Films
Barbara Hammer Announces Lesbian Filmmaking Grant
Trailblazing lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer is paying it forward. The former Guggenheim Fellow is teaming up with NYC-based non-profit Queer Art to launch The Barbara Hammer Lesbian Experimental...
Barry Jenkins to Adapt Female-Led James Baldwin Novel “If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins has lined up his next project, a female-led love story. A press release has announced that he’ll write and direct an adaptation of James Baldwin’s 1974...
Toronto International Film Fest Launches Share Her Journey Campaign
This year’s edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is still about two months away, but the fest is already introducing Share Her Journey, a program that will spotlight women in...
Teaser Watch: Princess Diana Is Remembered in “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy”
“This is the first time that the two of us have ever spoken about her as a mother,” says Prince Harry in a new teaser for “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy.” He and his brother, Prince...
Apply Now for the EWA’s 2018 Scriptwriter Residency Program
Submissions are now being accepted for the European Women’s Audiovisual Network’s (EWA) second annual scriptwriter residency program. The EWA will select one female screenwriter and help her...
Julianne Moore to Receive Giffoni Film Festival’s Truffaut Award
Looks like Julianne Moore is going to have to make storage space for yet another prestigious award. The Hollywood Reporter writes that the Oscar-winning actress is set to receive Giffoni Film...
Weekly Update for July 7: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Austin Found” Films About Women Opening This Week Austin Found — Written by Brenna Graziano (Also Available on VOD) Leanne Miller (Linda Cardellini, “Freaks and Geeks”) is a...
Female and Older Moviegoers Helped “Wonder Woman” Soar at the Box Office
No, it’s not just teenage boys who drive the box office. Hollywood is full of sexist myths about who goes to see movies and who they want to see stories about. Hopefully “Wonder Woman’s”...
Lena Headey to Star in and Produce Adaptation of “H Is for Hawk” with Plan B
“Game of Thrones” returns for its seventh and penultimate season in just over a week, but Lena Headey isn’t content just to bask in the mega hit’s success. The actress is already hard at...
Felicity Jones to Topline Film Adaptation of “Swan Lake”
Felicity Jones is saying goodbye to the Death Star and hello to life as a princess. The “Rogue One” actress has signed on to star in an untitled pitch inspired by “Swan Lake,” Variety...
Quote of the Day: Emma Stone on the Importance of Male Allies in Fighting the Pay Gap
Something that’s often missing from conversations about feminism and pay parity for women is, well, guys. While men should definitely not dictate the gender pay gap dialogue, their support is...
TIFF to Host Kathryn Bigelow Retrospective
Kathryn Bigelow’s highly anticipated follow-up to Jessica Chastain-starrer “Zero Dark Thirty” hits theaters in just under a month, but if you’re based in Toronto, you’ll be able to catch...
Exclusive: Anti-Trafficking Activist Isn’t What He Seems in “The Wrong Light” Trailer
“Uncle Mickey is the best person I’ve ever met,” we’re told by an enthusiastic girl in a new trailer for “The Wrong Light.” Uncle Mickey — AKA Mickey Choothesa — heads a...
Bedonna Smith Named Executive Producer of Activism at Anonymous Content
New job title alert: “13 Reasons Why” producer Anonymous Content has created the role of Executive Producer of Activism, and Bedonna Smith has been hired to fill it. Smith most recently served...
Trailer Watch: Toni Collette and Molly Shannon Have an Epic “Fun Mom Dinner”
“Never have I ever had real mom friends,” says Kate (Toni Collette) in a new trailer for “Fun Mom Dinner.” She’s playing a drinking game with three new mom pals: Jamie (Molly Shannon),...
Book Excerpt: “Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge”
The following is excerpted from Becky Aikman’s “Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge,” which is available now. Less than two years earlier, Callie...
Apply Now for a Fellowship with WritersForWriters
The lack of mentorship is one the largest barriers to entry women and people of color face in Hollywood. Breaking into the industry is hard, and it’s damn near impossible if you don’t have...
Melissa McCarthy Comedy “Happytime Murders” and Jessica Chastain Drama “Molly’s Game” Get Release…
Melissa McCarthy Comedy “Happytime Murders” and Jessica Chastain Drama “Molly’s Game” Get Release Dates Mark your calendars: STX Entertainment has revealed the release dates for Melissa...
BRITDOC CEO Jess Search Joins Kickstarter Board
With more than a decade of funding documentaries under her belt, BRITDOC CEO Jess Search is poised to join Kickstarter, the crowdfunding organization that helps all kinds of projects find financing....
Annette Bening Named President of Venice Film Fest Jury, Is the 4th Woman to Hold Position
Annette Bening is doing her herstory-making “20th Century Women” character proud: The actress has been named as the President of the 74th Venice Film Festival’s jury. According to Deadline,...
Trailer Watch: True Crime Podcasters Get in Over Their Heads in “Women Who Kill”
Who’s the hottest female serial killer ever? This question is posed by Morgan (Ingrid Jungermann) and her ex-girlfriend Jean (Ann Carr) during their true crime podcast in a new trailer for...
Weekly Update for June 30: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Little Hours” Films About Women Opening This Week The Little Hours (Opens in NY and LA) Medieval nuns Alessandra (Alison Brie), Fernanda (Aubrey Plaza), and Ginevra (Kate Micucci) lead a...
Academy Board of Governors Is Now 39% Female
Shortly after inviting a historic 774 new members to join its ranks, the Academy held its annual board of governors election and, per The Hollywood Reporter, women were elected in...
Unheard & Unseen: Crowdfunding Picks
Thousands of women’s stories are ignored or simply go untold — a huge problem that is addressed in this round of crowdfunding picks. These stories are diverse, yet they’re united by their...
Trailer Watch: Four Indian Women Challenge Sexual Norms in “Lipstick Under My Burkha”
A trailer has landed for Alankrita Shrivastava’s “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” and the film is not shying away from the controversies that have followed it. Instead, the marketing team for the...
PBS Doc About Civil Rights Activist Dolores Huerta Gets Theatrical Release Date
An important chapter — and figure — in herstory is about to get some much-deserved and long-overdue attention: “Dolores” has a theatrical release date. PBS Distribution has announced...
The Academy Continues to Diversify with 774 New Members
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, best known as the body behind the Academy Awards, has invited 774 new members to join its ranks — topping last year’s record-setting 683...
Maggie Betts to Co-Write and Direct Political Drama for Focus Features
“Novitiate” writer-director Maggie Betts has booked her follow-up to the coming-of-age nun drama. Deadline reports that she’s sold an untitled original pitch to Focus Features. Little is known...
Trailer Watch: Aubrey Plaza Stalks Insta Star Elizabeth Olsen in “Ingrid Goes West”
Aubrey Plaza takes her fandom way too far in the first trailer for “Ingrid Goes West.” Best known for portraying deadpan, underwhelmed characters like April Ludgate on “Parks and...
July 2017 Film Preview
“Girls Trip” As “Wonder Woman” becomes the highest-grossing live action film directed by a woman, July promises to bring even more interesting, powerful women to the big...
Cathy Schulman to Produce Adaptation of “The Trials of Nina McCall”
“The Trials of Nina McCall” hasn’t been published yet, but the upcoming book has already found a fan in Oscar-winning producer Cathy Schulman. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Schulman’s...
Trailer Watch: Learn More About Leia, Rey, & Jyn Erso in “Star Wars: Forces of Destiny”
Today in non-controversial “Star Wars” news: You won’t have to wait for “The Last Jedi” to hit theaters to see more of Rey, Daisy Ridley’s badass “Force Awakens” character. A trailer...
Quote of the Day: Halle Berry Talks the Lack of Change Since Her Historic 2002 Oscar Win
“This is for every nameless, faceless woman of color who now has a chance because this door has been opened,” a triumphant Halle Berry announced when she won the Best Actress Oscar for...
Teaser Watch: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn Can’t Get into the Holiday Spirit in “A…
Teaser Watch: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn Can’t Get into the Holiday Spirit in “A Bad Moms Christmas” The baddest and most delightfully brash moms are back. The first teaser has...
Veteran TV Director Gail Mancuso to Helm Her First Feature Film
Gail Mancuso’s name probably sounds familiar to you — chances are you’ve seen at least a couple episodes she’s helmed during her 25-year career as a television director. Now, as Deadline...
Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner May Write “Toni Erdmann” Remake
“Girls” collaborators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner are in “early talks” to write Paramount’s English-language remake of the Oscar-nominated German dark comedy “Toni Erdmann,”...
Trailer Watch: Lake Bell Explores Whether Love Is Sustainable in “I Do… Until I Don’t”
“My new project will propose that love is not sustainable,” a filmmaker (Dolly Wells, “Doll & Em”) tells an audience in the first trailer for “I Do… Until I Don’t.” “Will you...
Amy Adams to Be Honored at Giffoni Film Fest
Amy Adams is adding yet another award to her stacked résumé. The five-time Oscar nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner will be honored at the Giffoni Film Festival, an annual fest in the south...
Abigail Disney’s Fork Films Offers Grants to 14 Women-Directed Docs
Abigail Disney is spreading some magic — and money. The “Armor of Light” director and grandniece of Walt Disney is the CEO and President of Fork Films, a film production company that has...
Teaser Watch: Jessica Williams Enters the NYC Dating World in “The Incredible Jessica James”
Jessica Williams won’t suffer fools gladly in the first teaser for “The Incredible Jessica James.” The spot sees the “Daily Show” alumna cutting a bad Tinder date short (“I’m going to...
Trailer Watch: The Bellas Are Ready to “Aca-Finish This” in “Pitch Perfect 3”
The Barden Bellas have finally graduated and it turns out the real world isn’t as fun as collegiate a cappella competitions. Beca (Anna Kendrick) just quit her job. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is doing...
Guest Post: How — and Why — I Made a Movie That Tackles Mental Health
Guest Post by Angela Cohen Why do we go to the movies? Maybe it’s to escape, to relate, live vicariously, feel less alone, or get inspired. Why do I make movies? I want people to love, laugh,...
Trailer Watch: Women Directors Step in Front of the Camera in “Seeing Is Believing”
“I’m not afraid to say, ‘I don’t know,’” says Leslie Hope, director of TV and docs, in a trailer for “Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct.” “I’m also not afraid to say, ‘This is...
Weekly Update for June 23: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Beguiled” Films About Women Opening This Week The Beguiled — Written and Directed by Sofia Coppola (Opens in Limited Release; Opens Wider on June 30) “The Beguiled” is an...
Jennifer Lopez to Topline and Produce Rom-Com “Second Act”
Jennifer Lopez is returning to romantic comedies. The “Shades of Blue” actress and multi-hyphenate has signed on to star in and produce STXfilms’ “Second Act,” a rom-com about a woman over...
Women Directors Win Big at LA Film Festival
Women-directed films accounted for 46 percent of the films screening at this year’s LA Film Festival. The level playing field resulted in women directors dominating the fest’s awards ceremony....
Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” Poised to Become Top-Grossing Live-Action Film Directed by a Woman
Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” is poised to make herstory yet again. The Gal Gadot-led superheroine film is quickly approaching a milestone: it’s about to become the top-grossing live-action...
Barbra Streisand and Yvonne Rainer Film Retrospectives Announced
Film retrospectives will honor two icons of the stage and screen this summer in New York City. An exhibition celebrating Oscar-winning actress and singer Barbra Streisand, called “Simply...
Trailer Watch: Marion Cotillard Longs for Her Lover in Nicole Garcia’s “From the Land of the Moon”
“All I do is wait,” Marion Cotillard writes to her lover in a new trailer for “From the Land of the Moon.” “I need you to talk to me,” she begs. The trailer suggests that many of her...
Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer, and Phoebe Robinson to Star in Clubbing Comedy “Ibiza”
Gillian Jacobs is going to Spain with “SNL” alumna Vanessa Bayer and “2 Dope Queens” podcast co-host Phoebe Robinson. The three will star in the Netflix comedy film “Ibiza,” per The...
Gaming Company Ubisoft Launches Fellowship for Female Screenwriters
Are you a female gamer with filmmaking ambitions? If so, gaming company Ubisoft has introduced the perfect fellowship for you. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Ubisoft’s film division will...