News
Ellen Burstyn and Laura Dern to Star in Jennifer Fox’s “The Tale”
Ellen Burstyn and Laura Dern have signed on to star as a mother and daughter in Jennifer Fox’s “The Tale.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The Tale” centers on Jennifer (Dern), “a...
A Creative Woman’s Journey
Guest Post By Amirose Eisenbach A mix of hard work, luck, and timing has allowed me to have a very fruitful and exciting career in entertainment for the last decade. From Warner Bros., to Fox, and...
Cannes Contender “Toni Erdmann” Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics
One of the biggest hits at the Cannes Film Festival this year has just found U.S. distribution and seems on its way to becoming a serious contender for the Palme d’Or. Maren Ade’s “Toni...
Catherine Keener’s “Little Pink House” Acquired by Film Mode
Film Mode Entertainment has acquired writer-director Courtney Moorehead Balaker’s “Little Pink House.” The David and Goliath drama stars two-time Oscar-nominee Catherine Keener (“Show Me A...
Oscilloscope Acquires Sophia Takal’s “Always Shine”
Oscilloscope Laboratories has announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to Sophia Takal’s second directorial feature, “Always Shine,” which recently screened at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival,...
Alice Rohrwacher Named Film Society of Lincoln Center Filmmaker in Residence
Director Alice Rohrwacher has been named the fourth Film Society of Lincoln Center and Jaeger-LeCoultre filmmaker in residence, Variety has reported. The announcement was made at the Cannes Film...
Cannes 2016: “Toni Erdmann” Director Maren Ade Calls for 50% Quotas for Female Directors
Maren Ade is just one of three female directors in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival this year, and like many of us, she’s demanding more. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter,...
Trailer Watch: Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood are Resilient Sisters in “Into the Forest”
Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood’s sisterly bond is put to the test in a post-apocalyptic world in a newly released trailer for Patricia Rozema’s “Into the Forest.” The atmospheric clip...
“Supergirl” Saved, “Agent Carter” Cut: The Fate of Female-Led Shows at Major Networks
“Agent Carter”: ABC With May’s up fronts on the horizon, networks are putting shows on the chopping block and calling up orders for new pilots left and right. At ABC in particular, popular...
Halle Berry To Star in “Mustang” Director Deniz Gamze Erguven’s English-Language Debut
Deniz Gamze Erguven’s English language debut has a major star attached. Academy Award-winner Halle Berry will topline “Kings,” a drama set against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles race...
Oscar Winner Brenda Chapman to Make Live-Action Directing Debut
The Oscar-winning co-director of “Brave” is entering the world of live-action filmmaking. Brenda Chapman’s first foray outside of animation will be “Come Away,” a prequel to two animated...
Cannes 2016: Lynne Ramsay to Direct a New Thriller
ScreenDaily reports that director Lynn Ramsay will helm her first project since she left the Natalie Portman-led Western “Jane Got a Gun.” Ramsay will direct “You Were Never Really Here,” a...
Maria Bamford Finally Explodes in “Lady Dynamite”
As far as I can tell, the only lyric in the opening theme to Maria Bamford’s gloriously surreal new Netflix show is “I’m a pterodactyl!” Except in the pilot, when it’s “Have you ever...
Stripper Exposé “The Hustlers at Scores” Will Be Made Into a Film
Annapurna Pictures and Gloria Sanchez Productions have acquired the film rights to The New York Magazine article “The Hustlers at Scores” by Jessica Pressler. A modern twist on the Robin Hood...
An Update on the EEOC Investigation Into Discrimination Against Women Directors
This week marks the first anniversary of the ACLU sending its landmark letter to the EEOC formally requesting that they look into the systemic discrimination against women directors in Hollywood. We...
Rose Byrne to Star in Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s “Home Again”
Rose Byrne is reportedly in negotiations to star in the comedy “Home Again,” according to Variety. The film will be written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of Nancy Meyers, who is...
Cannes 2016: Jodie Foster Opens “Women in Motion” Program at Cannes
Jodie Foster will open the second “Women in Motion” program at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins today. Foster is at the festival promoting her film “Money Monster,” which is screening...
Trailer Watch: Salma Hayek-Pinault Revolts in “Septembers of Shiraz”
While Ben Affleck’s “Argo” may have offered a comedic take on the 1979 Iranian revolution, “Septembers of Shiraz” appears, from the looks of the new trailer, to make a more serious...
Cannes 2016: Sony Pictures Classics Acquires “Elle”
In some of the first news out of the Cannes Film Festival, which begins today, Sony Pictures Classics has bought the North American rights to Paul Verhoeven’s psychological thriller “Elle,”...
Multiple Jenni Rivera Projects in the Works
Multiple projects are in the works surrounding the life of singer Jenni Rivera, according the Deadline. Television projects and a film based on the life of the late Mexican-American singer have been...
TV Writers Petition For Tax Credits To Hire Women & Minorities
Call it Made in New York…by Women. According to Deadline, almost 500 film and TV writers have sent letters to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo asking for new tax incentives for television producers...
Rosemary Myers’ “Girl Asleep” Acquired by Oscilloscope
The U.S. rights to Rosemary Myer’s debut feature, “Girl Asleep,” have been acquired by Oscilloscope Laboratories. Set in Australia in the 1970s, the coming-of-age tale centers on Greta...
Trailer Watch: Mira Nair’s “Queen of Katwe” Cheers For an Underdog Chess Champ
The trailer for Mira Nair’s highly anticipated “Queen of Katwe” has finally dropped, and the clip is introduced with an inspirational quotation that beautifully captures what follows: “The...
Megan Griffiths’ Richard Ramirez-Inspired “The Night Stalker” To Premiere on LMN
The demand for stories about serial killers is showing no sign of slowing down. LMN, a television network that’s part of the Lifetime family, has acquired award-winning writer-director Megan...
Abigail Breslin and Trudie Styler Honored By Greenwich International Film Festival
The Greenwich International Film Festival, which is set to run from June 9–12 this year, has announced their honorees for the 2nd annual Changemaker Gala, which will take place on Friday,...
Lynda Carter Honored with Gracie’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Wonder Woman herself is getting an award. Lynda Carter, who played the Amazonian superhero on the original TV series, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Annual Gracie...
Why Research on Women Filmmakers Matters To Us All
When I was an undergraduate, I wanted to be a filmmaker. I wrote an essay declaring I would be a woman director, who made films about women, with all-women crews. Today, I am an Associate Professor...
Maisie Williams To Star in YA Thriller Directed by Kate Maberly
Arya Stark has her vision back on “Game of Thrones,” and Maisie Williams has her eyes set on a new project. ScreenDaily reports that “The Falling” actress will star in Kate Maberly’s...
Jodie Foster Gets a Star on the Walk of Fame, Talks Her Directing Style
Two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I grew up blocks from Hollywood Boulevard and would cross it every single day of my life,” said...
Cannes 2016: Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis Named 2016 Recipients of Kering Women in Motion Awards
It’s been 25 years since “Thelma & Louise” debuted on the big screen, but the iconic film — and its Oscar-winning stars — continue to make a mark on pop culture, and will be...
“The Birth of the Pill” Coming to TV
Reproductive health in the U.S. has never been short of drama. Now a new event series will tell the story of the capsule that’s changed the lives and bedrooms of millions nationally and...
Angela Davis Biopic Acquired By The Firm
An unauthorized biopic of activist Angela Davis is coming to the big-screen. Deadline reports that The Firm has acquired an as-yet untitled script from LaToya Morgan, who previously served as a...
Sundance Institute’s Annual Directors Lab Includes 5 Women
Sundance Institute has selected their first-time filmmakers for this year’s Directors Lab, and five out of the eight directors chosen are women. That’s a lovely 62 percent. The annual Lab...
Anne Hathaway Bringing Stage Role in “Grounded” To the Big Screen
Anne Hathaway is adapting a movie version of the play “Grounded,” according to Variety. In 2015, she appeared in a New York production of the single-actor drama at the Public Theater, which was...
Teyonah Parris in Talks for Christine Swanson’s “Buffalo Soldier Girl”
Teyonah Parris of “Dear White People,” “Chi-Raq,” and AMC’s “Mad Men” is reportedly in talks to star in “Buffalo Soldier Girl” for filmmaker Christine Swanson, according to...
Listen: Podcast with Maxine Peake
British actress Maxine Peake talked to Women and Hollywood about taking on one of the most sought after, challenging roles in history — Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Peake spoke with us about her...
Alicia Vikander Starts Production Company Vikarious
Alicia Vikander is taking a cue from the many women in Hollywood who have already done so and set up her own production company. Oscar-winner Vikander and her London-based agent, Charles Collier of...
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin on Hollywood After 50 and “Grace and Frankie” Season 2
“Grace and Frankie”: Netflix Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s resumes are long and illustrious, and of course include “9 to 5,” the popular feminist tale they made together in the 70s. Both are...
5 Reasons to Check Out Chelsea Handler’s New Gig on Netflix
On May 11, the deeply snarky Chelsea Handler comes back with a new talk show — the first for Netflix, premiering at 12:01 a.m. This means she’s officially back in the late-night club where,...
Glamour Starts The Girl Project with “Get Schooled” Docu-Series
Glamour Magazine has begun an initiative called The Girl Project to highlight obstacles facing the 50 million girls worldwide who are fighting for an education. As part of the project, Glamour sent...
Lupita Nyong’o and Cast of Danai Gurira’s “Eclipsed” Urge #BringBackOurGirls
After one recent matinee showing of Danai Gurira’s “Eclipsed,” which is now playing on Broadway, the play’s star, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o championed a movement to remember the...
The Dudeocracy of Film Writers
Yesterday, Owen Gleiberman was appointed chief film critic at Variety. We congratulate him on the position, and consider him a great writer, but his hiring has capped off a bothersome trend we’ve...
Louise Osmond on the Village That Inspired Her Underdog Doc “Dark Horse”
Director Louise Osmond started her career at the UK network ITN in their news journalism graduate trainee program, covering stories in Europe and Africa before moving into documentaries. Her most...
Naomi Watts and Daisy Ridley to Star in Reimagining of “Hamlet”
Two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts and rapidly ascending star Daisy Ridley are likely teaming up for a project. The pair are in final negotiations to star in “Ophelia,” a reimagining of...
Cynthia Nixon to Receive Provincetown Film Festival Excellence in Acting Award
The Provincetown International Film Festival, which runs from June 15–19 this year, has announced today that Cynthia Nixon will be honored with the 2016 Excellence in Acting Award at this...
Female Cinematographers Band Together to Form CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX
Female cinematographers are banding together to form a new, supportive group called CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX, which will “help the crews behind the camera be more reflective of the stories they create,...
DGA Members Vote For Best-Directed Films and Include Only One Woman
The Directors Guild of America is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and it’s doing so by essentially forgetting that female directors even exist. The DGA polled its members asking what...
“Twilight” Author Stephenie Meyer to Produce YA Thriller “Anna Dressed in Blood”
The force behind the “Twilight” phenomenon is returning to the world of YA. “Twilight” author and producer Stephenie Meyer is backing a new supernatural film franchise. Meyer and Meghan...
Harriet Tubman Biopic Now in Development
Mere days after the announcement that abolitionist Harriet Tubman would make her way to American currency, it’s also been announced that a biopic about her is in the works as well, Deadline has...
“UnREAL” Teasers Show How Reality TV Manipulates Its Stars
We’ve all long suspected that reality dating shows like “The Bachelor” wallow in sexism and manipulation. But Lifetime’s scripted series “UnREAL” came along last summer and proved our...
Why Are We Ignoring Female-Centric Horror Films?
“The Boy” Women in horror movies get a bad rap. Don’t get me wrong — the majority of horror films in existence today are insulting to all female and female-identifying humans, with their...