News
Toni Collette to EP and Write TV Adaptation of Julia Dahl’s “Invisible City”
Oscar-nominated actress Toni Collette is continuing to spread her wings. Back in May, the former “United States of Tara” star nabbed the rights to “The Rosie Project” author Graeme...
Why Is Rey Still Missing from the “Star Wars” Monopoly Game?
Daisy Ridley successfully anchored the big budget, international smash hit “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” So why is her character, Rey, still missing from the “Monopoly: Star Wars” board?...
“Claws” Renewed for Season 2
This calls for a celebratory manicure: “Claws” is coming back for a second season. Deadline reports that the TNT dramedy has been renewed by TNT just five episodes into its debut season, an...
Blake Lively to Star in Spy Thriller Directed by Reed Morano
Serena van der Woodsen is poised to kick some ass and exact revenge. Variety reports that “Gossip Girl” alumna Blake Lively has signed on to topline “The Rhythm Section,” a spy thriller...
New Deadline for Women and Hollywood’s First-Time Female Filmmaker Contest
Thank you to all the women who have submitted films for Women and Hollywood’s First-Time Female Filmmaker Contest. The response has been mind blowing, so much so that we have almost 1,000...
Lysa Heslov’s Female Veteran Doc “Served Like a Girl” Finds a Home
If you’re interested in seeing a film about facing adversity and coming out stronger on the other side— and who isn’t right now? — you’re in luck. According to Deadline, Entertainment...
Submit Your Script for Sundance Screenwriting Fellowship
Submissions are now open for the fifth annual Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship. From the Black List and producer Elwes (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler”), the fellowship will grant...
Julie Halperin & Jason Cortlund’s Allison Tolman-Starrer “Barracuda” Gets U.S. Distribution
The last few weeks have brought good and bad news for “Fargo” alumna Allison Tolman. Despite positive reviews, her new ABC comedy “Downward Dog” couldn’t attract a big enough audience to...
Uma Thurman to Make Broadway Debut in Pam MacKinnon-Directed “The Parisian Woman”
Uma Thurman is making her Broadway debut. A press release has announced that the “Kill Bill” actress will star in “The Parisian Woman,” a new play by “House of Cards” creator Beau...
Susan Lacy to Direct Steven Spielberg Doc for HBO
A woman is stepping behind the camera to help tell Steven Spielberg’s story. Deadline reports that Susan Lacy will direct and produce “Spielberg,” a documentary set to debut October 7 on HBO....
The 2017 Women in Film & TV UK Award Nominations Are Open
Here’s your chance to give a talented woman in the entertainment industry some well-deserved recognition: Nominations for the 2017 Women in Film & TV UK Awards are now open. Anyone and...
We Might Be Getting More “L Word”
Everyone’s favorite “Lez Girls” could be returning to the small screen. According to Variety, Showtime is developing a sequel to the “The L Word,” the Ilene Chaiken-created drama series...
Trailer Watch: Imelda Staunton Starts Over in “Finding Your Feet”
“I’ve been planning our retirement for the last 35 years,” Sandra (Imelda Staunton) tells a guest at her husband’s retirement party in a trailer for “Finding Your Feet.” But the best...
“Criminal Minds” Boss Erica Messer Signs Two-Year Pod Deal with ABC Studios
“Criminal Minds” showrunner Erica Messer isn’t giving up the profiling biz quite yet. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Messer has signed a two-year pod deal with ABC Studios, “Criminal...
Apply Now: New TIFF-CBC Screenwriting Grant for Underrepresented Storytellers
Canada is taking another step towards a more inclusive entertainment industry. A new, $10,000 TIFF-CBC Screenwriting Grant has been launched to recognize and support underrepresented Canadian...
Study: West End Musicals Are Overwhelmingly Written by Men
London’s West End just earned a dubious honor: it’s just as inhospitable to women as Broadway. A new study from The Stage examined the West End musical productions that ran for at least three...
Majority of Writers and Directors in The Royal Court Theatre’s New Season Are Women
Broadway is sorely lacking when it comes to women-penned plays, but the Royal Court’s new season is a bright spot amid lots of bad news about women in theater. “Two thirds of the writers and...
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...
Watch: Patty Jenkins, Niki Caro, & Gina Prince-Bythewood Promote New Award for Women Directors
“Believe that you have something to say — that you have a voice and it’s up to you to speak to the world,” says “Beyond the Lights” writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood in a PSA...
“Empire” Showrunner Ilene Chaiken Renews Contract with 20th Century Fox
Ilene Chaiken will continue ruling her “Empire” — so to speak. The showrunner of the Lee Daniels-created soap opera has extended her contract with 20th Century Fox Television. According to...
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...
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...
Ava DuVernay Adapting Story of Central Park Five for Netflix Miniseries
Ava DuVernay is re-teaming with Netflix. Her first collaboration with the streaming giant led to Oscar-nominated doc “13th,” an investigation of the connection between slavery and...
Study: Nonprofit Theaters Have a Woman Problem Too
Another day, another horror story for women in the theater world. Last week it was the Actors’ Equity study that found acting and stage management jobs are still being dominated by white men....
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...
Unconventional Portraits: July’s VOD and Web Series Picks
“Girl on Girl” Historically, summer is a season of convention. We may expect the same sunny weather, celebratory barbecue, and the (usually male-led) poorly written summer blockbuster. However,...
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...
“Flip the Script” Web Series Turns the Table on Workplace Sexism
Would you say that to a guy? Would you do that in front of a guy? That’s the basic sexism litmus test, and it was definitely a major influence on the Women in Film (WIF) web series “Flip...
Trailer Watch: Andrea Savage Is a Funny Mom in “I’m Sorry”
“Sorry. I forgot moms aren’t supposed to be funny,” Andrea Savage tells her TV husband in a new trailer for “I’m Sorry.” Created by Savage, the TruTV series sees the “Veep” alumna...
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...
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...
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...
Exiting Globe Artistic Director Emma Rice to Start New Theater Company
Emma Rice won’t leave her post as artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe until 2018, but she has already lined up her next gig. Per The Stage, Rice has announced her plans to establish Wise...