Festivals
Emmanuelle Bercot’s “150 Milligrams” to Open San Sebastian Film Fest
French writer-director-actress Emmanuelle Bercot’s “150 Milligrams” will open the 2016 San Sebastian Film Festival, Variety reports. The drama will kick off the 64th edition of the fest...
Mira Nair, Freida Pinto, and Cheryl Boone Isaacs to Speak at TIFF Conference
The Toronto International Film Festival Industry Conference has announced further details about its 2016 lineup. While TIFF is best known for its high-profile film screenings, the festival also...
Trailer Watch: “American Honey” Wants You to “Dream Baby Dream”
A new trailer for Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” has been released, and it features Bruce Springsteen’s “Dream Baby Dream” and new voiceover narration describing the...
TIFF Announces More Galas and Special Presentations
The Toronto International Film Festival will host the World Premiere of Emmanuelle Bercot’s “150 Milligrams.” The fest continues to gradually roll out its complete slate, and the French...
What I Learned Starting a Female Film Fest in the Middle of the Country
Guest Post by Justina Walford “But we already have a women’s organization for film.” I was building a three-day film festival of female-created films in Dallas, and to a few, that seemed...
San Sebastian Film Festival’s Official Lineup Includes Zero Women Directors
Sixteen films have been announced in San Sebastian Film Festival’s Official Selection as of today, and exactly zero of them are directed by women. As its name suggests, the Official Selection is...
Trailer Watch: Alison Maclean’s “The Rehearsal” Goes Inside the Actor’s Brain
If any non-actor person were to walk in on an average acting class, they’d probably be really freaked out. The strange exercises that actors do to perfect their craft seem utterly odd to an...
NYFF Announces Main Slate: 20 Percent Women-Directed
The New York Film Festival has announced the Main Slate for its 54th edition. Only five of 25 films screening, or 20 percent, are helmed by women. Still, these numbers demonstrate that the fest is...
TIFF Announces More Lineups: Cinema Projectors, Showgirls, and Cannibals
TIFF is less than one month away, and the fest continues to announce programs for its 41st edition. As is the case with the TIFF’s Galas and Special Presentations, the fest’s most prestigious...
TIFF’s Canadian Lineup: Deepa Mehta, Lesbian Romance, Poetic Animation, and More
TIFF 2016 will host the World Premiere of Deepa Mehta’s newest film. The fest has announced its Canadian lineup, of which the former Oscar nominee is a part. Screening in the Masters program,...
Quote of the Day: Locarno Artistic Director Explains How Women Enrich Cinema
Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival 2016 gets underway today. Its Artistic Director had some thoughts to share on the dearth of women filmmakers — and lack of diversity in general — in...
Kaori Momoi’s “火 Hee” to Open 14th Vladivostok International Film Festival
To call Kaori Momoi accomplished would be an understatement. Both an icon of Japanese cinema and, at times, one of its most influential critics, she has appeared in some 60 films spanning a 35-year...
Sandra Oh, Emma Donoghue, and More Canadian Women to be Honored at TIFF
Twelve Canadian female directors, screenwriters, and actors making their mark in cinema will be celebrated at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Telefilm Canada, a federal cultural...
Annette Bening at Center Stage of New York Film Festival
The New York Film Festival, which takes place from September 30-October 16 this fall, has just announced that “20th Century Women” starring Annette Bening will be the Centerpiece...
Venice Film Fest 2016 Lineup: Competition Features Only 10 Percent Female Directors
The Venice International Film Festival has announced its 2016 slate, and female filmmakers do not feature prominently. Venice is recognized as the oldest film festival in the world, but the 73rd...
Venice Days Lineup Highlights Female Directors
Venice Days, The Venice Film Festival’s independent arm modeled on Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, has unveiled their lineup for the 13th fest, which runs from August 31-September 10...
TIFF Galas and Special Presentations: Mira Nair, Amma Asante, and More
The “Queen of Katwe” is Toronto-bound. The Toronto International Film Festival has announced the first crop of titles for the 41st edition of the fest. A significant number of films selected as...
“Transparent” Creator Jill Soloway Named Keynote Speaker for SXSW 2017
SXSW won’t kick off until March 2017, but organizers have revealed that “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway will be a keynote speaker at the fest, Deadline reports. This is great...
Alice Lowe’s “Prevenge” To Open Venice Critics’ Week
Prepare for “Prevenge.” Alice Lowe’s feature directorial debut will open the Venice International Film Festival’s Critics’ Week. The fest runs from August 31-September 10 in...
Michael Moore’s Film Fest Lineup is Exclusively Women-Directed
Many film festivals talk the talk of gender equality, but when it comes to unveiling their programs, particularly the most high-profile sections, male-directed films continue to dominate. Michael...
Trailer Watch: Natalie Portman’s Directorial Debut “A Tale of Love and Darkness”
Natalie Portman premiered her directorial debut, “A Tale of Love and Darkness” at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where her promise as a director became evident. Now that the film has made its...
Women Will Guest Program Aspen Film’s 2016–2017 Season
Aspen Film has announced special guest programmers for its 2016–2017 season and they are all women. Rachel Chanoff has been named Director of Programming for the 38th annual Aspen Filmfest, Jane...
TIFF Industry Conference Announces “Visionary Women” Programming
While the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is best known for its high-profile film screenings, the festival also hosts a bustling Industry Conference where topics such distribution,...
Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” a Hit in Germany
Maren Ade’s film “Toni Erdmann” was a fan favorite at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, but it didn’t take home any of the fest’s prizes. It did, however, earn top honors from the...
Sigourney Weaver to Receive Donostia Award from San Sebastian Festival
Sigourney Weaver will receive the 2016 Donostia Award for Career Achievement at the 64th San Sebastian Festival, Variety has reported. The festival runs from September 18–26 this year in the...
Jennifer Morrison to Receive Trailblazer Award at HollyShorts Film Festival
The HollyShorts Film Festival has announced that Jennifer Morrison will be honored with the 2016 HollyShorts Trailblazer Award presented by Women in Film at the 12th incarnation of...
Ava DuVernay’s “The 13th” Will Be First Doc Opener of New York Film Festival
Director Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) has secured the Opening Night spot at this year’s New York Film Festival, which runs from September 30-October 16, for her documentary “The 13th.” It’s...
Jane Birkin To Be Honored at Locarno Film Fest
Jane Birkin will be honored at this year’s Locarno Film Fest. The Switzerland-based festival will pay tribute to the the English actress and singer with a career retrospective. Birkin made her...
Apply Now for New York Film Festival Critics Academy
Attention aspiring female film critics! Are you ready to break the glass ceiling that is the dudeocracy of film writers? Are you ready to change the dismal numbers of female film critics out there?...
Locarno Film Fest’s International Competition Lineup is Nearly 50 Percent Female-Directed
The Locarno Film Festival has announced its lineup for the 69th edition of the fest. The Switzerland-based festival boasts an International Competition that’s nearly 50 percent female-directed, or...
Cannes-Winning Director Keren Yedaya to Make Film of Israeli Rock Opera “Mami”
Israeli director Keren Yedaya will shoot a big-screen version of the 1986 surrealist Israeli stage rock opera “Mami,” Screen Daily has reported. The original musical “created political waves...
Julia Ducournau’s Cannes FIPRESCI Winner “Raw” Acquired by Focus World
Focus World, a distribution arm of Focus Features, has acquired Julia Ducournau’s psychological horror film “Raw” for most worldwide territories. The film premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film...
Lori Singer Honored with Career Retrospective at Maine International Film Festival
Acclaimed actress Lori Singer will be honored at the Maine International Film Festival with a career retrospective. The retrospective will include screenings of her films “Footloose,” “Trouble...
Trailer Watch: Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” Hits the Heartland
Andrea Arnold’s much-anticipated “American Honey” will soon hit theaters, and a gorgeous new trailer has just been released. If we weren’t already really excited about this film, the...
Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson” Takes Home Top Honors at Sheffield Doc/Fest
Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson” has been named the grand prize winner of Sheffield Doc/Fest. The documentary is a curated collection of extraordinary footage that Johnson has assembled over...
Frameline, San Fran LGBTQ Film Fest’s Features Lineup is Nearly 50% Women-Directed
LGBTQ film festivals are always something to celebrate, but especially when women-directed films feature prominently in the program, as both groups are underrepresented on the film festival circuit...
LA Film Fest Winners: “HEIS (chronicles),” “Political Animals,” “Paint it Black” All Honored
The LA Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, has announced the winners of the 2016 fest. The festival, which ran from June 1–9 this year, handed out juried awards in the categories of:...
Ingrid Veninger’s “He Hated Pigeons” to Open Female Eye Film Festival
Ingrid Veninger’s “He Hated Pigeons” will open the 14th annual Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto. The fest is an international showcase of female directors, and runs from June 14–19 this...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Anaïs Volpé — “HEIS (chronicles)”
Anaïs Volpé is a screenwriter, filmmaker, visual artist, and actress. She likes mixing arts and exploring new forms of narration. In 2013, she directed her first short film, “Blast.” The film...
Ava DuVernay Honored at LAFF, Promotes Diversity in Film
Last week at the Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF), director Ava DuVernay was recognized with the Spirit of Independence honor. DuVernay, who directed “Selma,” and became the first...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Dorie Barton — “Girl Flu.”
Writer-director Dorie Barton makes her feature film debut with “Girl Flu.” She has spent many years as a story consultant with filmmakers, from up-and-coming writers, to industry veterans. As a...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Melissa Finell — “Sensitivity Training”
Melissa Finell is an award-winning director and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. “Sensitivity Training” is her first feature film. Her script for the film won an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Melissa Finell — “Sensivity Training”
“Sensitivity Training”Melissa Finell is an award-winning director and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. “Sensitivity Training” is her first feature film. Her script for the film won an...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Eve Marson — “Dr. Feelgood”
Eve Marson is a Harvard graduate, born and raised in New York City. She was the lead producer on the feature documentary “Fed Up,” an exposé of the food industry with journalist Katie Couric...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Tracy Wares — “Political Animals”
Tracy Wares has made documentaries on five continents. She’s worked on projects such as “Bomb It,” “Gay Republicans,” and “Smokin’ Fish.” Wares’ work has aired on ABC, PBS,...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Alexi Pappas — “Tracktown”
Alexi Pappas completed her thesis in poetry at Dartmouth College where she graduated magna cum laude before running off to compete in the 2012 Olympic Track & Field Trials. Alexi then joined the...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Amber Tamblyn — “Paint It Black”
Amber Tamblyn is a writer, director, and actress from Los Angeles. She has received an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Independent Spirit Award nomination for her work in television and film. Her acting...
Athena Film Festival 2017 Submission Period Now Open
The 2017 Athena Film Festival, co-founded by Women and Hollywood’s Melissa Silverstein, and Kathryn Kolbert of the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College, is now accepting...
Inside Out 2016 Women Directors Meet Chanya Button — “Burn Burn Burn”
Chanya Button made her start in the industry at an early age, working as an Assistant Director on the “Harry Potter” feature-film franchise. Button has since worked extensively across both the...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Maria Govan — “Play the Devil”
Maria Govan is a self-taught filmmaker from the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. After working on sets in Hollywood, she returned home and began making small guerilla-style local...
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Leila Djansi — “Like Cotton Twines”
Leila Djansi began her directing career while still studying at the ArtCenter College of Art and Design. Her directorial debut “I Sing of a Well” netted an unprecedented 11 nominations at the...