Women Directors
Petra Volpe’s “The Divine Order” Chosen as Switzerland’s Foreign-Language Oscar Pick
“The Divine Order” may be headed to the Academy Awards. Switzerland has selected Petra Volpe’s award-winning women’s rights drama to represent the country in the best foreign-language film...
Weekly Update for August 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Step” Films About Women Opening This Week Step (Documentary) — Directed by Amanda Lipitz Baltimore is a city that is fighting to save its youth. “Step” chronicles the trials and...
Nisha Ganatra to Direct Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson Comedy “Late Night”
Nisha Ganatra’s star continues to rise. The director is currently filming her first pilot, and now comes word that she’ll helm “Late Night,” a Fox 2000 comedy starring Mindy Kaling and Emma...
Letting Go of the Past: Crowdfunding Picks
The past is the story of who we are: it defines us and plays a part in how we act. But sometimes the past can hold us back and take away our ability to make progress. For this round of crowdfunding...
Trailer Watch: Melissa Leo Resists Change in the Church in Maggie Betts’ “Novitiate”
Piercings, door-slamming, and mouthiness are some of the more common ways teens rebel against their parents. “Novitiate” sees 17-year-old Cathleen (Margaret Qualley, “The Leftovers”) bucking...
Quote of the Day: Ava DuVernay Doesn’t “Understand a Structure Where Women Aren’t Making Decisions”
Ava DuVernay is at it again. The “13th” director can always be counted on to deliver powerful truths about the industry, whether she’s describing Hollywood as “a patriarchy, headed by men...
“Anne With an E” Renewed for Season 2
The chattiest, most precocious redhead on TV is sticking around for a while. Netflix and CBC have renewed “Anne with an E” for a ten-episode second season, Deadline confirms. Season 1 of...
NBC Launches Initiative to Train and Hire Women Directors
Just one drama pilot was directed by a woman this broadcast pilot season. One. As much as people like to treat TV like film’s woke — or at least more woke — sophisticated, cooler...
Apply Now for the 2018 Diverse Voices in Docs Program
Applications are now being accepted for Kartemquin Films and The Community Film Workshop of Chicago’s sixth Diverse Voices in Docs (DVID) program. DVID will provide eight filmmakers of color from...
TIFF’s Platform Program 50% Women-Directed, Includes World Premiere of Clio Barnard’s “Dark River”
The Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform program has arrived, and it’s something to celebrate. Hailing from eight countries on five continents, the lineup features 12 films, six of...
Trailer Watch: History Is Made in Gurinder Chadha’s “Viceroy’s House”
“I am to be the last Viceroy of India and I shall carry out the role with great pride,” says Lord Louis Montbatten (Hugh Bonneville, “Downton Abbey”) in a new trailer for Gurinder Chadha’s...
Amanda Lipitz on the Inspiring Girls of “Step”
Do yourself a favor and go see “Step” this weekend. It’s impossible to watch without wanting to dance in your seat. Directed by Amanda Lipitz, the inspiring doc follows three senior...
“Patti Cake$” Breakout Danielle Macdonald to Star in “White Girl Problems”
The breakout star of Sundance 2017 has booked her next gig. “Patti Cake$’” Danielle Macdonald will topline Lauren Palmigiano’s feature directorial debut, “White Girl Problems.” Deadline...
Trailer Watch: Angelina Jolie Tells a Harrowing Story in “First They Killed My Father”
A trailer has landed for Angelina Jolie’s latest directorial effort, “First They Killed My Father.” The spot is scarce on plot details — and includes no dialogue — but it manages...
London Feminist Film Fest Unveils 2017 Lineup
“In these politically and socially turbulent times we felt a real need to address the rising levels of misogyny, racism, and xenophobia,” write the organizers of the fifth London Feminist Film...
August 2017 Film Preview
“The Glass Castle” With summer drawing to a close, August brings a bevy of films by and about women that engage with quirky themes and unique perspectives. The month kicks off with “Step,”...
TIFF Announces More Lineups: “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” to Open Doc Program
The Toronto International Film Festival is rolling out more of its lineups. About a week ago, TIFF announced its most high-profile programs, Galas and Special Presentations (which include Susanna...
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady Doc About Hasidic Judaism Lands at Netflix
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s portrait of an Evangelical Christian summer camp earned them an Oscar nomination, and the “Jesus Camp” directors’ latest project, “One of Us,” explores...
Jane Campion’s “Top of the Lake: China Girl” Gets U.S. Premiere Date
Your other Elisabeth Moss TV obsession is coming back. The “Handmaid’s Tale” star reprises her role in “Top of the Lake’s” highly anticipated sophomore season, “China Girl,” and this...
Bryce Dallas Howard to Make Feature Directorial Debut with “Sorta Like a Rock Star”
Bryce Dallas Howard is stepping behind the camera again. The Golden Globe-nominated actress has signed on to make her feature directorial debut with an adaptation of Matthew Quick’s novel “Sorta...
Lifetime Renews “UnREAL” for Fourth Season and “Mary Kills People” for Second
If controversial dark comedies are your thing, Lifetime’s got you covered: the network is bringing lots more “UnREAL” and “Mary Kills People” your way, according...
The First Season of HBO’s “Room 104” is Over 50 Percent Women-Directed
Year after year we’re disappointed by “Game of Thrones,” an addictive and entertaining series that clearly prides itself on its depictions of powerful female characters yet doesn’t hire...
Weekly Update for July 28: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Atomic Blonde” Films About Women Opening This Week Atomic Blonde Oscar-winner Charlize Theron explodes into summer in “Atomic Blonde,” a breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most...
Trailer Watch: The Pfeffermans Go to Israel in “Transparent” Season 4
“You can just start again and never look back,” says Maura (Jeffrey Tambor) in a newly released trailer for “Transparent’s” upcoming fourth season. But — for better and for...
Bonni Cohen on Why “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” Gives Viewers A Bucket of Hope
Bonni Cohen is an award-winning producer and director. She co-directed “Audrie & Daisy,” which premiered in competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up as a Netflix...
Could “Wonder Woman” Be an Oscar Contender? Warner Bros. Thinks So
Goddess willing, this Oscar season could be a game-changer. “Wonder Woman” is the highest-grossing film of the summer, the second highest-grossing film of the year behind “Beauty and the...
“Harlots” Renewed for Second Season
Hulu has renewed “Harlots” for a second season, Variety reports. The series, which is set in an 18th-century London brothel, is set to return to the network in 2018. “Harlots” centers...
Jenna Mattison’s Directorial Debut “The Sound” Acquired, Rose McGowan Stars
Jenna Mattison’s directorial debut has found a home. According to Deadline, Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films have joined forces to acquire “The Sound,” a thriller toplined by...
Rachel Carey’s Film About Chicago’s Underground Abortion Network Goes into Production
Production has begun on a new film based on the true story of the underground abortion network known as The Jane Collective, a press release has announced. “Ask for Jane” is the brainchild of...
Locarno Festival to Award Audentia Prize for Best Female Director
The Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund has joined forces with the Locarno Film Festival this year to present the second edition of its Audentia Award for best female director, a press release has...
Trailer Watch: A City is Forever Changed in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Detroit”
It’s the night of July 25, 1967 and soul music is drifting out of the Algiers Motel on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. “Turn that radio up,” someone says, as a bunch of guys sit around...
Katherine Dieckmann on Crafting an Unconventional Female Protagonist in “Strange Weather”
Katherine Dieckmann’s films include “Motherhood,” “Diggers,” and “A Good Baby.” She began her career as a journalist, writing for such publications as Rolling Stone, The Village Voice,...
Patty Jenkins to Direct New TNT Drama “One Day She’ll Darken”
Patty Jenkins’ is following up “Wonder Woman” with a return to the small screen. The herstory-making director will helm the pilot of “One Day She’ll Darken,” a six episode limited drama...
Women-Directed Films Account For Less Than 5 Percent of Venice’s Competition Lineup
“Venice is recognized as the oldest film festival in the world, but the 73rd iteration of the fest demonstrates that they are lagging behind when it comes to gender equality in their...
“Middlemarch” Web Series Modernizes the Classic Novel
Of all the classic novels you could imagine being turned into a web series for the 21st century, George Eliot’s “Middlemarch” might not be the first to spring to mind. Then again, where better...
Book Excerpt: “Nancy Meyers”
The following is excerpted from Deborah Jermyn’s “Nancy Meyers,” which will be released July 27. May 2014. A BBC journalist was on the phone. It was shortly to be the twentieth anniversary of...
Trailer Watch: Tig Notaro’s “One Mississippi” Returns For Second Season
The last time we saw Tig Notaro’s “One Mississippi” alter-ego, she was still oscillating between life crises and a new lease of life “down on the bayou.” The comedian’s...
Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar” Gets Third Season
Ava DuVernay’s hit television series “Queen Sugar” has been renewed. The critically acclaimed series will return for a third season on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network, The Hollywood Reporter...
Venice Days Competition is 33 Percent Women-Directed
Another day, another festival lineup. Less than 24 hours after the Toronto International Film Festival announced its Gala and Special Presentation programs, Venice Days, The Venice Film Festival’s...
“Wonder Woman 2” Gets a Release Date
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman is set to return for her second solo outing in two years time, Warner Bros. has confirmed. Christmas will come early for fans of the Amazonian demigodess, as she’ll be...
Guest Post: Why I Made “Birthright: A War Story,” The Real-Life “Handmaid’s Tale”
Guest Post by Civia Tamarkin As a veteran journalist and documentary filmmaker, much of my focus has been criminal and social justice issues. My investigations led to the releases of a young man...
Ingrid Jungermann on How “Serial” Influenced “Women Who Kill”
Ingrid Jungermann created the WGA-nominated web series “F To 7th,” featuring Amy Sedaris, Michael Showalter, and Gaby Hoffmann, and co-created “The Slope.” She received her MFA at NYU...
Michelle Terry Named As Globe Theatre’s New Artistic Director
Michelle Terry is set to take over from departing artistic director Emma Rice at London’s Globe Theatre. The celebrated Shakespearean actor will start as artistic director designate at...
Trailer Watch: A Teen Questions His Sexuality in “Beach Rats”
“Do you think its hot when two guys make out?” a teen boy nervously asks his new girlfriend in a trailer for “Beach Rats.” Seconds before, Simone (Madeline Weinstein) told the boy (Harris...
TIFF Galas and Special Presentations: Greta Gerwig, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, & More
The Toronto International Film Festival has announced the first batch of films heading up north, and as always, the fest is highlighting both A-List stars and emerging talent. Many of the films...
Exclusive: Women Re-Adjust to Life Outside of Prison in Clip of “Returning Citizens”
“Since I’ve been home, I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a position to form an organization known as The WIRE, Women Involved in Re-Entry Efforts. And The WIRE is basically a group of...
Jane Campion Calls for Quotas for Women Directors
Jane Campion is proposing a solution to make the film world more equitable: quotas. The first female filmmaker ever to win the Palme d’Or, Campion took home the honor in 1993 for “The Piano.”...
Teaser Watch: Meet a “Murderess” in Sarah Polley’s Adaptation of Atwood’s “Alias Grace”
“Murderess is a strong word to have attached to you,” says a laconic Grace Marks in the first teaser for new miniseries “Alias Grace.” “I’d rather be a murderess than a...
Venice Critics’ Week Competition is Over 70 Percent Female-Helmed
For the second year in a row, a female director’s feature debut will open Venice Critics’ Week. The independently run Venice sidebar kicked off last year’s screenings with Alice Lowe’s...
Venice Critics’ Week Competition is Over 50 Percent Female-Helmed
“Pin Cushion”For the second year in a row, a female director’s feature debut will open Venice Critics’ Week. The independently run Venice sidebar kicked off last year’s screenings with...
Women at a Crossroads: Crowdfunding Picks
Still from “Human Telegraphs” For this round of crowdfunding picks, we’re featuring projects that explore the kinds of decisions that women make they find themselves at a crossroads in their...