Films
BAFTA Nominations: For the Fifth Year in a Row, Women Are Shut Out of Best Director Race
BAFTA nominations are in, and for the fifth year in a row, exactly zero women are nominated in the best director category. As Variety reports, the last female director to score a nod was Kathryn...
Athena Film Fest’s 2018 Lineup Includes “The Breadwinner,” “I Am Not a Witch,” “Lady Bird,” & More
Disappointed by the Golden Globes’ lack of love for women directors? You can check out some of the year’s best films — many of which were helmed by women — at the upcoming Athena...
Domenica Cameron-Scorsese on the Redemptive Power of Love in “Almost Paris”
Domenica Cameron-Scorsese is a Tribeca alum whose short films “Spanish Boots” and “Roots in Water” played the festival. Her first short, “A Little God,” won the Torchlight Short Film...
Chloé Zhao Wins Film Independent’s Inaugural Bonnie Award
The Indie Spirit Awards won’t take place until March 3, but Chloé Zhao has just scored a major honor from Film Independent. The writer, director, and producer of “The Rider” was named...
Liz Garbus’ New York Times Doc Gets Release Date on Showtime
Awards for fake news stories and the fact that terms like “post-truth” exist suggest that we need a David and Goliath narrative about the importance of journalism now more than ever. Thankfully,...
Trailer Watch: Jennifer Lawrence Is a Master of Deception in “Red Sparrow”
Jennifer Lawrence finds herself being used as a weapon in a global struggle for power in a new trailer for “Red Sparrow.” The Oscar winner plays Dominika, a Russian ballerina who suffers a...
Golden Globes 2018: Women Rule and Men Hide
After all the post-mortems are finished, last night’s Golden Globes ceremony will be remembered as the night that the women in Hollywood stood up to the powers that be and said Time’s Up. The...
Trailer Watch: Helen Mirren Builds a Haunted House in “Winchester”
“I will do whatever it takes to protect my family,” says Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren) in a new trailer for “Winchester.” She takes extraordinary — and extraordinarily...
Lesley Manville on Being an Actress Over 60 and Her Role in “Phantom Thread”
Lesley Manville’s career spans four decades and includes three BAFTA nominations and an Olivier Award. Her latest film, “Phantom Thread,” is set in post-war 1950s London and sees her playing...
Weekly Update for January 5: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“In Between” Films About Women Opening This Week In Between — Written and Directed by Maysaloun Hamoud “In Between” captures the daily duality of three young Palestinian women (Mouna...
“Wonder Woman” and “Lady Bird” Score PGA Nominations
The Producers Guild of America is recognizing two of 2017’s box office heroines: Diana Prince and Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson. Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” and Greta Gerwig’s...
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Announce EDA Award Nominations
The love fest for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “Lady Bird” continues. The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) has announced nominees for the 11th annual EDA Awards,...
Elizabeth Banks to Produce Adaptation of Tech Novel “Uncanny Valley”
Multi-hyphenate Elizabeth Banks is adding yet another project to her docket. The actor-producer-director has signed on to produce a film adaptation of “Uncanny Valley” for Universal Pictures,...
WGA Nominations: Greta Gerwig, Dee Rees, and More
Count Writers Guild of America members among “Lady Bird’s” many fans. The WGA has announced nominees for its annual awards ceremony, and Greta Gerwig’s universally acclaimed coming-of-age...
NYT Film Critics Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott on Hollywood’s Tectonic Shift
“Wonder Woman” helped shift the plates “It’s hard to survey the landscape in the middle of an earthquake,” observes A.O. Scott in yesterday’s edition of The New York Times. The piece...
Join the #GoldenRobes Initiative to Recognize Women & Minority Filmmakers
Disappointed by the lack of Golden Globes love for “Ladybird’s” Greta Gerwig, “Wonder Woman,” and “Mudbound”? You’re not alone — and there’s an initiative you can participate...
New Research: The Needle Hasn’t Moved for Women Directors Over Past 11 Years
Patricia Riggen is the only Latina to direct a top-grossing movie from 2007 to 2017: patriciariggen.com 2017 brought us the Women’s March and #MeToo but, as new research shows, there’s still a...
Cate Blanchett to Serve as Jury President at Cannes 2018
Cate Blanchett is set to serve on one of the world’s most glamorous juries. Cannes Film Festival has announced that the two-time Oscar winner is their 2018 Jury President. “I have been to Cannes...
Guest Post: The Importance of Amplifying Quieter Voices in Film
Guest Post by Elhum Shakerifar At the end of 2017, I was humbled to accept the Women in Film and TV Factual Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in news, factual programming, current...
Juliette Binoche to Be Honored at Göteborg Film Festival
Juliette Binoche will be joining fellow Oscar winner Alicia Vikander at the 2018 Göteborg Film Festival. The fest has announced the French actress as the recipient of the Honorary Dragon Award. As...
“Pitch Perfect” Franchise Has Grossed Over Half a Billion Worldwide
The Barden Bellas have sung their way past a major milestone. The “Pitch Perfect” franchise has now grossed more than $500 million worldwide, Deadline reports. We’d say half a billion dollars...
Kate Beckinsale to Topline Amazon Series “The Widow”
Kate Beckinsale is coming to the small screen for her first series regular gig ever. The “Underworld” actress has signed on to star in “The Widow,” an eight-episode thriller for Amazon...
Trailer Watch: A Sorority Learns About Sisterhood in “Step Sisters”
“Nobody respects you guys because you don’t respect each other,” a reluctant step coach tells her new team in a trailer for “Step Sisters.” The upcoming Netflix comedy centers on Jamilah...
Trailer Watch: Gina Carano Is a Bounty Hunter in “Scorched Earth”
The world falls apart and Gina Carano is left picking up the pieces in a new trailer for “Scorched Earth.” The action flick is set in the aftermath of an environmental collapse that took...
January 2018 Film Preview
“Proud Mary” January is here with a collection of women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films that range from kick-ass to life-altering to eye-opening. The month begins with “In...
Top Three Grossing Films of 2017 Are Women-Centric
Rey, Belle, and Diana Prince are 2017’s box office heroines. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Wonder Woman” are officially the top three highest-grossing...
Guest Post: Lizzie Borden on Harvey Weinstein and The Need to Stand Together
Guest Post by Lizzie Borden I have been silent because I felt my story was of no great significance compared to the women who were raped and assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. But I feel compelled to...
Weekly Update for December 22: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Pitch Perfect 3” Films About Women Opening This Week Pitch Perfect 3 — Directed by Trish Sie; Written by Kay Cannon After college graduation, the Barden Bellas are struggling with their...
Beyond the Bechdel Test: New Ways of Measuring Hollywood’s Gender Imbalance
The Bechdel Test is a useful but limited tool, a fact many have recognized for years. Created by cartoonist Alison Bechdel and her friend Liz Wallace, the test is often used to determine whether or...
Quote of the Day: Jessica Chastain Says “We All Need to Acknowledge & Blow Up This Cycle of Abuse”
Eminently quotable Jessica Chastain is back at it again. The two-time Oscar nominee is speaking out about Hollywood’s toxic culture in a new interview with Time, and, as always, she’s offering...
Trailer Watch: Heather Graham Says Goodbye to Jerks in Directorial Debut “Half Magic”
“I want to have hot sex with someone who’s really nice to me,” says Heather Graham in a new trailer for her directorial debut, “Half Magic.” She stars as Honey, a woman who is sick of...
Eva Longoria Has Two Women-Penned Drama Series in Development at Fox
Eva Longoria has new series in the works. According to Deadline, the multi-hyphenate has two hour-long dramas in development at Fox through her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment banner. Both are written...
Paramount Announces Several Future Films, None Are Confirmed to Be By or About Women
When the sale of the Fox studio to Disney is complete, there will be five big studios left. Paramount has announced release dates for several slated films through 2021 — and none of them have...
Liz Hannah Takes Hollywood By Storm with “The Post”
Liz Hannah had a damn good time celebrating her 32nd birthday last week. “The Post,” which she wrote along with Josh Singer, premiered in Washington DC. Until about a month ago pretty much no...
22 Most Anticipated Films By and About Women of 2018
“A Wrinkle in Time” The end of 2017 is rapidly approaching, and it’s safe to say that plenty of us are relieved. Although this year in particular has been difficult, it did see the release of...
Trailer Watch: Lily James Plays a Young Meryl Streep in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”
It’s time to head back to Kalokairi, and all the singing, dancing, and stunning scenery that made audiences fall in love with the Greek island in “Mamma Mia!” A trailer for the 2008 film’s...
Eliza Hittman and Penny Lane Receive Grants from Rooftop Films
“Beach Rats” writer-director Eliza Hittman and “Nuts!” helmer Penny Lane both have something to celebrate. They’ve scored grants from non-profit org Rooftop Films, Variety reports. The...
Quote of the Day: Elizabeth Banks on Her “Great Epiphany” About Hollywood Sexism
There was a moment when Elizabeth Banks realized why she felt stalled in her acting career. Mainstream films weren’t providing her interesting roles, and smaller, independent fare wasn’t paying...
Zelda Perkins Speaks Out, Challenges the Legal System for Enabling Predators Like Harvey Weinstein
“It’s a smoking gun.” That’s how Robert Fox Ltd theater producer Zelda Perkins described the non-disclosure agreement she signed in 1998, after stepping down as Harvey Weinstein’s...
Teaser Watch: A Classic Tale Gets a Dark Twist in “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”
The new teaser trailer for “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” includes what you’d expect from any “Nutcracker” adaptation: ballet, the music to “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” and a...
Metrograph to Host “Tell Me: Women Filmmakers, Women’s Stories” Film Series
The Metrograph wants to amplify women’s voices. The NYC theater has announced that an upcoming film series will focus on women directors, their work, and how their female subjects see the world....
Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller Named Exec VPs of HBO Doc and Family
Sheila Nevins is leaving HBO Documentary in good hands. A press release has announced that Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller have been promoted to executive vice presidents of HBO Documentary and Family...
141 Original Scores Are in the 2017 Oscar Race, and Just 6 of Them Are By Women
The most iconic night in the industry is almost upon us. The Academy Awards take place March 4, and nominations won’t be announced until January 23, but we’re gradually learning more and more...
Trailer Watch: Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett Get the Team Together in “Ocean’s 8”
“It was a mistake,” Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) explains in her parole hearing. “But it happened. And, if I were to be released, I would just want the simple life.” In “Ocean’s 8,”...
HBO Documentary President Sheila Nevins Is Stepping Down
After nearly four decades of making HBO her home, Sheila Nevins is moving on. The President of HBO Documentary Films revealed the big news in an interview with The New York Times. As an executive...
J.J. Abrams to Receive Athena Film Fest’s 2018 Leading Man Award
The Athena Film Festival has named director, producer, and writer J.J. Abrams its Leading Man. Abrams will receive the fest’s 2018 Athena Leading Man Award in honor of his “extraordinary career...
Get Busy Living: Crowdfunding Picks
“Side Work” We often have to make a choice between pushing back against the setbacks in our lives, or letting the current pull us under. To sink or swim, to fight or take flight — or to put...
Colette Burson on Showing a Different Side of the South in “Permanent”
Colette Burson co-created and executive produced HBO’s Golden Globe-nominated series “Hung.” She helmed several episodes of the show. Her other directing credits include short “Little Black...
“Step” Helmer Amanda Lipitz to Direct English-Language Remake of “Instructions Not Included”
Amanda Lipitz directed one of our favorite documentaries released this year, and now she’s set to make her narrative directorial debut. The “Step” helmer has signed on to bring an...
Weekly Update for December 15: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”: Lucasfilm Films About Women Opening This Week Star Wars: The Last Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker...
Patty Jenkins Will Be First Woman to Receive Variety’s Creative Impact in Directing Award
Academy, take note: “Wonder Woman” helmer Patty Jenkins will be honored with Variety’s Creative Impact in Directing Award. According to a press release, the superheroine film’s star, Gal...