News
Trailer Watch: Bel Powley Has a Big Vocab and a Bad Attitude in “Carrie Pilby”
Carrie Pilby has plenty to say about Camus, Kierkegaard, and Hobbes, but the 19-year-old Harvard graduate can’t make small talk to save her life. “There’s a perfectly good reason I don’t...
You’re Invited: Join Women and Hollywood in Ireland at “New Horizons” Event
If you will be in Limerick, Ireland in early March, you should add “New Horizons” to your schedule. The one-day event, providing “an opportunity for contributors to lend their voice to the...
Free Screenings for “Hidden Figures” and Public Screenings for “13th” Announced
Haven’t had a chance to see “Hidden Figures”? Want to host a screening of “13th” for your school? You’re in luck: Both films have been granted screening access. According to Deadline,...
Major Studios in Settlement Talks with EEOC for Systemically Discriminating Against Women Directors
Shit is about to hit the fan, and we couldn’t be any happier about it. Hollywood may finally be held accountable for their sexist treatment of female filmmakers. The Equal Employment Opportunity...
Anna Ziegler Developing Limited Series About Female Scientist for Sundance Channel
“Hidden Figures” has grossed over $132 million at the domestic box office. Hollywood has trouble learning the lesson that female-led projects do well with audiences, but hopefully the film’s...
Megan Ellison Developing Series About the 2016 Election
Mega-producer Megan Ellison is set to team up with frequent collaborator Mark Boal for a series about the recent presidential race, Deadline reports. Ellison and Boal describe the project as an...
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” Gets Premiere Date from HBO
Mark your calendar. HBO has announced a premiere date for “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The film, based on Rebecca Skloot’s book of the same name and starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose...
Gurinder Chadha to Direct Film About a Female Indian Spy Set in WWII
“Bend It Like Beckham” director Gurinder Chadha has announced her newest project. The Hindustan Times reports that Chadha is developing “Song for a Spy,” about a female Indian World War II...
Niki Caro to Direct Disney’s Live-Action “Mulan”
Welcome to the $100 million club, Niki Caro. The “McFarland, USA” director is reteaming with Disney to helm its live-action “Mulan” remake, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. With this gig,...
Berlinale 2017 Women Directors: Meet Tala Hadid — “House in the Fields”
Tala Hadid is a writer, director, and photographer. Her first film,“Sacred Poet,” centered on Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini. She’s directed several short films, including “Tes...
LA Women’s International Film Festival Announces 2017 Lineup
The 13th Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival has announced its 2017 program. The festival will kick-off four days of features, documentaries, shorts, and panel discussions with a...
Kahane Cooperman’s Oscar-Nominated Short “Joe’s Violin” Acquired by PBS
A tale of two unlikely BFFs is set to reach households across the country. Kahane Cooperman’s “Joe’s Violin” has been acquired by PBS’ “POV,” Deadline reports. The documentary series...
“About Ray” Gets New Name and Release Date
“About Ray” is now “Three Generations.” The film, which has been on the shelf since September 2015, will be released May 19, 2017, The Hollywood Reporter writes. Directed by Gaby Dellal and...
Jena Friedman to Make Directorial Debut with “Serial Dater,” Starring Imogen Poots
Jena Friedman is set to depict the the perils of modern dating in “Serial Dater,” her directorial debut. The stand-up comedian and former “The Daily Show” producer will also pen the script...
Princess Diana Miniseries to Air on ABC in August
Princess Diana: Nick Parfjonov/Wikimedia Commons A documentary miniseries about Princess Diana is coming to ABC. According to Deadline, the four-hour untitled project will air over two nights in...
Berlinale 2017 Women Directors: Meet Jackie Van Beek — “The Inland Road”
Jackie Van Beek is a New Zealand writer, director, and actor with a background in devised theater. She has made seven short films that have played at numerous festivals including Berlin, London,...
New Sarah Silverman Stand-Up Special Is Headed to Netflix
You’ll be able to catch Sarah Silverman’s latest stand-up material from the comfort of your living room. Silverman is the latest star to partner up with Netflix. The streaming giant has snagged...
Teaser Watch: Titus Announces Season 3 of “Kimmy Schmidt”
Someone really needs to develop a Tituss Burgess-Beyoncé variety show. A teaser for the third season of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” just dropped and it looks surprisingly familiar. The clip...
Quote of the Day: Beyoncé Wants a More Inclusive World for Her Kids
Most of the awards ceremonies of 2017 have been overtly political, and the Grammys on Sunday were no exception. Beyoncé used her platform to speak frankly about why inclusivity and representation...
True/False Film Fest Teams Up with Kickstarter for Childcare Initiative
The past week has been a pretty good one childcare advocates. First, Raising Films launched the Family Support Fund. Now True/False Film Fest and Kickstarter are working together on The Cradle, an...
Trailer Watch: Scarlett Johansson Fights Back in “Ghost in the Shell”
“I know I have a past. I’ll find out who I was,” vowed the Major (Scarlett Johansson) in the first trailer for “Ghost in the Shell.” The second trailer for the highly anticipated film sees...
“Person of Interest’s” Sarah Shahi to Star in Virtual Reality Drama for NBC
Sarah Shahi is set to topline NBC’s “Reverie” pilot, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. The “Person of Interest” alumna will play a former detective and hostage negotiator “brought in to...
Meryl Streep Vows Never to Return to the “Bad Old Days” in Speech
“All of us have the human right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Meryl Streep took this oft-quoted sentiment and made it feel revolutionary at a recent fundraiser for the Human...
Golshifteh Farahani to Star in Eva Husson Film About Female Resistance Fighters
A female-led film about freedom fighters that’s written and directed by a woman? Count us in. “Paterson” actress Golshifteh Farahani has signed on to star in Eva Husson’s “Girls of the...
Berlinale 2017 Women Directors: Meet Rubika Shah — “White Riot: London”
Rubika Shah is a director, writer, and journalist. She has directed a number of documentary shorts for the BBC which explore the works of Spike Lee, Gore Vidal, and others. Her documentary short...
Moving Forward: Crowdfunding Picks
“La Barracuda” This month’s crowdfunding projects are about women moving forward in their lives, usually in the wake of tragedy. Each of these projects, from a documentary examining immigration...
Ruth Negga to Receive an Oscar Wilde Award from US-Ireland Alliance
No matter what happens at the Academy Awards on February 26, Ruth Negga will still end up with an Oscar. An Oscar Wilde, that is. The “Loving” actress will be honored at the US-Ireland...
Guest Post: The Case for Gender-Balanced Crews
Guest Post by Tema L. Staig I run Women In Media, a networking group for above and below the line women — and the men who love making movies with them. We host regular networking events and...
Weekly Update for February 10: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“A United Kingdom” Films About Women Opening This Week Speed Sisters (Documentary) — Directed by Amber Fares (Opens in NY) (Also Available on VOD) “Speed Sisters” The Speed Sisters...
Jessica Chastain to Be Named Female Star of the Year at CinemaCon
Two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain is adding yet another honor to her extensive resume. She’s been named the Female Star of the Year by CinemaCon, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. The actress...
Debra Messing Opens Up About Being Body-Shamed by a Predatory Director
Imagine yourself at work. You’re sitting (or standing) there, doing your best on the task at hand. Suddenly, your boss comes over and screams, “How quickly can we get a plastic surgeon in here?...
Alice Lowe’s “Prevenge” Secures a U.S. Release
You’ll be able to watch a dark comedy about a mom-to-be on a killing spree in U.S. theaters next month. Happy Friday! The North American rights to Alice Lowe’s delightfully weird “Prevenge”...
Emma Watts Named Vice Chairman of 20th Century Fox
Another woman is rising through the ranks at 20th Century Fox Film. The studio has promoted veteran Fox executive Emma Watts, The Hollywood Reporter writes. Watts will now act as its vice...
Trailer Watch: Joey King’s Dream Becomes a Nightmare in “Wish Upon”
Who hasn’t been told to “be careful what you wish for”? A new horror film, “Wish Upon,” offers a dark twist on what can happen when all of your wishes come true. A trailer for the movie,...
Berlinale 2017 Women Directors: Meet Teona Strugar Mitevska — “When the Day Had No Name”
Teona Strugar Mitevska is an award-winning writer and director. Her previous credits include “The Woman Who Brushed Off Her Tears,” “I Am from Titov Veles,” and “Veta.” “When the Day...
Nicole Kidman Will Produce, Possibly Star in “The Expatriates” TV Series
Looks like Nicole Kidman is making herself at home in the TV landscape. The star of HBO’s upcoming “Big Little Lies” and the next season of “Top of the Lake” has signed on to produce...
WeForShe Announces 2017 WriteHer List
WeForShe has selected the scripts and writers for the 2017 WriteHer List. According to an announcement on the WeForShe website, the list — which industry executives help...
Oprah Winfrey May Star in “Terms of Endearment” Remake
Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels may be reuniting. The Oscar-nominated actress and media mogul is in negotiations to star in Daniels’ upcoming remake of “Terms of Endearment,” Indiewire reports....
Netflix Updates: Kate McKinnon, “Anne of Green Gables,” and “Casting JonBenét” News
Kate McKinnon in “Ghostbusters”: Sony Pictures Netflix continues its world domination. With so many projects forthcoming, the streaming giant is releasing news on a steady basis. Thanks to a...
“I Am Jane Doe” Director Mary Mazzio on the Terrifying Scope of Child Sex Trafficking
Mary Mazzio is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Olympic athlete, and former law firm partner. She is the Founder and CEO of 50 Eggs, Inc., an independent film production company. Her credits...
Kerry Washington to Star in “The Perfect Mother”
Kerry Washington is in “final talks” to star and produce in an adaptation of a hot new book title for Sony’s TriStar division, Variety reports. The “Scandal” star would topline “The...
Broadway Star Cynthia Erivo to Play Harriet Tubman in Upcoming Biopic
Cynthia Erivo is going from the stage to the big screen. According to Variety, the Broadway actress and singer will play Harriet Tubman in a new biopic, currently titled “Harriet.” Set to begin...
“Out of Africa” TV Series in the Works, Susanne Bier to Direct
“Out of Africa” may be headed to to the small screen. A series adaptation of Karen Blixen’s memoir — the inspiration behind the 1985 Meryl Streep-Robert Redford romance — is being...
Trailer Watch: A Soldier Collides with “Vengeful Bitches” in Sofia Coppola’s “The Beguiled”
You know that badass scene in “Gone with the Wind” when Scarlett O’Hara kills the creepy soldier for trespassing on her beloved Tara and threatening to assault her? It appears that Sofia...
Berlinale 2017 Women Directors: Meet Ildikó Enyedi— “On Body and Soul”
Ildikó Enyedi began her career as a concept and media artist as part of the art group Indigo and the Balázs Béla Studio. Her first film, “My Twentieth Century,” won the Cannes Camera d’Or...
Shonda Rhimes Acquires Rights to Luvvie Ajayi’s Book “I’m Judging You”
Shonda Rhimes has done it again. She’s hard at work at yet another amazing-sounding and inclusive project. Shondaland and ABC Signature Studios obtained the rights to writer Luvvie Ajayi’s first...
“The OA” Renewed for Season 2
Your favorite genre-bending show is coming back for a second season. Netflix has greenlit Season 2 of “The OA,” Variety reports. Now’s a great time to break out your own interpretation of The...
Eva Green and Gemma Arterton to Star in Chanya Button’s Virginia Woolf Romance
Eva Green and Gemma Arterton have signed on to bring Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West’s epic romance to the big screen, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. The pair will star in “Vita &...
Raising Films Hosts Childcare Summit, Announces Family Support Fund
Raising Films recently held an Industry Summit “to discuss practical solutions for parents and carers working in the film and television industries,” the company announced in a press release. It...
Paul Feig Named Distinguished Artist by AFI Directing Workshop for Women
Today’s bit of good news: Paul Feig will continue bolstering women filmmakers. The “Ghostbusters” director is the AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women’s (DWW) 2017 Distinguished...
Kristen Wiig and Jack Nicholson to Star in English “Toni Erdmann” Remake
“Toni Erdmann” has been dazzling critics and collecting accolades since it made its world premiere at Cannes last year. We’ve known for some time that an English-language version of the German...