Women Directors
Trailer Watch: Lake Bell Explores Whether Love Is Sustainable in “I Do… Until I Don’t”
“My new project will propose that love is not sustainable,” a filmmaker (Dolly Wells, “Doll & Em”) tells an audience in the first trailer for “I Do… Until I Don’t.” “Will you...
Abigail Disney’s Fork Films Offers Grants to 14 Women-Directed Docs
Abigail Disney is spreading some magic — and money. The “Armor of Light” director and grandniece of Walt Disney is the CEO and President of Fork Films, a film production company that has...
Quote of the Day: Solange Thanks BET for Always Giving Women a Seat at the Table
When Solange won the Centric Award at Sunday’s BET Awards, her acceptance speech seemed fairly run-of-the-mill at first. She thanked her family and friends, her husband and son, and her...
Petra Volpe’s Tribeca Winner “The Divine Order” Acquired by Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist Films
We’re currently in desperate need of stories about resistance. Given the current political climate in the U.S., the need is especially great for female-led stories of resistance. Fortunately Kino...
Trailer Watch: The Bellas Are Ready to “Aca-Finish This” in “Pitch Perfect 3”
The Barden Bellas have finally graduated and it turns out the real world isn’t as fun as collegiate a cappella competitions. Beca (Anna Kendrick) just quit her job. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is doing...
Guest Post: How — and Why — I Made a Movie That Tackles Mental Health
Guest Post by Angela Cohen Why do we go to the movies? Maybe it’s to escape, to relate, live vicariously, feel less alone, or get inspired. Why do I make movies? I want people to love, laugh,...
Trailer Watch: Women Directors Step in Front of the Camera in “Seeing Is Believing”
“I’m not afraid to say, ‘I don’t know,’” says Leslie Hope, director of TV and docs, in a trailer for “Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct.” “I’m also not afraid to say, ‘This is...
Weekly Update for June 23: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Beguiled” Films About Women Opening This Week The Beguiled — Written and Directed by Sofia Coppola (Opens in Limited Release; Opens Wider on June 30) “The Beguiled” is an...
Women Directors Win Big at LA Film Festival
Women-directed films accounted for 46 percent of the films screening at this year’s LA Film Festival. The level playing field resulted in women directors dominating the fest’s awards ceremony....
Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” Poised to Become Top-Grossing Live-Action Film Directed by a Woman
Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” is poised to make herstory yet again. The Gal Gadot-led superheroine film is quickly approaching a milestone: it’s about to become the top-grossing live-action...
Barbra Streisand and Yvonne Rainer Film Retrospectives Announced
Film retrospectives will honor two icons of the stage and screen this summer in New York City. An exhibition celebrating Oscar-winning actress and singer Barbra Streisand, called “Simply...
Trailer Watch: Marion Cotillard Longs for Her Lover in Nicole Garcia’s “From the Land of the Moon”
“All I do is wait,” Marion Cotillard writes to her lover in a new trailer for “From the Land of the Moon.” “I need you to talk to me,” she begs. The trailer suggests that many of her...
“Queen Sugar” Season 2 Premiere Scores Series-High Ratings Among Women Aged 25–54
All hail the “Queen.” The second season premiere of OWN’s “Queen Sugar” drew 2.3 million viewers as well as a 0.7 18–49 rating and a 2.09 rating among women 25–54 on Tuesday night. As...
Ana Asensio’s SXSW Winner “Most Beautiful Island” Acquired By Orion and Samuel Goldwyn
Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films have snagged the North American rights to SXSW winner “Most Beautiful Island,” Deadline reports. Directed, written, produced by, and starring Ana Asensio,...
Patty Jenkins Working on Treatment for Next “Wonder Woman” Film
“Wonder Woman” has grossed over $578 million worldwide — so far — so it comes as no surprise that a sequel is being developed for the Gal Gadot-led blockbuster. But earlier this...
Interview: Costume Designer Stacey Battat Talks Creating the Fashions of “The Beguiled”
“The Beguiled”: Ben Rothstein/Focus Features Costume designer Stacey Battat’s latest film is “The Beguiled,” which happens to be her fourth collaboration with filmmaker Sofia Coppola....
Trailer Watch: Lily Collins Battles Anorexia in Marti Noxon’s “To the Bone”
A young woman battles her body and her nihilism in the first trailer for Marti Noxon’s “To the Bone.” “I just don’t see the point,” Ellen (Lily Collins, “Rules Don’t Apply”) tells...
Cheryl Dunye, Aurora Guerrero, & DeMane Davis Among Directors of “Queen Sugar” Season 2
Season 1 of Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar” was helmed entirely by female directors. As she explained in a Los Angeles Times profile, that was no accident — and Season 2 will be no...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Jennifer Arnold — “Fat Camp”
Jennifer Arnold is an Emmy-nominated director whose credits include documentaries “A Small Act,” “The Diplomat,” and “Tig.” She’s been an advisor at Outfest, Film Independent, Women in...
Mireille Enos-Starrer “Never Here” Acquired by Vertical Entertainment
Vertical Entertainment has snagged the U.S. rights to the Mireille Enos thriller “Never Here,” Deadline reports. The film, which made its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June...
Teaser Watch: The Bellas Are on Tour in Behind-the-Scenes Look at “Pitch Perfect 3”
“Pitch Perfect 3” doesn’t hit theaters for another six months, but the comedy’s new teaser promises it’ll be well worth the wait. The spot features behind-the-scenes footage from the third...
Jennifer Arnold’s “Fat Camp” Snagged by BET
Jennifer Arnold’s “Fat Camp” has found a home just days before its world premiere at the LA Film Festival (LAFF). A press release announced that the comedy has been acquired by BET with plans...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Amanda Kopp — “Liyana”
Amanda Kopp is an award-winning photographer and artist. She was producer and cinematographer for “Likhaya.” She also filmed for the “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about the prevalence...
Weekly Update for June 16: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Rough Night” Films About Women Opening This Week Rough Night — Co-Written and Directed by Lucia Aniello In this edgy R-rated comedy, five best friends from college (played by Scarlett...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Leena Pendharkar — “20 Weeks”
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning writer and director working in film, television, and new media. Her first feature film, “Raspberry Magic,” about a young girl’s connection to nature,...
Trailer Watch: Reese Witherspoon Forms a Family with Friends in Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s “Home Again”
“Let’s just do our best not to cramp each other’s style,” says Alice (Reese Witherspoon) in a new trailer for Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s “Home Again.” She’s talking to the three young men...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Leyla Nedorosleva — “Two Four Six”
Leyla Nedorosleva is an independent filmmaker based in Moscow, Russia. Her short film “1919” screened in competition at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. In 2009 Nedorosleva founded Concordius, a...
Fiction Is a Fine Line: Crowdfunding Picks
“Split” We’ve all heard that art is an imitation of life. Painters, writers, and filmmakers alike transpose what they see and feel onto their medium of choice. Personal experiences and...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Valerie Red-Horse Mohl — “Mankiller”
Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, a filmmaker of Cherokee ancestry, is the owner/founder of Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc., which has become a preeminent collaborator with American Indian tribal nations...
“Maudie” Director Aisling Walsh on Relationships, Perseverance, and Bringing Maud Lewis to Life
“Maudie” was such an unexpected delight. With terrific performances from Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, “Maudie” brings us into the lives of Maud and Everett Lewis, two people who come...
Sophie Brooks’ Zosia Mamet-Starrer “The Boy Downstairs” Acquired by FilmRise
Sophie Brooks’ debut feature has found a home. FilmRise has acquired exclusive North American distribution rights to “The Boy Downstairs,” a press release has announced. “Girls’” Zosia...
Trailer Watch: John Boyega Is the Scapegoat in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Detroit”
“I assume this is about what went on at the motel?” John Boyega’s character, Dismukes, asks during an interrogation in the new spot for “Detroit.” It’s obvious he wants to cooperate with...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Sara Lamm — “Thank You For Coming”
Sara Lamm is a writer, performer, and documentary filmmaker. Her most recent film, “Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives,” co-directed with Mary Wigmore, won the Audience Award at...
Submit Now: Women and Hollywood’s First-Time Female Filmmaker Contest
In celebration and recognition of Women and Hollywood’s 10th anniversary, we are launching a short film contest for first-time female filmmakers. The objective of the contest is to help build the...
Submit Now: Women and Hollywood’s First-Time Female Filmmaker Contest
In celebration and recognition of Women and Hollywood’s 10th anniversary, we are launching a short film contest for first-time female filmmakers. The objective of the contest is to help build the...
How You Can Be Involved in Women and Hollywood’s 10th Anniversary
2017is the 10th anniversary of Women and Hollywood. We spend every day putting out information that we believe people need to know about how women are treated in the entertainment business. Lots of...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Jennifer Morrison — “Sun Dogs”
Jennifer Morrison is an actress, producer, and director. Her acting credits include “Once Upon a Time,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “House.” She’s the founder of Apartment 3C...
Save the Date: Women and Hollywood Is Celebrating Its 10th Anniversary
Women and Hollywood is celebrating its tenth anniversary this fall and we want you to be there! Founder and Publisher Melissa Silverstein will be hosting three different events — one in New...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Ciara Lacy — “Out of State”
Ciara Lacy is a Native Hawaiian filmmaker whose interest lies in using strong characters and investigative journalism to challenge the creative and political status quo. Her work has shown in...
Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Banks Praise “Wonder Woman” at Crystal + Lucy Awards
Cuts to Planned Parenthood, the renewed global gag rule, ending the Let Girls Learn initiative — times have been especially trying for U.S. feminists lately. Luckily, the success of Patty...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Whitney Cummings — “The Female Brain”
Whitney Cummings is a Los Angeles-based comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. Best known for creating and starring in the NBC series “Whitney,” she also co-created and co-wrote the...
Quote of the Day: Elizabeth Banks on the Importance of Taking Action to Effect Change in Hollywood
Elizabeth Banks’ feature directorial debut was a smash hit. “Pitch Perfect 2” grossed more than $184 million in the U.S. — one of the highest-earning woman-directed films ever. Now the...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Julia Meltzer — “Dalya’s Other Country”
Julia Meltzer is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder and director of Clockshop, an arts organization. She previously directed the feature film, “The Light in Her Eyes,” which broadcast on...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Elizabeth Rohrbaugh— “Becks”
Elizabeth Rohrbaugh is writer and director based in NYC. Her documentary, “The Perfect Victim,” was on the PBS series “America Reframed” after premiering at the Hot Springs International...
Trailer Watch: A Teen Tries to Move On from Her Viral Past in Kyra Sedgwick’s “Story of a Girl”
“It was three years ago when the video of me and Tommy Webber went viral,” says Deanna (Ryann Shane, “Banshee”) in a new trailer for Kyra Sedgwick’s “Story of a Girl.” The video...
Human Rights Watch FF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Sophia Scott and Georgia Scott — “Lost in Lebanon”
Sophia Scott is a producer, director, and cinematographer. She has worked extensively as a self-shooting camerawoman across Africa and Asia for various organizations including the UN, PBS, CBC, The...
“Megan Leavey” Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite Talks Dogs, War, and Feminism
“Megan Leavey” is both a story of war and a story of love. Based on a true story, the movie centers on Megan (Kate Mara), a woman at the end of her rope. She joins the Marines and winds up in a...
Human Rights Watch FF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Heather White — “Complicit”
Heather White is a first-time documentary director. She is the founder and former Executive Director of Verité, an award-winning non-profit organization recognized for its groundbreaking leadership...
Tony Awards 2017 Highlights: Bette Midler, Rebecca Taichman, Cynthia Nixon, & More
The personal overlapped with the political in last night’s Tony Awards — as is usually the case in the best award ceremonies. “Hello, Dolly!” star Bette Midler got one step closer to...
“Wonder Woman” Continues to Soar at the Box Office
Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” had another great weekend at the box office — so great that just two weeks into its theatrical run Forbes is calling the Gal Gadot-led blockbuster an...
Human Rights Watch FF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Cristina Herrera Borquez— “No Dress Code Required”
Cristina Herrera Borquez is a Mexican film director whose first documentary short film “The Minutemen Project” (2006) received recognition for Outstanding Artistic Endeavo” at the 6th...