Women Directors
Alexandria Bombach’s Sundance Winner “On Her Shoulders” Acquired by Oscilloscope
After wowing audiences and critics alike at Sundance in January, “On Her Shoulders” has secured distribution. A press release announced that Oscilloscope Laboratories snagged the rights to...
Cheryl Dunye to Write and Direct Adaptation of “The Wonder of All Things”
The groundbreaking writer-director of “The Watermelon Woman” has a new project in the works. Cheryl Dunye will write and direct female-led supernatural story “The Wonder of All Things” for...
SXSW 2018 Women Directors: Meet Megan Griffiths — “Sadie”
M egan Griffiths recently directed two episodes of the HBO anthology series “Room 104” and an episode of the Epix comedy “Graves.” Her feature credits include “The Night Stalker,”...
Paramount Dedicates Building to Pioneering Director Dorothy Arzner
With 20 feature credits to her name, Dorothy Arzner is the most prolific female director of all time. History has neglected to give the trailblazing filmmaker her due, but Paramount recently honored...
Trailer Watch: Catherine Keener Fights Corporate Giants in “Little Pink House”
“I feel happy here. I feel like I’m home,” says Catherine Keener in a new trailer for “Little Pink House.” Written and directed by Courtney Moorehead Balaker, the drama sees Keener playing...
Sundance Winner Desiree Akhavan to Write, Direct, and Star in Comedy Series “The Bisexual”
“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” co-writer and director Desiree Akhavan has a TV series on the way. Titled “The Bisexual,” her first project on the small screen sees her writing,...
Only 3.3 Percent of 2018’s Studio Films Are Women-Directed
“A Wrinkle in Time” is part of the 3.3 percent: Disney “A Wrinkle in Time,” “The Darkest Minds,” and “Blockers” — those are the only women-directed studio films you can look...
“Jessica Jones” Season 2 Gets Pulp Art from Female Artists, Writers and Directors Announced
We’re just days away from the release of “Jessica Jones’” sophomore season. The latest chapter in the Krysten Ritter-led superhero drama drops on March 8, and Netflix has unveiled some...
Women Take the Spotlight in 2018 Oscar Commercials and Trailers
Between Frances McDormand recognizing all the female nominees in her acceptance speech and Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek, and Annabella Sciorra’s Time’s Up moment, gender equality and diversity were...
Indie Spirit Awards: Greta Gerwig, Dee Rees, and Agnés Varda Win Big
Saturday’s Indie Spirit Awards were a takedown of sexist bullshit and a celebration of inclusive talent. Hosts John Mulaney (“SNL”) and Nick Kroll (“Big Mouth”) had plenty to say about...
Weekly Update for March 2: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Red Sparrow” Films About Women Opening This Week Red Sparrow When she suffers a career-ending injury, Dominika (Jennifer Lawrence) and her mother are facing a bleak and uncertain future. That...
“Oh Lucy!” Writer-Director Atsuko Hirayanagi on Exploring Identity Through Comedy
Atsuko Hirayanagi was born in Nagano and raised in Chiba, Japan. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of The Arts, Asia, with an MFA in Film Production. Her shorts include “Mo ikkai,” “Wake,”...
Film Adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Telling” On the Way, Leena Pendharkar to Write & Direct
Ursula K. Le Guin fans are still mourning the loss of the iconic sci-fi writer, but just over month after her death comes word that an adaptation of “The Telling” is in the works. The Hollywood...
Trailer Watch: A Teen Will Do Whatever It Takes to Keep Her Family Together in “Sadie”
Sadie misses her dad. She writes him letters while he serves tours in the military, and no matter the distance between them, she remains extremely attached to him and anxiously awaits his visits....
French Film Industry Introduces 50/50 by 2020 Gender Equality Initiative
Members of the French film industry are gearing up their fight for gender equality just in time for Friday’s César Awards. Per Deadline, 300 artists and execs are lending their support to 5050...
Pam Fryman to Direct Pilot of “Murphy Brown” Revival
Pam Fryman has booked her fifth pilot this season, and it’s a big one: She’ll be re-introducing viewers to “Murphy Brown.” Deadline reports that she’s signed on to direct the first episode...
Sundance Winners “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Shirkers” Find Homes
Two big winners out of Sundance 2018 have secured distribution: Reed Morano’s post-apocalyptic drama “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Shirkers,” Sandi Tan’s documentary about the bizarre...
March 2018 Film Preview
It’s Women’s History Month! We can’t think of a better time to celebrate women in film, whether behind the camera or on-screen. On International Women’s Day (March 8), Netflix debuts...
March 2018 Film Preview
“A Wrinkle in Time”: Disney It’s Women’s History Month! We can’t think of a better time to celebrate women in film, whether behind the camera or on-screen. On International Women’s Day...
Barbra Streisand on Her Oscar Snubs, Hollywood’s Boys’ Club, and More
Barbra Streisand reflects on the past, present, and future in a wide-ranging, lengthy new interview in Variety. The trailblazing writer, director, and singer speaks candidly about her experiences as...
Diane Paulus on Directing the Raw, Personal One-Woman Show “In the Body of the World”
Diane Paulus is a name most theatergoers are familiar with. She has directed productions of “Waitress,” “Finding Neverland,” “Pippin,” and “Porgy and Bess,” and serves as the Terrie...
Queen Latifah to Star in Make-A-Wish-Inspired Drama From Laurie Collyer
Queen Latifah is set to play a real-life fairy godmother. The Oscar-nominated actress has signed on to topline “Hope’s Wish,” an inspirational drama inspired by a real Make-A-Wish story....
Trailer Watch: “I Am Evidence” Shines a Light on the 400,000 Untested Rape Kits in the U.S.
“The rape kit back log is the most shocking demonstration of how we regard these crimes,” says Mariska Hargitay in a new trailer for “I Am Evidence.” Produced by the “Law & Order:...
Quote of the Day: Ava DuVernay on Hollywood’s “Broken System”
The past year has seen several barriers busted open in Hollywood: Patty Jenkins made history as the highest-paid female director, Dee Rees became the first black woman nominated for the best adapted...
Gina Rodriguez to Star in and Produce Netflix Rom-Com from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Gina Rodriguez is adding another Netflix project to her slate. The “Jane the Virgin” star has signed on to topline and exec produce “Someone Great” for the streamer, The Hollywood Reporter...
Quote of the Day: Lynne Ramsay on Her Reputation for “Being Difficult”
“I’ve got a reputation for being difficult,” says Lynne Ramsay in a new interview with The Guardian, “and yet with my crew and my cast, I’m super-collaborative and we get on really well,...
Trailer Watch: Juliette Binoche Looks for Love in Claire Denis’ “Let the Sunshine In”
“You’re charming, but my wife is extraordinary,” Juliette Binoche is told in a new trailer for Claire Denis’ “Let The Sunshine In.” The Oscar winner plays Isabelle, a Parisian artist who...
Jennifer Lawrence, Catt Sadler, & Stephanie Soechtig Team Up for #MeToo Doc Series
Jennifer Lawrence, former E! News host Catt Sadler, and documentary filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig are working on a #MeToo-themed docuseries. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project will...
Berlinale: Women-Directed Films Take Home Two Highest Honors
Women-directed films accounted for just 21 percent of the films eligible for the Berlinale’s highest honors this year. Despite overwhelming odds, the fest’s most prestigious prizes, the Golden...
Weekly Update for February 23: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Annihilation” Films About Women Opening This Week Annihilation After her husband disappears, a biologist (Natalie Portman) signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in an environmental...
Adventures in Authenticity: Crowdfunding Picks
“Lorene’s Gotta Boogie” Follow the beaten path or the one less traveled? Life presents us many opportunities to explore this question, but every person’s journey towards a more authentic...
Yara Shahidi in Talks to Star in Tracy Oliver’s Adaptation of “The Sun Is Also a Star”
Yara Shahidi is “Grown-ish” and in talks to topline her own film. The actress may be starring in an adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s best-selling YA novel “The Sun Is Also a Star,” The...
Dianne Dreyer’s Directorial Debut Starring Rachel Brosnahan Nabbed by Screen Media
“Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” breakout Rachel Brosnahan will be hitting the big screen later this year. The recent Golden Globe winner toplines “Change in the Air,” Dianne Dreyer’s directorial...
Berlinale 2018 Women Directors: Meet Adina Pintilie — “Touch Me Not”
Adina Pintilie is a Romanian filmmaker and visual artist. Her previous credits include “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and screened at over 50 international...
Trailer Watch: Halle Berry Fights to Keep Her Family Safe During the LA Riots in “Kings”
A trailer has arrived for Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s follow-up to “Mustang.” “Kings” sees the Turkish writer-director tackling the 1992 Los Angeles riots through the perspective of Millie...
Quote of the Day: Natalie Portman on What the Woody Allen Conversations Are Missing
Natalie Portman has never been one to remain silent about gender inequality in Hollywood. She’s spoken out about receiving one-third of co-star Ashton Kutcher’s pay for “No Strings...
Exclusive: Chicken & Egg Pictures Announces 2018 Accelerator Lab Cohort
Chicken and Egg Pictures has announced the participants of their 2018 Accelerator Lab. Designed to support first- and second-time nonfiction female filmmakers, the program offers each finalist a...
Distribution Deals: Christina Choe’s “Nancy” and Lorna Tucker’s Vivienne Westwood Doc
Two women-directed films that bowed at Sundance 2018 recently scored distribution deals: Christina Choe’s Andrea Riseborough-starrer “Nancy” and Lorna Tucker’s Vivienne Westwood documentary...
Anne Sewitsky’s Sonja Henie Biopic Scores Pre-Sale Deals
Figure skating is back in the news thanks to the PyeongChang Olympics and Margot Robbie-starrer “I, Tonya.” Now another controversial skater has a biopic on the way: three-time Olympic champion...
Trailer Watch: Carey Mulligan Butts Heads with MI5 in “Collateral”
The military, politics, the church, law enforcement: a handful of institutions collide in “Collateral,” the Carey Mulligan-starring drama that premiered last week in the UK. A trailer has...
Berlinale 2018 Women Directors: Meet Emily Atef — “3 Days in Quiberon”
Emily Atef is an award-winning writer-director. Her credits include “Molly’s Way,” “The Stranger in Me,” and “Kill Me.” She’s one of the six German directors participating in this...
Trailer Watch: A Rape Survivor Seeks Justice in Kaouther Ben Hania’s “Beauty and the Dogs”
“We stepped out for a walk on the beach,” Mariam (Mariam Al Ferjani) recalls as she reports her rape in a trailer for “Beauty and the Dogs.” “We were by the sea when a white car pulled up....
Berlinale 2018: Isabelle Huppert to Lead Anne Fontaine’s New Film, Fest Hosts Gender Equality…
Berlinale 2018: Isabelle Huppert to Lead Anne Fontaine’s New Film, Fest Hosts Gender Equality Events The 68th Berlinale hasn’t reached its midway point yet but it’s already seen the...
Rachel Lee Goldenberg to Direct Pilot for CW Funeral Home Dramedy “Playing Dead”
Rachel Lee Goldenberg has an eclectic résumé: her directorial efforts include upcoming movie musical “Valley Girl,” meta Lifetime TV movie “A Deadly Adoption,” and the pilot for Andrea...
Changes at Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY: Maori Holmes Named Exec Director, Tilane Jones Promoted
Ava DuVernay is weeks away from debuting her first blockbuster, but the “Wrinkle in Time” helmer hasn’t left her independent roots behind. In 2010 the “13th” director founded AFFRM, which...
Berlinale 2018 Women Directors: Meet Tinatin Kajrishvili — “Horizon”
Tinatin Kajrishvil made several short films before her feature debut, “Brides.” The drama premiered at the Berlinale in 2014, where it won the Audience Award, and went on to screen at many...
Keira Knightley-Starrer “Colette” and Debra Granik’s “Leave No Trace” Get Release Dates
Two films to score distribution out of Sundance 2018 have received release dates, Keira Knightley-starrer “Colette” and Debra Granik’s father-daughter story “Leave No Trace. ” Bleecker...
Anne Hathaway May Star in Dee Rees’ Joan Didion Adaptation “The Last Thing He Wanted”
Anne Hathaway may be joining Dee Rees’ upcoming Joan Didion adaptation. Variety reports that the Oscar winner is in negotiations to topline political thriller “The Last Thing He Wanted.”...
Olivia Wilde Is Making Her Feature Directorial Debut with “Booksmart”
Olivia Wilde is stepping behind the camera for her feature directorial debut. After helming a couple of music videos and a short, the “House” alumna is teaming up with Annapurna Pictures and...
TV Updates: Julie Plec to Helm “Roswell” Reboot Pilot, “Deadlier Than the Male” Ordered to Series
Another woman has landed her first-ever pilot directing gig. Deadline reports that “Vampire Diaries” co-creator and showrunner Julie Plec will helm the “Roswell” reboot’s pilot. She is the...
Trailer Watch: A Cowboy Searches for His Purpose in Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider”
“Sometimes dreams aren’t meant to be,” a former rodeo star is told in a new trailer for “The Rider.” Chloé Zhao’s award-winning drama is based on a true story and takes place in the...