Women Directors
Weekly Update for December 16: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” Films About Women Opening This Week Rogue One: A Star Wars Story The first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is an all-new...
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...
Trailer Watch: 24-Year-Old Emily Hagins Premieres “Coin Heist” on Netflix
Emily Hagins wrote and directed her first film, a teen zombie thriller, at just 12 years old. Now 24, the up and coming writer-director has a feature debuting on Netflix, and the trailer has...
Male Privilege Strikes Again: Director with Zero Screen Experience Lands “Cruella”
If it’s a day that ends in Y, it must be a day where a male director has gotten a job he’s not qualified for. As THR reports, first-time film director Alex Timbers is in negotiations to direct...
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...
Breaking the Mold: December 2016’s Crowdfunding Picks
“Lipstick the Series” This month’s crowdfunding picks are all about breaking the mold. From a documentary set during the modern women’s movement to the second season of a popular web series...
Women Film Critics Circle Nominations: “Hidden Figures,” “13th,” & More
“13th” Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain Women,” and “Hidden Figures” are among the films to be honored by The Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) this year. The...
Trailer Watch: Katherine Heigl and Rosario Dawson Face Off in “Unforgettable”
Veteran producer Denise Di Novi (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Heathers”) is making her directorial debut...
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...
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...
Weekly Update for December 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“All We Had” Films About Women Opening This Week All We Had — Directed by Katie Holmes; Co-Written by Jill Killington (Also Available on VOD) Ruthie Carmichael (Stefania Owen) makes the...
Sundance Short Film Lineup is About 50 Percent Women-Directed
“Come Swim”: Sundance The 68 short films that will screen alongside the feature lineup of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival were announced today, and female filmmakers are very well-represented in...
Trailer Watch: Love Triumphs in Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom”
Another trailer has landed for “Belle” director Amma Asante’s new film, “A United Kingdom.” The interracial romance is inspired by a true story, and a newly released spot for the film...
Making Childcare in the Film Industry Possible with The Wee Wagon Project
Zoe Saldana, who was denied on-set child care, on The Today Show: NBC If we really want more women making the media that defines our world, we can’t ignore the giant stuffed elephant in the room:...
Ryan Murphy’s Push to Hire More Female Directors is a Huge Success
Ryan Murphy has put his words into action. Months after launching Half, a foundation within his 20th Century Fox-based production company aiming to diversify Hollywood, results are actually in. As...
Denise Di Novi Books Second Directing Gig Before Her First Film is Released
Denise Di Novi’s directorial debut won’t be released until April 21, but the filmmaker has already lined up her second directing gig. Deadline reports that she will follow up Warner Bros.’...
Oscars 2017: Documentary Feature Shortlist Includes “13th,” “Weiner,” & More
The Academy has revealed the 15 titles to advance in the race for feature documentary, and four of them are women-directed or co-directed, amounting to nearly 27 percent of the contenders. The five...
“Queen Sugar” Season Finale Was the Night’s #1 Cable Telecast for Women
“Queen Sugar’s” first season concluded on OWN Wednesday, November 30, and many viewers tuned in to see what the Bordelon siblings got up to. OWN announced that it had ordered a second season...
Sundance 2017 to Host World Premieres of Films by Barbara Kopple, Dee Rees, & More
The Sundance Film Festival has unveiled more of its 2017 slate. The Park City, Utah-based fest will host World Premieres of films by Oscar winner Barbara Kopple, Lucy Walker, Dee Rees,...
Vanessa Redgrave Makes Directorial Debut with “Sea Sorrow”
The legendary Vanessa Redgrave has made her directorial debut. The long-time actress helmed “Sea Sorrow,” which stars Emma Thomspson and Ralph Fiennes, and tells the story of “refugees fleeing...
Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” Wins Big at British Independent Film Awards
Andrea Arnold and “American Honey” won big at the British Independent Film Awards over the weekend. It took home four awards total, including Best British Independent Film. “American Honey”...
Elizabeth Banks Options Lindy West’s “Shrill” For Television
Elizabeth Banks is continuing her TV takeover. As Variety reports, Banks has a number of projects in the works, and has just optioned the feminist book “Shrill: Notes From A Loud Woman” with the...
Amy Schumer to Write and Star in “Barbie” for a Woman Director
Amy Schumer is bringing the world’s most famous doll to the big screen. The “Trainwreck” star and screenwriter is in negotiations to play Barbie in a live-action Sony Pictures film based on...
Julie Delpy to Write, Direct, and Star in Family Drama “My Zoe”
Julie Delpy has booked her next gig. The screenwriter, director, and actress is moving forward with a project that she’s been working on for over 20 years, “My Zoe.” She’ll write, direct,...
Weekly Update for December 2: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Jackie” Films About Women Opening This Week Jackie “Jackie” is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of...
Dudeocracy Alert: Female “21 Jump Street” Written and Possibly Directed by Dude
Again?!? In today’s case of “Are you fucking kidding me?” yet another guy with absolutely zero directing experience may be tapped to helm a franchise film, and a female-centric one...
Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” Tops Sight & Sound’s Critics’ Poll and Makes History
“Toni Erdmann” “Toni Erdmann” continues to rack up honors. Maren Ade’s Cannes hit came in at number one on Sight & Sound’s prestigious annual critics’ poll. The UK Magazine asked...
Hannah Macpherson to Direct Adaption of “The Merciless” for Lionsgate
“The Merciless” is one step closer to terrifying audiences on the big screen. Hannah Macpherson is in “final talks” to helm Lionsgate’s adaptation of Danielle Vega’s 2014 horror novel of...
December 2016 Film Preview
“Hidden Figures” ‘Tis the holiday movie season once more, Women and Hollywood readers! This is the time of year to escape designated family time by going to your local theater and choosing from...
Sundance 2017 Competition Lineup Revealed, 36% of Films Women-Directed
“Casting JonBenet”: Sundance Sundance has revealed the competition lineup for the 2017 edition of the fest, to be held in Park City, Utah January 19–29. Of the 56 films that have been announced...
Amazon Studios to Sponsor the 2017 Athena Film Festival’s Athena List
The Athena Film Festival has announced that Amazon Studios will sponsor the 2017 Athena List, a slate of three to five screenplays that have yet to be produced that showcase female leadership or...
Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch Only Includes Two Women
Variety has announced their selections for the 20th anniversary of the 10 Directors to Watch series, and sadly only two of their eleven choices are women. (While the list is 10 Directors to Watch,...
Putting it All Out in the Open: Crowdfunding Picks
“Netizens” A lot of social and cultural issues stem from those in power refusing to acknowledge the elephant in the room. In our crowdfunding picks, two documentaries delve into topics that are...
“Room” to be Adapted for the Stage
“Room” is moving from the page to the big screen to the theater. A stage production based on Emma Donoghue’s best-selling, award-winning novel is set to open in London next year, and will be...
Anna Foerster to Direct Thriller “Lou” for Paramount Pictures and J.J. Abrams
Anna Foerster has booked another directing gig months before her feature directorial debut, “Underworld: Blood Wars,” hits theaters. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” helmer J.J. Abrams has...
“Appropriate Behavior’s” Desiree Akhavan to Direct Adaption of “Adam”
The hot streak continues for “Appropriate Behavior” writer-director-star Desiree Akhavan. Deadline reports that she’s been tapped to helm “Adam,” an adaptation of Ariel Schrag’s 2012...
Jodie Foster to Star in Sci-Fi “Hotel Artemis” Directed By Unqualified Dude
Jodie Foster has signed on to star in the sci-fi film “Hotel Artemis,” THR writes. She’ll play a character called “The Nurse,” in the “near-future thriller that is set in its own...
Mia Hansen-Løve to Direct Juliette Binoche in “Maya”
“Things to Come” doesn’t hit U.S. theaters until this Friday, but writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve’s follow-up to the film is already taking shape. The cast for her next project, “Maya,”...
Kelly Reichardt Announces Next Film
Fresh off the success of her latest and highest grossing film, “Certain Women,” director Kelly Reichardt has announced her next project. As The LA Times reports, her next film is “a...
“Toni Erdmann” Wins European Lux Film Prize
Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” has won the Lux Film Prize, the annual film honor handed out by the European Parliament, THR reports. The award goes to a film that contributes to the “debate and...
Gotham Award Winners: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Isabelle Huppert, and More
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” was named Breakthrough Series — Long Form at the annual IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards, held last night in NY. Created by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna,...
Sondheim’s “Company” Getting Gender Swapped by Marianne Elliott
Tony winner Marianne Elliott’s new company is giving the Sondheim musical “Company” a twist by gender swapping the main character. According to The New York Times, Elliott’s new company,...
Quote of the Day: Susanne Bier on the Lingering Threat of “a Female Vision”
Speaking at the Screen Film Summit, Screen Daily reports, “The Night Manager” director Susanne Bier dove into the perceptions of female directors in Hollywood. One of the biggest topics she...
Oscars 2016: 20 Shorts Move Forward, and Only 2 of Them Are Directed by Women
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the 10 live action shorts and 10 animated shorts that will advance on the road to the Oscars. Zero women directors made the cut for live...
“Southwest of Salem” Helps Exonerate Four Wrongfully Convicted Women
Nearly 20 years after being wrongfully convicted for a crime they didn’t commit, the San Antonio Four have been declared innocent. Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna...
Inner Lives: November 2016’s VOD and Web Series Picks
“Bwitches” It’s no secret that women lead rich, inner lives. From keeping their true selves secret from the public eye, to private struggles with illness, this month’s choices on VOD and the...
Weekly Update for November 23: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Miss Sloane” Films About Women Opening This Week Miss Sloane (Opens November 25) In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought...
Kathleen Kennedy Doesn’t Think There’s a Woman Director Ready for “Star Wars”
“Star Wars” producer Kathleen Kennedy sounds determined to get a female director on board for a movie in the “Star Wars” franchise, but she seems to be going about it the wrong way. Rather...
Independent Spirit Award Nominations: “American Honey” Dominates
The nominees for the 32nd annual Independent Spirit Awards have been announced. Taking a look at the nominees, it’s seems that the indie world is feeling appreciative of female-driven and directed...