News
Breaking the Glass Frame Symposium Will Celebrate Women in Animation Industry
Women in Animation (WIA) is joining forces with USC, UCLA, and CalArts to empower women and LGBTQ folks entering the animation field. A press release has announced an upcoming symposium celebrating...
NBC Announces First Female Forward Directors Class
NBC has announced its inaugural class for Female Forward, the network’s annual initiative launched with the aim of giving female directors a pipeline into scripted television. Founded last year by...
Brenda Chapman Launches Production Company, Signs First-Look Deal at Fox
Not only has Brenda Chapman lined up her next gig, she’s started her own production company. According to Deadline, the “Brave” co-director has launched ‘Twas Entertainment...
Apply Now: New York Film Festival’s Critics Academy
If you’re hoping to break into the film criticism field, this workshop is for you. The Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) and Film Comment magazine are now accepting applications for the...
BAMcinématek Hosting “Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers” Film Series
BAMcinématek has lined up its next feminist film series. The Brooklyn venue is teaming up with Kino Lorber and the Library of Congress for “Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers,” which...
Apply Now: The Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship
Aspiring screenwriters, take note: The Black List and “Mudbound” producer Cassian Elwes are teaming up for the sixth year in a row for the The Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting...
Bruna Papandrea Developing Karin Slaughter Novel for TV, Lesli Linka Glatter to Direct
So far, “Big Little Lies” producer Bruna Papandrea has had a busy year. Over the past few months, she snagged the rights to both Allison Pearson’s “How Hard Can It...
Julie Taymor’s “Across the Universe” Returns to Theaters
Over ten years ago, Julie Taymor’s Oscar-nominated musical “Across the Universe” brought the music of The Beatles to the big screen in its own revolutionary way. Now, it’s...
Unfinished Jane Austen Novel “Sandition” Coming to PBS’ “Masterpiece”
Thanks to numerous women behind PBS’s “Masterpiece” and British broadcaster ITV, Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, “Sandition,” will soon make its way to...
Mimi Leder to Direct and Produce Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s Apple Series
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s upcoming Apple series still doesn’t have a name, but the buzzy project has secured a director. Emmy winner Mimi Leder is signed on to helm the...
Irish Theaters Implement Gender Equality Policies
Last year, the Irish Film Board (IFB) announced various initiatives aimed at furthering its “Six Point Gender Plan,” which ultimately aims to achieve 50/50 gender parity in funding by the...
TIFF’s Share Her Journey Campaign Announces Female Creator Initiative and Producer Program
The Toronto International Film Festival’s Share Her Journey campaign has announced some news in advance of the fest. Dedicated to championing women behind the scenes and in front of the camera,...
Disney and UN’s Girl Up Launch Female Filmmaker Project
Just last month, Jennifer Lee was named chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios following the accusations against and exit of former chief John Lasseter. Now, Lee will be one of...
Showtime Orders Amanda de Cadenet Pilot
British interviewer and author Amanda de Cadenet is gearing up to add another project to her multifaceted resume. Deadline reports that Showtime has ordered a pilot from Cadenet, a half-hour weekly...
Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine Move Towards VOD
Reese Witherspoon and her production company, Hello Sunshine, are proving themselves to be a very powerful force in the production world. Hello Sunshine already has multiple projects in the works...
Janet Mock Makes History, Becomes First Trans WOC to Write and Direct TV Episode
Janet Mock has stepped into the director’s chair and history books. The trailblazer co-wrote and directed a recent episode of “Pose,” making her the first trans woman of color to...
Women in Film & TV International Elects New Board and Prez
Helene Granqvist has been named Women in Film & TV International’s (WIFTI) new president. A press release announced that the Swedish producer, who is also president of WIFT Sweden, was...
BFI Celebrates Joan Crawford with Two-Month Program
BFI Southbank is paying tribute to a Hollywood legend. The cinema has announced a two-month program featuring 20 films starring Joan Crawford. Kicking off August 1 and running through October 9,...
Andrea Riseborough Creates Production Company to Support Women in the Industry
Looks like hanging out with Billie Jean King made a mark on Andrea Riseborough. The “Battle of the Sexes” actress is speaking out against sexism in her industry and taking a stand by...
Lily James to Co-Star with Gillian Anderson in “All About Eve” Stage Adaptation
A Hollywood classic is heading to London’s West End and Cinderella is going along for the journey. Lily James has signed on to star in a reimagined version of “All About Eve” with...
Submit Now: “The Spy Who Dumped Me” Female Storyteller Contest
Attention female filmmakers with “meaningful, heartfelt, and hilarious stories” you want to share with the world: a new contest is inviting you to share your stories about “enduring...
Kamil Oshundara Joins Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Prods. as Cultural Exec
Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has made an unusual but very valuable hire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, activist and scholar Kamil Oshundara will serve as cultural executive at...
Jane Fonda Donates Collection of Films, Letters, & More to Smith College
Smith College’s Sophia Smith Collection — an archive “of the history of women changing the world” — has received its latest donation from a Hollywood and feminist icon....
Sign Up Now: #TimesUp Creates a Database of Critics and Entertainment Reporters
#TimesUp is taking on the world of film criticism. “Together we aspire to bring together a broader collective of entertainment critics [and] writers, each of whom are dedicated to the art of...
Theater: Maisie Williams Lines Up First Play, Glenda Jackson to Star in “King Lear”
Maisie Williams and Glenda Jackson are both taking to the stage. “Game of Thrones” star and theater newbie Williams will make her drama debut in Lauren Gunderson’s “I And...
The Film Society of Lincoln Center Announces Program Celebrating Female Cinematographers
Women accounted for just four percent of cinematographers working on the 250 top-grossing films of 2017. As depressing as that number is, it’s important to note that one of those films was...
Abigail Disney’s Level Forward Financing Hollywood Misconduct Database
This winter Abigail Disney and Killer Content launched Level Forward, a startup studio boosting projects from women and people of color. Five months after that announcement comes word that Disney...
Christine Lahti to Play Gloria Steinem in Interactive Off Broadway Show
Christine Lahti is stepping into Gloria Steinem’s shoes, and you just might get a chance to chat with her while she’s in character. The Emmy-winning actress has signed on to star in...
Watch: Rashida Jones Directs #TimesUp Anti-Harassment PSA
“Has the current wave of sexual allegations left you scared, confused, maybe a little angry?” asks “Atlanta” star and creator Donald Glover in a new PSA for #TimesUp....
Choreographer Gillian Lynne Gets Theater Named in Her Honor, Makes History
Gillian Lynne just made history in style. The choreographer has become the first woman to have a theater named after her in the West End, The Guardian reports. In truly theatrical fashion, she was...
Academy Invites 928 New Members, 49% Are Women and 38% POC
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited a record 928 people to join its ranks. As Variety reports, the Academy’s list of invitees has been growing steadily for three years....
MoMA Series to Highlight Emerging Women Directors
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is working toward “a brighter, more inclusive future in which cinema can more accurately reflect the world around us,” according to a press release. With...
Laurene Powell Jobs Investing in Documentary Film Studio Startup
Businesswoman Laurene Powell Jobs is using her fortune to produce and finance documentary filmmaking. According to Bloomberg, the world’s sixth-richest woman is backing a documentary studio...
Laura Dern and Jayme Lemons’ Jaywalker Signs First-Look Deal with Platform One Media
Laura Dern is following in the footsteps of her “Big Little Lies” co-star Nicole Kidman. Dern and Jayme Lemons’ Jaywalker Pictures has signed a first-look deal with Platform One Media,...
Queen Latifah and Katie Couric Partner with P&G to Support Women Directors and Creators
Earlier this week Procter & Gamble announced half of its commercials would be women-directed by 2023. The conglomerate also mentioned it would be teaming up with Queen Latifah and Katie Couric...
“Sweat” Playwright Lynn Nottage Will Pen Michael Jackson Broadway Musical
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage is taking on the King of Pop for her next gig. The New York Times confirms the “Sweat” writer will pen the book for a Broadway...
WGA East Survey: There Are “Significant Barriers” to Reporting Sexual Harassment
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGA East) has announced the findings from a sexual harassment survey given to its members in January and February — and the results are not encouraging. Per...
Jennifer Lee Named Head of Walt Disney Animation
Disney is getting a much-needed revamp. Jennifer Lee has officially been named chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Deadline confirms. The news comes following the announcement...
Women Will Direct Half of Procter & Gamble Commercials by 2023
The powerhouse conglomerate behind products including Olay, Pantene, Tide, Gillette, and Tampax has committed to hiring more women directors for its commercials. According to CNN Money, Procter &...
Lena Waithe to Participate in Keynote Conversation at Essence Fest 2018
Fresh off her Trailblazer Award win at last night’s MTV Movie & TV Awards comes word that Lena Waithe will participate in a keynote conversation at the 2018 Essence Festival. The...
BAFTA Introduces New Diversity Criteria for 2019 Film Awards
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced new rules for films competing for the BAFTA Film Awards’ Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British...
Apply Now: Sony TV’s 2018 Diverse Directors Program
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is now accepting applications for this year’s Diverse Directors Program. The initiative gives emerging directors from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to...
Oprah Winfrey Signs Content Deal with Apple
Apple has secured another major talent. Reese Witherspoon has a number of projects in development with the streamer, and now the company has snagged a deal with none other than her “Wrinkle...
Alicia Keys Announces Initiative for Female Advancement in the Record Biz
The “Girl on Fire” is looking to elevate and empower other women in the music industry. Alicia Keys has revealed that she’s working on a new initiative to “further female...
Nicole Kidman Signs First-Look Deal with Amazon Studios
Nicole Kidman has inked a first-look deal with Amazon Studios, Deadline confirms. The pact sees the Oscar winner’s Blossom Films developing original series that will be available exclusively on...
Pinar Toprak Will Score “Captain Marvel,” Marking a Major Milestone
Pinar Toprak is about to make history alongside Brie Larson and Anna Boden. “Captain Marvel” marks Marvel’s first female-centric release, with Oscar-winning “Room” star...
Deborah S. Esquenazi Launches Production Company, Adapting LGBTQ Doc “Southwest of Salem” for TV
“Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four” director Deborah S. Esquenazi “is set to demystify stories and myths about women of color and LGBTQ individuals with her...
BFI Southbank Hosting Woman With a Movie Camera Summit This Saturday
The centerpiece of BFI Southbank’s all-June-long celebration of women in film sounds like it will be one hell of a shindig. The South Bank, London theater is hosting The Woman with a Movie...
Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher Elected PGA Presidents, Make History
Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher are the new presidents of the Producers Guild of America. According to Deadline, this is the first time two women have held the co-equal positions. The duo ran unopposed...
Barbra Streisand Strikes a Deal with Netflix
Barbra Streisand is taking her relationship with Netflix to the next level. The EGOT-holder premiered a new concert doc on the streamer last November, and now she’s signed a new content deal...
ReFrame Spotlights Gender-Balanced Films and TV with New Stamp
ReFrame, a project sponsored in part by the Sundance Institute and Women in Film, has announced a new tool in the quest to provide information on women’s representation, on-screen and behind...