel...
Watch: Celebrate 50/50 Day With This Inspirational Short Film
Today, April 26, is 50/50 Day, a day that sees people all over the world fighting to achieve gender equality. Over 35,000 events have been organized to celebrate the occasion, including livestreamed...
Women Supporting Women: Crowdfunding Picks
“F1”: Instagram The Sisters are doing it for themselves. A successful crowdfunding campaign often means assembling a team of badass women creatives, communicating a clear vision, and engaging...
Quote of the Day: Melissa McCarthy Talks Negotiating and Equal Pay
Melissa McCarthy is known for her sense of humor, but her business savvy has also played a major part in landing her among the world’s highest-paid actresses. In a candid conversation with...
Weekly Update for April 20: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Little Pink House” Films About Women Opening This Week Little Pink House — Written and Directed by Courtney Moorehead Balaker Based on a true story, a small-town paramedic named Susette...
Exclusive: Chicken & Egg Announces 2018 Diversity Fellows
Chicken & Egg Pictures has announced the five projects selected for their 2018 Diversity Fellows Initiative. Created with the aim of identifying and increasing the visibility of diverse women...
Tribeca 2018 Preview: Women-Directed Films About Cyber Bullying, Police Brutality, Barbie, and More
“Time for Ilhan”: Chris Newberry With timely docs and features about online harassment, investigative journalism in the age of Donald Trump, and surrogates in its program, the 2018 edition of...
Weekly Update for April 13: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Films About Women Opening This Week Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (Documentary) — Directed by Sophie Fiennes (Opens in NY; Opens in LA...
Under the Radar: “The Valley” Deftly Addresses Stigma of Depression in Asian American Community
Under the Radar is Women and Hollywood’s newest feature. Published monthly, the post offers a chance for us to highlight works by and/or about women that haven’t received big releases or...
Cannes Competition Numbers Remain Predictably Low For Female Directors
“The world will never be the same again, the Cannes Film Festival will never be the same again,” said Cannes Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux of a post Harvey Weinstein world. The fest just...
Nearly Half of “Luke Cage’s” New Season Is Women-Directed — A Major Change from Season 1
“Luke Cage” has undergone a major behind-the-scenes makeover. According to blackfilm.com, the Netflix superhero series’ sophomore outing will feature six episodes directed by...
Looking for Representation: Crowdfunding Picks
As women, we know that we exist in multitudes, yet the representations that we see of ourselves in the media barely scratch the surface of our lived experiences. For so long, narratives about people...
Weekly Update for April 6: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“You Were Never Really Here” Films About Women Opening This Week “The Miracle Season”: LD Entertainment The Miracle Season — Co-Written by Elissa Matsueda Based on the inspiring true...
Quote of the Day: Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Why Anger Is Vital for Her Work
Anger is complicated territory for women. Displaying a trace of irritability—nevermind fury — means running the risk of being called imbalanced or irrational. Yet anger is also a useful,...
Guest Post: Why We Founded a Feminist Film Festival in Glasgow
Guest Post by Lauren Clarke and Kathi Kamleitner Conversation is how Femspectives started. About a year ago we were talking about women’s film festivals and their space in the wider film festival...
Quote of the Day: Zoe Saldana Doesn’t Want to Be a Muse
Zoe Saldana’s first blockbuster grossed over $654 million worldwide, but filming 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” was far from a Hollywood dream come true for...
Spring 2018 TV Preview: Shows Created By and About Women to Check Out
“Killing Eve”: Sophie Mutevelian Warmer weather, budding trees, blooming flowers — spring (fingers crossed) finally seems to be here. To make good news even better, it has arrived with a...
Weekly Update for March 30: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Outside In” Films About Women Opening This Week Gemini “Gemini” A heinous crime tests the complex relationship between a tenacious personal assistant (Lola Kirke), and her Hollywood starlet...
April 2018 Film Preview
“Disobedience” There’s no shortage of heavy-hitters when it comes to women filmmakers premiering films this month. From veteran auteurs like Claire Denis, Lucretia Martel, and Lynne Ramsay, to...
Superheroines in the City: VOD and Web Series Picks
Our VOD and web series picks this month are city-set explorations of women fighting back. The VOD selections document the internal struggles of young women reconciling society’s expectations with...
Weekly Update for March 23: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Unsane” Films About Women Opening This Week Unsane Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) relocates from Boston to Pennsylvania to escape the man who’s been stalking her for the last two years. While...