Interviews
HIFF Women Directors: Meet Irene Taylor Brodsky
Irene Taylor Brodsky is an Oscar-nominated, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning director whose documentaries have shown theatrically, at film festivals and on television worldwide. Irene most recently...
HIFF Women Directors: Meet Donna Zaccaro
Donna Zaccaro is Founder and President of Dazzling Media, a New York-based media production company and is also Geraldine Ferraro’s daughter. Donna served as the director and producer for...
Guest Interview: Meg Wolitzer — Author of The Interestings
Novelist Meg Wolitzer talks with Holly Rosen Fink about the success of her latest novel, The Interestings (Riverhead Books, 2013), inspiration, sexism in the literary world, working with Nora...
HIFF Women Directors: Meet Barbara Kopple
Barbara Kopple is a two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker. A director of documentaries, as well as narrative TV and film, her most recent project is the documentary Running From Crazy, which...
TIFF Interview: Jasmila Zbanic and Kym Vercoe — Director and Co-Writers of For Those Who Can Tell No Tales
For Those Who Can Tell No Tales written by Jasmila Zbanic and Kym Vercoe and directed by Zbanic is one of those rare films that just stays with you. The film tells the story of Kym...
Sundance Interview Rerun: Concussion — Directed by Stacie Passon, Produced by Rose Troche, Starring Robin Weigert
Originally published on February 1st. Concussion opens in theaters and on VOD on October 4th. Concussion was one of my favorite movies at Sundance this year. It was truly a revelation. Robin...
TIFF Interview with Megan Griffiths and Emily Wachtel — Director and Writer of Lucky Them
Lucky Them tells the story of a stuck in place music writer played by the extraordinary Toni Collette. The film is directed by the wonderfully talented Megan Griffiths who directed the terrific film...
Talking Catherine Breillat, Claire Denis, Agnieszka Holland, and agnès b on the Eve of the NYFF
On the eve of the NYFF, Director of Programming and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones and I spoke about three extraordinary filmmakers — Catherine Breillat, Claire Denis, Agnieszka Holland...
Callie Khouri Talks Season Two of Nashville
Season Two of Nashville starts tonight at 10pm on ABC, and if you care about shows with strong women creators and shows created and run by women, you need to support this show. The women are...
Interview with Rose Bosch — Director and Writer of La Rafle (The Round Up)
I loved the book Sarah’s Key (the movie not as much) but it revealed to me another story of the Holocaust and World War Two that I knew nothing about — the Vel’ de’ Hiv’ roundup of...
Chatting with Keenan Novi — Student at Temple University
I don’t get to talk about the big picture very often and I am always happy to talk with a student. I also love to talk with men who are interested in the topic. Keenan Novi got in touch with me...
TIFF: Interview with Margarethe von Trotta and Barbara Sukowa — Director and Star of Hannah Arendt
Last, but not the bit least is a conversation with master director Margarethe von Trotta along with actress Barbara Sukowa who bring us the story of Hannah Arendt one of the first highly visible...
Interview with Julia Loktev — Writer and Director of The Loneliest Planet
Women and Hollywood: Where did you get the idea for this film? Julia Loktev: I was actually traveling in Georgia with my boyfriend at the time when I remembered this short story I had read by Tom...
Talking with Maggie Gyllenhaal about Won’t Back Down
I’m a bit obsessed with this film. My obsession stems from the fact that we have a film with two previous women with Oscar nominations in it (three if you count Holly Hunter in her supporting...
Cross Post: Ry Russo-Young Discusses John Krasinski’s First Sex Scene and Collaborating With Lena Dunham for ‘Nobody Walks’
Ry Russo-Young may have worked with her highest profile cast to date for her third directorial offering Nobody Walks, but that doesn’t mean she’s softened up. Working off an incisive and...
Interview with Coley Sohn — Writer and Director of Sassy Pants
Sassy Pants is, yes, a sassy movie starring the breakout star of MTV’s show Awkward Ashley Rickards. She plays Bethany Pruitt who is basically held prisoner in her home by her overprotective...
Cross Post: Conflicts of Women: An Interview with Mary Ann Anderson About Her Dear Friend, Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino isn’t one for bullshit. She shoots straight, looks you in the eye and lays it all on the line with every acting performance and picture she directs. She is a street smart gal, wise to...
Interview with Liv Ullmann and Dheeraj Akolkar — Star and Director of Liv & Ingmar
When you are given an opportunity to meet a legend in the film business you don’t turn it down. So I headed to meet Liv Ullmann who has appeared in more movies than I can count and as of late has...
Talking to Penny Marshall
A new memoir by actress and director Penny Marshall hit bookstore last week. Marshall was a big star in the 70s and 80s appearing on multiple TV shows and hanging out with the rest of Hollywood TV...
TIFF: Interview with Cate Shortland — Director and Co-Writer of Lore
Lore is Cate Shortland’s second film after the exciting Somersault. It is a bold look at a young girl who lived her whole life in the belly of the Nazi beast and had no perspective on anything...
TIFF: Interview with Shola Lynch — Director of Free Angela & All Political Prisoners
On the day of the premiere of her documentary at the Toronto Film Festival, director Shola Lynch answered some questions about the film. Here is a look at the importance of the film — Black...
Interview with Lisa Immordino Vreeland — Director of Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel
Lisa Immordino Vreeland loved Diana Vreeland before she married her grandson. Even though they never met she paints a glorious portrait of a unique woman who was a driving force in the fashion and...
Interview with Delphine and Muriel Coulin — Co-Directors/Writers of 17 Girls
17 Girls, directed and written by sisters Delphine and Muriel Coulin, was inspired by the Massachusetts story about a group of teenage girls who all make a pact to get pregnant and raise their...
TIFF: Interview with Susanne Bier — Director of Love Is All You Need
At the Toronto Film Festival you see a lot of heavy movies really early in the morning. Love is All You Need was a most welcome respite from the intensity that was around at the festival. Academy...
TIFF: Interview with Deepa Mehta — Director of Midnight’s Children
Midnight’s Children is literally an epic movie. It tells about the birth and development of India through the eyes of children born the moment the country declared its independence. Deepa Mehta...
TIFF: Interview with Sally Potter — Writer and Director of Ginger and Rosa
After the dust settles, Ginger and Rosa is going to turn out to be one of my the highlights of the festival. Sally Potter, the brilliant director of Orlando has written and directed a truly...
TIFF: Interview with Judi Levine — Producer of The Sessions
The Sessions is a very lovely movie about Mark O’Brien, a writer with polio who has to spend most of his life in an iron lung and his quest to lose his virginity and find a new level of intimacy in...
Interview with Ruba Nadda — Writer/Director of Inescapable
To be considered for TIFF Gala status, your movie has to have two things: major stars and major audience interest. Only two Canadian films are getting the Gala treatment this year, and both of them...
Interview with Bachelorette Writer/Director-Leslye Headland
I got the chance to talk with the writer and director of Bachelorette Leslye Headland earlier this week. Here are some thoughts on the film. Women and Hollywood: Your film is a subversive look at...
Interview with Sarah Koskoff — Writer of Hello I Must Be Going
Hello I Must Be Going is the coming of age story of a 35 year old woman who had been sleepwalking through her life until her whole world is shaken when her husband leaves her. With no skills, no...
A Chat with Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing: Directors of Detropia
Detropia is a very prescient film. It’s about what is going on in our country right now. It’s about how the middle class is disappearing. This is a painful movie to watch because it documents...
Interview with So Yong Kim — Writer/Director of For Ellen
So Yong Kim’s For Ellen stars Paul Dano in a beautiful performance as a young father forced to make a life altering decision about his relationship with his daughter Ellen. Dano plays Joby a...
Interview with Linda Goldstein Knowlton — Director of Somewhere Between
Producer Linda Goldstein Knowlton who produced one of my favorite films ever — Whale Rider — steps behind the camera to direct a film for her daughter Ruby whom she adopted from China....
Cross Post: Brenda Chapman on Writing BRAVE
Brave rocked the box office. Its themes of identity, responsibility, and family were equally appealing to boys and girls, adults and children. Its unique characters were memorable and brimming with...
Interview with Ann Dowd, Star of ‘Compliance’
If you’ve ever watched any of the Law and Order series you have seen Ann Dowd. She’s been on them all. She’s a journeywoman actress, one you have seen in many places, whose work you constantly...
Interview with Rashida Jones — Co-writer and Star of Celeste and Jesse Forever
Got a chance to meet the whip smart star of Parks and Recreation on TV (do you watch that show?) and the co-writer and star of the very good Celeste and Jesse Forever. Here’s our conversation. The...
Interview with Susan Youssef, Director of Habibi
Susan Youssef’s film Habibi played at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. Women and Hollywood: In the press notes you say your film was funded 100% through grants. Can you give advice to other...
Girls Season One Ends: Check Out This Interview with Lena Dunham
The first season of Girls came to a close last night. This pop culture tour de force has become the zeitgeist hit of the moment. I am beyond impressed with what they have accomplished. I am on the...
Interview with Mary Harron — Director of The Moth Diaries
Mary Harron’s The Moth Diaries hits theatres this week. It is also available on demand. Women and Hollywood: What drew you to this project? Mary Harron: It was the intense focus on young girls...
Interview with Vamps Director Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling has made some serious classic films in her career namely Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless. She was in NY this past weekend screening Clueless and her new film Vamps at the...
Interview with Susan Seidelman — Director of Musical Chairs
Susan Seidelman returns to the big screen with the Musical Chairs a love story set in the world of wheelchair ballroom dancing. It’s got something for everyone. It’s got class issues, gender...
Interview with Nina Jacobson: Producer of the Hunger Games
Nina Jacobson is poised to have a really great weekend. She’s about to open The Hunger Games which if tracking and advance sales hold will be one of the best opening weekends ever. She answered...
Sundance 2012: Interview with Amy Ziering — Producer of Invisible War
Amy Ziering is the producer of ‘The Invisible War’ directed by Kirby Dick and winner of the Sundance 2012 Documentary Audience Award. I spoke to Amy about feminist filmmaking, how she and Kirby...
Interview with Valérie Donzelli — Director of Declaration of War
Valérie Donzelli has made a heartbreaking film about the fight a couple goes through to save their son from a brain tumor. They declare war on the cancer and with the support of their family their...
Interview with Phyllida Lloyd — director of The Iron Lady
Women and Hollywood: This is a very different biopic of a leader because it is of a female leader. What about this films makes it different in terms of leadership? Phyllida Lloyd: First of all...