Women Directors
Weekly Update for February 16: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Party” Films About Women Opening This Week “The Boy Downstairs” The Boy Downstairs — Written and Directed by Sophie Brooks (Opens in NY; Opens in LA February 23) Diana (Zosia...
Sally Potter on Tackling Politics On-Screen in “The Party” and the Future of Feminism
Sally Potter is the writer-director behind films such as “Ginger & Rosa,” a coming of age tale set against the Cuban Missile Crisis, the romantic, iambic pentameter-performed “Yes,” and...
Lone Scherfig to Direct Modern-Day Fairy Tale “Secrets from the Russian Tea Room”
Lone Scherfig’s follow-up to “Their Finest” sees her leaving the London Blitz behind for a modern-day fairy tale set in New York City. The Danish filmmaker has signed on to write and direct...
Berlinale 2018 Women Directors: Meet Janet van den Brand — “Ceres”
Janet van den Brand is a Dutch director currently living in Brussels. Her films have been selected for numerous film festivals including the Generation Kplus competition at the Berlinale in 2013 and...
Oscar Nominee Ildikó Enyedi Is Making Her English-Language Debut, Léa Seydoux to Star
Palme d’Or-winning actress Léa Seydoux has signed on to star in “The Story of My Wife,” the new film from “On Body and Soul” director Ildikó Enyedi. The upcoming pic will focus on a...
Berlinale 2018 Women Directors: Meet Katharina Mueckstein — “L’animale”
Katharina Mueckstein made her feature debut with 2013’s “Talea.” She is the co-founder of production company La Banda Film. “L’animale” will premiere at the 2018 Berlinale on...
“Grace and Frankie” Renewed for Season 5
The small screen’s most delightful odd couple is staying put. Less than one month after “Grace and Frankie’s” fourth season dropped comes word that the Netflix series has been renewed for...
Irish Film Board Launches POV Production & Training Scheme for Female Filmmakers
Calling all Irish women writers, directors, and/or producers: Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) has announced a new initiative for female filmmakers. According to Scannain, the...
Valeska Grisebach on Exploring Heroes and Male Mythology in “Western”
Interview by Kelsey Moore 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....
Pilot Updates: Hannah Simone to Lead “Greatest American Hero,” Zetna Fuentes to Helm “Chiefs”
Pilot news continues to roll in. The previously announced gender-swapped “Greatest American Hero” reboot has found its star: “New Girl’s” Hannah Simone. And CBS drama pilot “Chiefs”...
AFI Directing Workshop for Women Announces 2018–2019 Participants
AFI has announced the 2018–2019 participants of its Directing Workshop for Women (DWW). Parisa Barani, Zoe Bell, Jessica Kaye, Shilpi Roy, Amber Sealey, Siyou Tan, Carly Usdin, and Talia Zucker...
Trailer Watch: Award-Winning Autism Rom-Com “Keep the Change” Tells a Universal Story
“Because [‘Keep the Change’] deals with the subject of disabilities and specifically autism, people who haven’t yet seen it might dismiss it as a niche film — but it’s not a niche...
Melissa McCarthy to Co-Star with Tiffany Haddish in Andrea Berloff’s “The Kitchen”
Two of Hollywood’s funniest women are teaming up for a project. Melissa McCarthy has joined the cast of mob drama “The Kitchen,” Variety reports. Tiffany Haddish is also starring in the pic,...
Ava DuVernay, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Producer Dan Lin Launch Inclusion Fund
“Selma”director Ava DuVernay, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and “The Lego Movie” producer Dan Lin have teamed up with the shared goal of giving Hollywood a much-needed makeover. Variety...
Trailer Watch: Carey Mulligan Tries to Solve a Murder in “Collateral”
Carey Mulligan swaps period garb for a badge in “Collateral.” A trailer has dropped for the four-part crime thriller. The Oscar nominee plays Kip Glaspie, a detective determined to find answers...
Weekly Update for February 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“The Female Brain” Films About Women Opening This Week The Female Brain — Directed by Whitney Cummings; Co-Written by Whitney Cummings and Louann Brizendine (Also Available on VOD) What...
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Release Date Announced
Sophie Fiennes’ Grace Jones doc has a release date. Described by Fiennes as intimate and experiential, “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” shows a different side of the iconic...
Trailer Watch: Edie Falco Has a Complex Bond with a Former Student in Lynn Shelton’s “Outside In”
Edie Falco plays a teacher whose work goes far beyond the classroom in Lynn Shelton’s latest. A trailer has arrived for “Outside In,” a drama that sees the “Nurse Jackie” alumna taking on...
Trailer Watch: A Woman Rebuilds Her Life in Kate Davis’ Police Brutality Short Doc “Traffic Stop”
Breaion King is a teacher. She’s the first person in her family to attend college or to get a Master’s degree and she’s determined to earn a PhD. Breaion is also a survivor of police...
Trailer Watch: Slaughterhouse Workers Fall in Love in Oscar Contender “On Body and Soul”
A new U.S. trailer has dropped for one of the year’s most celebrated romances — and undeniably its weirdest. “Is it possible that two people dream the same thing?” asks Maria (Alexandra...
Athena Film Fest Adds To Its Lineup: “Mankiller,” “Battle of the Sexes,” and STEM Panel
The Athena Film Festival (AFF) has announced more of its 2018 lineup. Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s “Battle of the Sexes,” a biopic about the famous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean...
Kat Coiro Will Make Pilot Directorial Debut with Liz Meriwether’s “Daddy Issues”
Kat Coiro is making her pilot directorial debut. Deadline confirms that Coiro will helm “Daddy Issues,” the Fox comedy pilot produced by Liz Meriwether (“New Girl”) and written by and...
Julianne Moore to Star in English-Language Remake of Susanne Bier’s “After the Wedding”
Julianne Moore is heading up another U.S. remake of a revered foreign film. She’s set to star in an English-language version of “Night Manager” helmer Susanne Bier’s “After the Wedding,”...
Lyric R. Cabral, Michelle Latimer, and More Announced as 2018 Field of Vision Fellows
First Look Media’s documentary unit, Field of Vision, has announced a new fellowship. A press release also revealed the year-long, collaborative program’s 2018’s fellows, and three of four of...
Trailer Watch: Krysten Ritter Seeks Answers in “Jessica Jones” Season 2
Jessica Jones’ tolerance for bullshit remains delightfully low in a new trailer for the second season of the Netflix hit. Deadpan as ever, the superhero (Krysten Ritter) is quick to take down...
Mary Harron’s Manson Family Pic Moves Forward, Set to Launch in Berlin
“American Psycho” director Mary Harron is one step closer to tackling one of the most infamous crimes in history. Matt Smith (“The Crown”) and Suki Waterhouse (“The White Princess”) have...
Tribeca Film Festival to Open with Lisa D’Apolito’s Gilda Radner Doc “Love, Gilda”
The 17th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival will kick off with a portrait of Gilda Radner. The comedian is the subject of “Love, Gilda,” the fest’s opening film. Directed and produced by...
Berlinale Competition Program Is 17 Percent Women-Directed
The Berlin International Film Festival has announced its complete Competition lineup. Of 24 films screening in the program, four are directed by women, amounting to about 17 percent of the total....
Gabriela Pichler’s “Amateurs” Wins Top Prize at Goteborg Film Festival
Gabriela Pichler’s second feature took home Goteborg Film Festival’s highest honor. “Amateurs” was named as the winner of the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film, The Hollywood Reporter...
Pilot News: Projects From Ava DuVernay, Amy Poehler, and More
Your new favorite show could be on the way. A number of promising-sounding projects have recently been ordered to pilot, including ones exec produced by “Selma” director Ava DuVernay and...
Raising Films Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Continue Work for Parents & Carers in the Biz
Motherhood shouldn’t prevent women from making films, but it can. Caring for one’s elderly parents or sick family members shouldn’t upend a person’s career in show business, but it can....
Isabel Coixet Wins Three Goya Awards for “The Bookshop”
Isabel Coixet was one of the big winners at this weekend’s Goya Awards, Spain’s counterpart to the Oscars. Per Screen Daily, Coixet took home prizes for best feature, best director, and best...
Reed Morano Makes History with DGA Win
Reed Morano has cemented her place in in the record books with a historic Directors Guild of America win. This past Saturday she took home the DGA Award in the drama series category for helming...
Weekly Update for February 2: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“A Fantastic Woman” Films About Women Opening This Week A Fantastic Woman Marina (Daniela Vega) and Orlando (Francisco Reyes) are in love and planning for the future. Marina is a young waitress...
Trailer Watch: Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Perfect Love Story Gets Turned Upside Down in “Irreplaceable You”
A newly engaged couple receive earth-shattering news in a new trailer for Stephanie Laing’s “Irreplaceable You.” Childhood sweethearts Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) are...
Drew Barrymore and Jamie Babbit Team Up for Rom-Com “The Stand In”
Drew Barrymore currently stars as a flesh-eating zombie in “Santa Clarita Diet,” but the Golden Globe winner is getting back into the rom-com game. A press release has announced that she’ll...
Black Herstory Month: February’s VOD and Web Series Picks
We’re kicking off Black History Month with some Black Herstory: our VOD and web series selections are all written and directed by Black women. This month’s VOD picks come from two participants...
Chrissy Metz to Star in Roxann Dawson’s ”The Impossible”
“This Is Us” breakout Chrissy Metz has signed on to star in TV vet Roxann Dawson’s feature directorial debut. Entertainment Weekly reports that the two are teaming up for Fox 2000’s “The...
Michelle MacLaren to Direct Chris Pratt Action Pic “Cowboy Ninja Viking”
Michelle MacLaren is taking her genre expertise to the big screen. The “Game of Thrones,” “Westworld,” and “Breaking Bad” director has signed on to helm Chris Pratt-starrer “Cowboy...
Women Directors Dominate SXSW Competition
The lineup for the 2018 edition of South by Southwest Conference and Festival has been announced, and it’s cause for celebration. Of 10 films screening in the Narrative Feature Competition, eight...
February 2018 Film Preview
“Annihilation” February is when many of us need a mid-winter pick-me-up. Luckily, there are plenty of theatrical releases this month that make for the perfect antidote to cabin fever. Kicking...
Eliza Hooper to Make Feature Directorial Debut with Sci-Fi “Wellwood”
Frequent Funny or Die contributor Eliza Hooper is making her feature directorial debut. The UCB writer is helming “Wellwood,” a sci-fi indie that “centers on a terminally ill Laura and her...
Roxanne Benjamin’s Feature Directorial Debut Acquired by Magnet Releasing
Writer-director Roxanne Benjamin’s first feature film has found a home. Variety confirms that Magnet Releasing, Magnolia Pictures’ genre arm, has obtained worldwide rights to Benjamin’s...
Marielle Heller Will Direct Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers
“Diary of a Teenage Girl” director Marielle Heller is bringing Tom Hanks to Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Heller will direct “You Are My Friend,” which is...
Sundance: Women Sweep Directing Awards
About 40 percent of the films to screen in Competition at Sundance 2018 were women-directed or co-directed. One hundred percent of its directing prizes went to women. A press release has announced...
Sundance 2018 Women Directors: Meet Jennifer Fox — “The Tale”
Jennifer Fox is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning producer, director, writer, and camerawoman. Her film credits include “Beirut: The Last Home Movie,” “An American Love Story,”...
Weekly Update for January 26: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Please Stand By” Films About Women Opening This Week Please Stand By (Also Available on VOD) A young autistic woman (Dakota Fanning) runs away from her caregiver in order to boldly go and...
Sundance: Sexual Abuse Drama “The Tale” Snagged by HBO
One of the best-reviewed and most talked about films out of Sundance 2018 has found a home. HBO Films secured the rights to Laura Dern-starrer “The Tale.” Variety broke the news. Written and...
Submissions for HBOAccess Directing Fellowship Open Next Week
Mark your calendars: HBOAccess will be accepting submissions for its 2018 Directing Fellowship beginning January 31, a press release has announced. HBO’s emerging talent pipeline partners up with...
Cheryl Hines to Helm “Revenge Wedding”
Cheryl Hines is stepping behind the camera again. The Emmy-nominated “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress has signed on to direct “Revenge Wedding” for CBS Films, The Hollywood Reporter...
“Edge of Seventeen” Writer-Director Kelly Fremon Craig to Adapt “Wild Game”
Kelly Fremon Craig has booked her follow-up to “The Edge of Seventeen.” The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the writer-director is taking the reins on a feature adaptation of “Wild Game: My...