Films
AFI Directing Workshop for Women Announces 2018–2019 Participants
AFI has announced the 2018–2019 participants of its Directing Workshop for Women (DWW). Parisa Barani, Zoe Bell, Jessica Kaye, Shilpi Roy, Amber Sealey, Siyou Tan, Carly Usdin, and Talia Zucker...
Trailer Watch: Award-Winning Autism Rom-Com “Keep the Change” Tells a Universal Story
“Because [‘Keep the Change’] deals with the subject of disabilities and specifically autism, people who haven’t yet seen it might dismiss it as a niche film — but it’s not a niche...
Trailer Watch: Lily James Wants to Write About “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”
Juliet Ashton’s (Lily James, “Cinderella”) career is off to a frustrating start in the trailer for “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” As a journalist, she’s not getting...
Melissa McCarthy to Co-Star with Tiffany Haddish in Andrea Berloff’s “The Kitchen”
Two of Hollywood’s funniest women are teaming up for a project. Melissa McCarthy has joined the cast of mob drama “The Kitchen,” Variety reports. Tiffany Haddish is also starring in the pic,...
Keira Knightley to Topline Spy Thriller “Official Secrets”
Keira Knightley is set to star in another spy story. Just months after signing on to topline a spy drama penned by Camilla Blackett (“Fresh Off the Boat”) comes word that the two-time Oscar...
Bette Midler & Sharon Stone to Star in Film Adaptation of “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife”
Bette Midler and Sharon Stone are taking “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” to the big screen. Variety reports that the pair will star in a film adaptation of the award-winning play, which...
All-Women Group Plans to Buy London Theater, Make It Venue for Female-Driven Shows
The West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket might become the London’s next feminist drama venue, thanks to Accalia Arts. The Guardian confirms that the all-women collective have started a...
Alicia Vikander to Topline Adaptation of “The Marsh King’s Daughter”
Alicia Vikander is expanding her ass-kicking résumé. The star of the upcoming “Tomb Raider” reboot is set to topline an adaptation of “The Marsh King’s Daughter,” a best-selling thriller...
WGA Winners: Tina Fey, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Flint,” and More
Offred’s story is still striking a chord. The 70th annual Writers Guild of America Awards took place over the weekend, and Emmy, Golden Globe, and DGA winner “The Handmaid’s Tale” took home...
NBC’s Jennifer Salke Takes Over as Head of Amazon Studios
Jennifer Salke is saying goodbye to NBC and hello to Amazon Studios. After six years as entertainment president at NBC, the exec has been hired as the head of Amazon Studios, Variety confirms. Her...
Weekly Update for February 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Female Brain” Films About Women Opening This Week The Female Brain — Directed by Whitney Cummings; Co-Written by Whitney Cummings and Louann Brizendine (Also Available on VOD) What...
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Release Date Announced
Sophie Fiennes’ Grace Jones doc has a release date. Described by Fiennes as intimate and experiential, “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” shows a different side of the iconic...
Trailer Watch: Edie Falco Has a Complex Bond with a Former Student in Lynn Shelton’s “Outside In”
Edie Falco plays a teacher whose work goes far beyond the classroom in Lynn Shelton’s latest. A trailer has arrived for “Outside In,” a drama that sees the “Nurse Jackie” alumna taking on...
Trailer Watch: A Woman Rebuilds Her Life in Kate Davis’ Police Brutality Short Doc “Traffic Stop”
Breaion King is a teacher. She’s the first person in her family to attend college or to get a Master’s degree and she’s determined to earn a PhD. Breaion is also a survivor of police...
Lysa Heslov to Direct Adaptation of YA Hit “This Is Where It Ends”
“Served Like a Girl” director Lysa Heslov has booked her next project. She’ll follow up her award-winning doc about female veterans with an adaptation of Marieke Nijkamp’s hit YA novel...
Trailer Watch: Slaughterhouse Workers Fall in Love in Oscar Contender “On Body and Soul”
A new U.S. trailer has dropped for one of the year’s most celebrated romances — and undeniably its weirdest. “Is it possible that two people dream the same thing?” asks Maria (Alexandra...
WeForShe Announces 2018 WriteHer List
Get used to seeing these names. WeForShe has announced the 2018 WriteHer List, a curated collection of women-penned TV scripts that have been sourced from industry executive favorites. The list...
Trailer Watch: Amy Schumer Thinks She’s a Super Model in “I Feel Pretty”
Amy Schumer gets an invisible makeover that changes her life in “I Feel Pretty.” The comedy sees her playing Renee, a woman who suffers from low self-esteem. Convinced that her life is adversely...
Athena Film Fest Adds To Its Lineup: “Mankiller,” “Battle of the Sexes,” and STEM Panel
The Athena Film Festival (AFF) has announced more of its 2018 lineup. Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s “Battle of the Sexes,” a biopic about the famous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean...
Jill Santopolo to Adapt Her Best-Selling Novel “The Light We Lost”
Jill Santopolo is set to adapt her best-selling romance “The Light We Lost” for the big screen, Variety reports. The author’s debut novel is a love story that kicks off on 9/11: two seniors at...
Julianne Moore to Star in English-Language Remake of Susanne Bier’s “After the Wedding”
Julianne Moore is heading up another U.S. remake of a revered foreign film. She’s set to star in an English-language version of “Night Manager” helmer Susanne Bier’s “After the Wedding,”...
Lyric R. Cabral, Michelle Latimer, and More Announced as 2018 Field of Vision Fellows
First Look Media’s documentary unit, Field of Vision, has announced a new fellowship. A press release also revealed the year-long, collaborative program’s 2018’s fellows, and three of four of...
Milla Jovovich to Topline Sci-Fi Thriller “Hummingbird”
Milla Jovovich is set to star in another genre pic. The “Resident Evil” actress has signed on to topline sci-fi action thriller “Hummingbird,” Deadline confirms. Described as being “in the...
Mary Harron’s Manson Family Pic Moves Forward, Set to Launch in Berlin
“American Psycho” director Mary Harron is one step closer to tackling one of the most infamous crimes in history. Matt Smith (“The Crown”) and Suki Waterhouse (“The White Princess”) have...
Tribeca Film Festival to Open with Lisa D’Apolito’s Gilda Radner Doc “Love, Gilda”
The 17th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival will kick off with a portrait of Gilda Radner. The comedian is the subject of “Love, Gilda,” the fest’s opening film. Directed and produced by...
Tiffany Haddish & Lena Waithe Among Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood Awardees
Whether they starred in the summer’s breakout comedy, became the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing, or broke barriers in the Marvel universe, Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Tessa...
Berlinale Competition Program Is 17 Percent Women-Directed
The Berlin International Film Festival has announced its complete Competition lineup. Of 24 films screening in the program, four are directed by women, amounting to about 17 percent of the total....
Gabriela Pichler’s “Amateurs” Wins Top Prize at Goteborg Film Festival
Gabriela Pichler’s second feature took home Goteborg Film Festival’s highest honor. “Amateurs” was named as the winner of the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film, The Hollywood Reporter...
Phylicia Rashad to Receive League of Prof Theatre Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Tony winner Phylicia Rashad will soon have another award to add to her mantle. A press release has announced that the “Empire” actress will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at...
Trailer Watch: Melissa McCarthy Goes Back to College in “Life of the Party”
Melissa McCarthy is older, wiser, and her vagina is “essentially a Google” when she re-enrolls in college in a new trailer for “Life of the Party.” The comedy sees the Oscar nominee playing...
Raising Films Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Continue Work for Parents & Carers in the Biz
Motherhood shouldn’t prevent women from making films, but it can. Caring for one’s elderly parents or sick family members shouldn’t upend a person’s career in show business, but it can....
Trailer Watch: Jennifer Lawrence Is Taking Her Life Back in “Red Sparrow”
A new trailer for Jennifer Lawrence’s latest offering dropped during the Super Bowl. “Red Sparrow” sees the Oscar winner playing Dominika, a ballerina-turned-spy. She agrees to join the...
Isabel Coixet Wins Three Goya Awards for “The Bookshop”
Isabel Coixet was one of the big winners at this weekend’s Goya Awards, Spain’s counterpart to the Oscars. Per Screen Daily, Coixet took home prizes for best feature, best director, and best...
Nicole Kidman Joins Meryl Streep in Supporting The Writers Lab
Nicole Kidman doesn’t just talk the talk: she walks the walk. A couple of weeks after the actress called for Hollywood to treat women over 40 as the “potent, powerful, and viable” people they...
Weekly Update for February 2: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“A Fantastic Woman” Films About Women Opening This Week A Fantastic Woman Marina (Daniela Vega) and Orlando (Francisco Reyes) are in love and planning for the future. Marina is a young waitress...
Trailer Watch: Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Perfect Love Story Gets Turned Upside Down in “Irreplaceable You”
A newly engaged couple receive earth-shattering news in a new trailer for Stephanie Laing’s “Irreplaceable You.” Childhood sweethearts Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) are...
Drew Barrymore and Jamie Babbit Team Up for Rom-Com “The Stand In”
Drew Barrymore currently stars as a flesh-eating zombie in “Santa Clarita Diet,” but the Golden Globe winner is getting back into the rom-com game. A press release has announced that she’ll...
Trailer Watch: A Female Firefighter Takes the Lead in “Grey’s Anatomy” Spinoff “Station 19”
Inspiring speeches, love triangles, jokes in high-pressure situations — “Station 19” has a lot in common with the series from which it originated, “Grey’s Anatomy.” The Seattle...
Female Music Execs “Step Up,” Push for Recording Academy Prez Neil Portnow’s Resignation
Women have always stepped up, no matter what Recording Academy president Neil Portnow thinks or says. In fact, women are stepping up once more in an effort to revitalize the Recording Academy’s...
Trailer Watch: Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams Resume Their Forbidden Romance in “Disobedience”
Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams can’t put the past behind them in a new trailer for “Disobedience.” An adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s novel of the same name, the drama sees Weisz’s...
Black Herstory Month: February’s VOD and Web Series Picks
We’re kicking off Black History Month with some Black Herstory: our VOD and web series selections are all written and directed by Black women. This month’s VOD picks come from two participants...
Octavia Spencer to Topline “Ma”
Octavia Spencer has booked another leading role. The “Shape of Water” actress has signed on to star in Blumhouse Productions’ “Ma,” a thriller that sees her reuniting with Tate Taylor, who...
Chrissy Metz to Star in Roxann Dawson’s ”The Impossible”
“This Is Us” breakout Chrissy Metz has signed on to star in TV vet Roxann Dawson’s feature directorial debut. Entertainment Weekly reports that the two are teaming up for Fox 2000’s “The...
Michelle MacLaren to Direct Chris Pratt Action Pic “Cowboy Ninja Viking”
Michelle MacLaren is taking her genre expertise to the big screen. The “Game of Thrones,” “Westworld,” and “Breaking Bad” director has signed on to helm Chris Pratt-starrer “Cowboy...
Women Directors Dominate SXSW Competition
The lineup for the 2018 edition of South by Southwest Conference and Festival has been announced, and it’s cause for celebration. Of 10 films screening in the Narrative Feature Competition, eight...
British Comedy Writers Launch Female-Led Production Company
Sick and tired of seeing one-dimensional female characters on-screen, four British comedy writers/performers have joined forces to launch Double Yay Productions. The company seeks to address the...
February 2018 Film Preview
“Annihilation” February is when many of us need a mid-winter pick-me-up. Luckily, there are plenty of theatrical releases this month that make for the perfect antidote to cabin fever. Kicking...
Berlinale Event to Address Status of Women in Film
If you’re heading to the Berlin International Film Festival and consider the film world depressingly white and male-dominated, listen up: an event at the upcoming fest is demanding more diversity...
Eliza Hooper to Make Feature Directorial Debut with Sci-Fi “Wellwood”
Frequent Funny or Die contributor Eliza Hooper is making her feature directorial debut. The UCB writer is helming “Wellwood,” a sci-fi indie that “centers on a terminally ill Laura and her...
Trailer Watch: Toni Collette Is Haunted by Her Mother in Sundance Hit “Hereditary”
“My mother was a very secretive and private woman,” Annie (Toni Collette) eulogizes in the trailer for “Hereditary.” “She was a very difficult woman, which maybe explains me.” The...
Roxanne Benjamin’s Feature Directorial Debut Acquired by Magnet Releasing
Writer-director Roxanne Benjamin’s first feature film has found a home. Variety confirms that Magnet Releasing, Magnolia Pictures’ genre arm, has obtained worldwide rights to Benjamin’s...