Women Directors
Cannes 2017: All Hail Jane Campion
Me with Jane Campion at Cannes Cannes Film Festival celebrated its 70th anniversary this year. Just remember that only one female director — Jane Campion — has won a Palme d’Or. She...
Lee Grant to Receive Split Screens Festival’s Inaugural Legacy Award
Actress, director, and author Lee Grant will be honored this year at the Split Screens Festival. According to an announcement from the television fest, Grant will receive its first Legacy Award,...
WIDC Launches Directory of Canadian Women Directors and Calls for Award Submissions
In honor of its 20th anniversary, Canada’s Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) initiative has announced the launch of an online directory of its filmmakers. The alumnae directory includes...
Gina Prince-Bythewood to Direct Marvel’s “Silver Sable and Black Cat”
Gina Prince-Bythewood is getting a superhero movie. Variety reports that the “Secret Life of Bees” writer-director has signed to to helm “Silver Sable and Black Cat.” She’ll also rewrite...
Cannes Update: Gurinder Chadha’s “Viceroy’s House” Gets U.S. Distribution
“Viceroy’s House” has found a U.S. home. IFC acquired the U.S. rights to the period drama from “Bend It Like Beckham” director Gurinder Chadha at the Cannes market, The Hollywood Reporter...
Release Dates Set for Elizabeth Banks’ “Charlie’s Angels” and Michelle MacLaren’s “The Nightingale”
Two upcoming women-directed projects have received release dates. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michelle MacLaren’s “The Nightingale” will hit theaters in summer 2018 and the...
WIF Launches Campaign Encouraging Audiences to See “Wonder Woman” Opening Weekend
We know where we’ll be next weekend — watching Gal Gadot kick ass on the big screen. After years of anticipation, Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” is opening in theaters. And we’ll be...
Cannes Update: Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider” Snagged by Sony Pictures Classics
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the North American rights to Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider,” a press release has announced. The company will also distribute the cowboy drama in Latin America,...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Natalia Santa — “La Defensa del Dragón”
“La Defensa del Dragón” is Natalia Santa’s directorial debut. The film will premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival on May 24. W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words. NS:...
Women Filmmakers Receive 66% of Doha Film Institute Spring Grants
In much-needed good news, Variety reports that Doha Film Institute (DFI) is awarding more than half of its spring grants to female filmmakers. In fact, women will receive about 66 percent of the...
Trailer Watch: The Bordelon Legacy Is at Stake in “Queen Sugar” Season 2
“We are a family,” Violet Bordelon (Tina Lifford) tells her nieces Nova and Charley (Rutina Wesley and Dawn-Lyen Gardner) in the trailer for Season 2 of “Queen Sugar.” “Somehow, someway,...
Haifaa Al-Mansour to Direct “The Perfect Candidate”
“Wadjda” writer-director Haifaa Al-Mansour has lined up her next project. The trailblazing Saudi Arabian filmmaker will helm “The Perfect Candidate,” a drama about a young female physician...
Cannes Update: Rihanna, Lupita Nyong’o, Ava DuVernay, and Issa Rae Team Up for Buddy Film
This is not a drill: Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o are starring in a buddy movie together. “Insecure” co-creator Issa Rae is writing the script. “Selma” helmer Ava DuVernay is directing. If...
Cannes Update: Amma Asante’s Amandla Stenberg-Starrer “Where Hands Touch” Acquired by Sony Pictures…
Cannes Update: Amma Asante’s Amandla Stenberg-Starrer “Where Hands Touch” Acquired by Sony Pictures Worldwide Amandla Stenberg is one step closer to breaking audience’s hearts yet again....
Cannes Update: Catherine Deneuve to Star in Julie Bertuccelli’s “Claire Darling”
“School of Babel” director Julie Bertuccelli has begun production on her next film, “Claire Darling.” According to Variety, Catherine Deneuve and her daughter Chiara Mastroianni have signed...
Elvira Lind’s Tribeca Winner “Bobbi Jene” Acquired by Oscilloscope
Elvira Lind’s “Bobbi Jene” has found a home. Oscilloscope Laboratories snagged the U.S. rights to the the award-winning documentary about American dancer Bobbi Jene Smith, a press release has...
Cannes Update: Joanna Hogg to Direct “The Souvenir”
“Exhibition” writer-director Joanna Hogg has a new project in the works. The British filmmaker will helm “The Souvenir,” a romantic mystery executive-produced by Sikelia Productions’...
Cannes Interview: Kristen Stewart Explains Why Directing Shouldn’t Be About Correcting
Kristen Stewart is crafting a great career for herself. She shot to international stardom in “Twilight,” but it’s what she’s done after the vampire romance franchise that really makes her...
Industry Double Standards: The Success of “Everything, Everything” and Failure of “King Arthur”
Stella Meghie’s “Everything, Everything” is beating box office expectations. Guy Ritchie’s “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” is bombing. But let’s be real, Ritchie will still get his...
“Mamma Mia!” Sequel Announced
Universal has realized it could never let go of “Mamma Mia!” Variety reports that a sequel for the 2008 musical hit is officially in the works. “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!” will hit...
The Cannes Conundrum
I feel very conflicted writing about the Cannes Film Festival. It would be easy if I wrote reviews and I could just talk about the movies — whether I like them or not, and whether they suck or...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Cecilia Atan and Valeria Pivato — “The Desert Bride”
Cecilia Atan’s documentary series “Madres de Plaza de Mayo, la Historia” was nominated for the International Emmy Awards. “The Sea,” her first short film, screened at the Cannes Short Film...
Guest Post: Why My New Film “AWOL” Is More Than a Love Story
Guest Post by Deb Shoval “AWOL” was a long time coming, the kind of fabled first feature film journey that humbles, challenges, and educates — the kind of experience one hopes to...
Directors UK Launches New Mentorship and Career Development Program
Directors UK has launched a new initiative for its members. Directors UK Inspire: A Mentoring and Career Development Programme “aims to inspire and encourage directors across genres to seek...
Cannes Update: Claire Denis’ “Let the Sunshine In” Acquired by Sundance Selects
Sundance Selects has snagged all North American rights to Claire Denis’ “Let the Sunshine In,” Variety reports. The dramedy just made its world premiere at Cannes, where it received positive...
Weekly Update for May 19: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Everything, Everything” Films About Women Opening This Week Everything, Everything — Directed by Stella Meghie What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Bonni Cohen — “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power”
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...
Carrie Brownstein to Make Feature Directorial Debut with “Fairy Godmother”
In news that’s sure to please “Portlandia’s” feminist bookstore owners, actress, writer, and Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein has signed on to direct the Chiara Atik-penned...
The Personal Is Communal: Crowdfunding Picks
We all have that friend who constantly “knows how you feel.” You know what we’re talking about. Well, trust us, this group of crowdfunding picks really know how you feel. Each respective...
Cannes Update: Greta Gerwig to Star in Mia Hansen-Løve’s English-Language Debut
French filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve is set to make her English-language debut. ScreenDaily reports that the award-winning writer-director will helm “Bergman Island,” starring Greta Gerwig, Mia...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Chloé Zhao — “The Rider”
Chloé Zhao is an award-winning director and producer. Her first feature-length doc, 2015’s “Songs My Brother Taught Me,” was nominated for the Golden Camera Award at Cannes, the Grand Jury...
BAFTA Names 15 Female Directors Selected for Elevate 2017 Program
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the participants of its annual Elevate program. As this year’s initiative addresses the gender gap among directors in the...
“Wakefield” Writer-Director Robin Swicord on How She Got the Movie Made and Breaking into Directing
Robin Swicord’s many writing credits span from ’90s family favorite “Matilda” to Oscar-nominated drama “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” She made her directorial feature debut with...
Trailer Watch: Emmanuelle Riva Goes Missing in Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon’s “Lost in Paris”
A woman travels to Paris with an unusual mission in Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel’s latest offering, “Lost in Paris.” A U.S. trailer has dropped for the whimsical comedy, which centers on...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Marcela Said — “Los Perros”
Marcela Said has worked in both documentary and feature films. Her debut feature, “The Summer of Flying Fish,” premiered at the Director’s Fortnight in 2013. She wrote “Los Perros” at the...
New Research Shows Number of Women-Directed Films Screening at Fests Hasn’t Improved
If you attend a high-profile U.S. film festival, you are three times as likely to see a feature film directed by a man as you are to see one directed by a woman. And you are twice as likely to catch...
Film London, BFI, and BBC’s Microwave Commissions Films From Female & Non-Binary Directors
Microwave, the small budget feature film program from Film London, BFI, and BBC Films has revealed its two latest commissions. ScreenDaily reports that trans romance “Violets Are Blue” and...
Cannes 2017: Salma Hayek, Robin Wright, and More to Participate in Women in Motion Talks
Women-directed films are — once again — scarcely represented in Cannes’ Competition lineup, but fortunately Kering’s third annual Women in Motion program promises to initiate and...
Teaser Watch: A Girl Disguises Herself as a Boy to Help Her Family in “The Breadwinner”
“When I was young, Parvana, I knew what peace felt like,” a father tells his daughter in a new trailer for “The Breadwinner.” He explains, “Stories remain in our hearts even when all else...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Léa Mysius — “Ava”
Léa Mysius has directed three award-winning short films selected for a number of festivals: “Cadavre exquis,” “Les Oiseaux-tonnerre,” selected for the Cannes Cinéfondation award, and...
DC Announces “Wonder Woman Day” Celebrations
“Wonder Woman” will — at long last — hit multiplexes June 2. But the fun won’t stop there. DC Entertainment has announced that June 3 will be “Wonder Woman Day,” complete with...
Julie Taymor, Denée Benton, and More to Be Honored at 2017 Lilly Awards
The honorees of the eighth annual Lilly Awards have been announced. Director Julie Taymor and Broadway star and “UnREAL” actress Denée Benton are among the 2017 recipients, BroadwayWorld...
Cannes 2017 Women Directors: Meet Valeska Grisebach — “Western”
Valeska Grisebach’s directorial debut, “Be My Star,” won the Critics’ Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Torino Film Festival’s main prize. Her second feature film,...
Trailer Watch: Emma Stone Tackles Sexism on the Tennis Court in “Battle of the Sexes”
“Battle of the Sexes” “I had a great idea,” Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) tells Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) over the phone in the new trailer for “Battle of the Sexes.” “‘Male...
Cannes 2017 Updates: Rosamund Pike, Blake Lively, and Noomi Rapace Line Up New Projects
Cannes is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, but it’s also a business hub. The fest — and Cannes market — officially kick off tomorrow, May 17, but new projects...
Guest Post: How a Short I Wrote Ended Up Being Directed by Robin Wright and Premiering at Cannes
Guest Post by Denise Meyers I am the antithesis of what a successful screenwriter looks like: I am 57, female, and live in the fly-over zone. I am also a great one for beating the odds, because on...
Trailer Watch: A Woman Falls for Her Brother’s Girlfriend in “Heartland”
“Carrie?” Lauren (Velinda Godfrey) says in a new trailer for “Heartland.” “Would you maybe want to do something crazy with me right now?” So begins a couple days of fun and adventure for...
Cannes 2017: Women in Motion to Honor Isabelle Huppert and Maysaloun Hamoud
The face of this year’s Women in Motion program is also the winner of its top prize. In partnership with Cannes, Kering will present the 2017 Women in Motion Award to Isabelle Huppert. The news...
Kristin Scott Thomas to Play BMW Heiress in Alexandra-Therese Keining’s “Paramour”
Kristin Scott Thomas has signed on to star in “Paramour,” a thriller about a doomed romance. Swedish helmer Alexandra-Therese Keining will direct the film, Deadline reports. Inspired by the...
“Sworn Virgin” Director Laura Bispuri Announces Next Film
Laura Bispuri will examine the complex relationships between mothers and daughters as well as adoptive and biological parents in her next film. Per Variety, the “Sworn Virgin” director is set to...
Submissions Are Open for the 2018 Athena Film Festival
Does your short or screenplay portray a female leader? If so, take note: the Athena Film Festival at Barnard College is now accepting submissions. Co-founded by Women and Hollywood founder and...