News
BET’s Debra L. Lee Honored with Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award
During the annual Pre-Grammy Gala in February, BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee will be honored as the Grammy Salute to Industry Icons recipient for her significant contributions to the...
2016’s Need for Female Film Critics
“Lemonade” by Kiva Reardon, cross post from TIFF Here are the positions people assume I hold when I meet them at film festivals: personal assistant, girlfriend, publicist. Sometimes, if I’m...
Clare-Hope Ashitey Joins the Cast of Veena Sud’s New Netflix Series “Seven Seconds”
Clare-Hope Ashitey (“Suspects,” “Children of Men”) has been added to the cast of Veena Sud’s upcoming Netflix series, “Seven Seconds.” The Hollywood Reporter writes that the British...
Learn How to Write for TV from Shonda Rhimes
Heads up, aspiring TV writers. Have you always wanted to learn from one of the best? “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes is starting an online course through MasterClass...
The Best Women-Directed Films of 2016: “American Honey,” “The Fits,” & More
“American Honey” Women directors may not have made a major impact at the box office this year, but they absolutely helmed some of the year’s finest films. With subjects as varied as a traveling...
Trailer Watch: Get Nasty with “The Good Fight”
CBS All CBS All Access is about to launch two highly anticipated female-centric shows. One is the Sonequa Martin-Green-led “Star Trek: Discovery,” which will premiere in May, 2017 on the...
Directors UK Partners with Channel 4 for Emerging Directors Project
If you’re a member of Directors UK, or just an emerging director, here’s a new opportunity for you: Directors UK, the professional association for British screen directors, is partnering with...
Jandy Nelson to Adapt “The Sky Is Everywhere” for Warner Bros.
Jandy Nelson’s 2010 book “The Sky Is Everywhere” is headed for the big screen, and the YA author has been hired to pen the adaptation for Warner Bros., The Hollywood...
“Rogue One” Takes the Box Office
Unsurprisingly, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” easily won the battle of the holiday box office this past weekend. As Deadline reports, the “Star Wars” anthology story took in $290.5 million...
Trailer Watch: Alice Lowe Has the Worst Pregnancy Ever in “Prevenge”
Atrailer has landed for “Prevenge,” writer-director-actress Alice Lowe’s deliciously unconventional portrayal of pregnancy. “You’ve got this force of nature now inside you. Baby knows what...
Tracy Oliver to Adapt “The Sun Is Also a Star” for Warner Bros. and MGM
“Awkward Black Girl” writer, producer, and actress Tracy Oliver has signed on to adapt “The Sun Is Also a Star,” Nicola Yoon’s bestselling YA novel. Deadline reports that Warner Bros. and...
Trailer Watch: Gillian Anderson in Gurinder Chadha’s “Viceroy’s House”
“Bend it Like Beckham” director Gurinder Chadha has teamed up with Gillian Anderson and “Downton Abbey’s” Hugh Bonneville for “Viceroy’s House.” The film “depicts the final few...
Oprah Winfrey Launches New Book Imprint
If you love Oprah’s Book Club, you’re in luck. Those who appreciate Oprah Winfrey-recommended books will be excited to learn that the mogul has a new book imprint under Flatiron Books, a...
“Arrival,” “20th Century Women,” and More Earn AWFJ Award Nominations
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has announced the nominees selected for the 2016 AWFJ EDA Awards. The 10th annual awards are presented in 25 categories divided into three sections: The Best...
Trailer Watch: Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn Go on Vacation in “Snatched”
A hilarious red band trailer has dropped for “Snatched,” the long-awaited mother-daughter comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer. Just as you’d expect, the two make a perfect...
“The Bad Kids’” Principal Talks Education, Oprah, and Leadership
We’re incredibly excited to see Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman” and Brie Larson in “Captain Marvel,” but as high school principal Vonda Viland proves, you don’t have to be a superhero to...
Julia Roberts to Star in Limited Series Adaptation of “Today Will Be Different”
Julia Roberts is attached to star in and produce a television adaptation of Maria Semple’s bestselling novel “Today Will Be Different” as a limited series. Semple is writing the...
Oscar Foreign Language Shortlist 2017: “Toni Erdmann” Makes the Cut
The Academy has announced the shortlist for nominations in the Foreign Language Film category at the 2017 Oscars, and only one woman-directed film remains in the running: Maren Ade’s “Toni...
Laeta Kalogridis Signs Overall Deal With Skydance Media
“Terminator Genisys” screenwriter and executive producer Laeta Kalogridis is taking the next step in her relationship with Skydance Media. Deadline reports that she has inked an exclusive,...
Sonequa Martin-Green Lands Lead Role in “Star Trek: Discovery”
The USS Discovery has its female lead. As Deadline reports, Sonequa Martin-Green has landed the lead role in CBS All Access’ upcoming “Star Trek: Discovery.” She’ll be playing Lt. Cmdr....
Movie About Planned Parenthood Founder Margaret Sanger in the Works
Astory centered on the woman behind one of the most important organizations in the U.S. and abroad is coming to the big screen. A press release has announced that Black Bicycle Entertainment’s...
First Set of Berlinale Film Festival Competition is 40% Female-Directed
The Berlin International Film Festival kicks off in February, and the first set of films slated to screen has just been announced. In the main competition, 10 films have been selected so far, and...
Trailer Watch: Toni Collette Unravels a Mystery in Rachel Perkins’ “Jasper Jones”
Since its release in 2009, “Jasper Jones,” by Craig Silvey, has been called Australia’s “To Kill Mockingbird.” Now the big-screen adaptation of the story is coming via director Rachel...
TNT Greenlights Niecy Nash Nail Salon Dramedy “Claws” From Rashida Jones
TNT has given a series order for the South Florida-set dark comedy “Claws.” Niecy Nash (“Scream Queens,” “Getting On”) will star in the series, executive produced by Rashida Jones, Will...
BAFTA Introduces New Rules to Exclude “Non-Diverse” Films
The BAFTA Awards are getting a makeover. According to The BBC, The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is changing eligibility rules for films competing in its annual awards as well as...
The Match Factory Acquires International Rights for Cate Blanchett’s “Manifesto”
Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is renowned for her versatility, and the acclaimed actress’ next project “Manifesto,” sees her playing 13 different roles, including a choreographer,...
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn Spinoff Movie Gets Male Director
The Harley Quinn spinoff movie that DC has in the works, with Margot Robbie set to lead, will be directed by a man. This news is beyond disappointing: The female villain romp will be seen through...
Meagan Good to Star in “Foxy Brown” TV Series Reboot
A TV adaptation of the 1974 cult classic “Foxy Brown” is in the works, Deadline reports. While Pam Grier originally played the iconic role, Meagan Good (“Think Like a Man,” “Deception”)...
Reba McEntire is Returning to TV
The Queen of Country is heading back to the small screen. TVLine reports that Reba McEntire has signed on to topline a new series from “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry. The Southern...
Rachel Weisz Set to Star in Film Adaptation of “Secret Life of Dr. James Miranda Barry”
Rachel Weisz is set to star in an adaptation of “The Secret Life of Dr. James Miranda Barry: Victorian England’s Most Eminent Surgeon” by Rachel Holmes, Deadline reports. The rights have been...
Feature Film in the Works on Fox News’ Roger Ailes Sexual Harassment Scandal
If you haven’t been following the scandal surrounding the sexual harassment charges against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, you’ll soon have a motion picture that will fill you in on all of...
Black List 2016 Topped by Elyse Hollander’s Script about Madonna
The 2016 edition of the Black List has dropped. “Blond Ambition,” a Madonna biopic penned by Elyse Hollander, scored the most votes from the 250 film executives asked to participate. Each exec...
Margot Robbie’s Tonya Harding Biopic Lands Distribution
Margot Robbie is one step closer to bringing Tonya Harding’s life story to the big screen. Variety reports that Miramax has secured the U.S. distributions rights to “I, Tonya,” a comedy about...
China Cracks Down on “Hooligan Sparrow” Subjects
“Hooligan Sparrow” director Nanfu Wang was awarded with IDA’s Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award at a ceremony held last Friday. This week she had some worrying updates to offer about her...
Watch: Madonna Gives Inspiring Speech as Billboard’s Woman of the Year
“I stand before you as a doormat,” Madonna said on stage at the Billboard Women in Music Event, before continuing, “Oh, I mean a female entertainer.” The line drew laughs during her speech,...
NBC Orders Pilot from Shondaland Writer-Producer Jenna Bans
NBC has ordered a pilot pickup from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Family,” and “Scandal,” writer and producer Jenna Bans, THR reports. According to THR, the drama, titled “Good Girls,”...
Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” Sweeps 2016 European Film Awards
Maren Ade’s foreign hit “Toni Erdmann” has swept the main categories of the 2016 European Film Awards, THR reports. The comedy took home Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and acting...
2017 Golden Globe Nominations: “Hidden Figures,” “Toni Erdmann,” and More
The 2017 Golden Globe nominations have been announced, and there’s much to celebrate and mourn. Women are shut out of a number of major categories. None of the films nominated for Best Motion...
Watch: Viola Davis Gives Inspiring Speech for #SeeHer Critics Choice Award
On Sunday night, Viola Davis was honored with the first ever See Her Award at the Critics Choice Awards in recognition of how much her work furthers the portrayal of three-dimensional women...
Metrograph Hosting Film Tribute to Novelist Patricia Highsmith
The Metrograph independent movie theater in New York has announced that they will host a series devoted to the film adaptations of queer author Patricia Highsmith. The screenings kick off on January...
Trailer Watch: Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried Get “The Last Word”
Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried have teamed up for “The Last Word,” a portrait of two women from different generations who forge a close connection under unlikely — and rather...
Emmy Rossum Demands Equal Pay on “Shameless”
Emmy Rossum wants a well-deserved raise. The “Shameless” star “is locked in a pay standoff that is holding up a possible eighth season of the popular Showtime dramedy,” The Hollywood...
Amy Adams to Receive Chairman’s Award at Palm Springs International Film Fest
Five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams will be presented with the Chairman’s Award at the 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) for her performance in “Arrival.” She’ll receive...
Elise McCave and Liz Cook Take On New Roles at Kickstarter
Kickstarter has announced two new advancements for women in their company. Elise McCave has joined Kickstarter as the new Director of Narrative Film. Liz Cook, who previously served as Documentary...
Meryl Poster Developing Two Scripted Series for Lifetime
Meryl Poster is teaming up with Lifetime on two new female-centric projects. Deadline reports that the “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” executive producer is developing two scripted series for...
Trailer Watch: Sex, Scandal, and Murder Haunt “Lady Macbeth”
Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth has long been characterized as a strong and powerful yet manipulative woman. Now her namesake is being used as the title for a film that’s set a couple hundred years...
“Hidden Figures” Wins Sloan Science in Cinema Prize
The San Francisco Film Society has announced that “Hidden Figures” is the 2016 recipient of the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize, “celebrating the depiction of science in a narrative feature...
“The Good Wife” Spinoff Gets a Premiere Date
A premiere date has finally been set for “The Good Fight,” the hotly anticipated “Good Wife” spinoff. The Hollywood Reporter writes that the legal drama will debut on CBS and CBS All Access,...
Lydia Polgreen Hired as Editor-in-Chief at The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post has made an excellent move in appointing Lydia Polgreen as editor-in-chief of the outlet. Polgreen, who has been with the New York Times since 2002, was acting as the Times’...
Help Us Roast the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards
Guest Post By Megan Riakos On December 7, Australian organization WIFT (Women in Film) NSW staged a protest where members dressed as sausages stormed the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television...
“The Daily Show” Co-Creator Lizz Winstead to Release Pay-Per-View Special
Lizz Winstead, co-creator of “The Daily Show,” has announced that she’ll broadcast an end-of-year wrap-up on December 31, The A.V. Club reports. The pay-per-view special will be titled...