Women Writers
Hedgebrook’s Screenwriters Lab Now Accepting Applications
If you’re dreaming of writing for the big screen, take note: Hedgebrook’s third annual Screenwriters Lab is now accepting applications. Selected screenwriters will be in residence for ten days...
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...
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’...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
Trailer Watch: Brie Larson Reunites with Her Dysfunctional Family in “The Glass Castle”
Try as she might, Brie Larson can’t bury her past in a new trailer for “The Glass Castle.” The Oscar-winning actress stars as Jeannette, a woman who’s tried to distance herself from the...
Misha Green Teaming Up with Jordan Peele for HBO’s “Lovecraft Country”
If you couldn’t get enough of “Get Out’s” winning combination of horror thrills and biting social commentary about racism, you’re in luck. The smash hit’s writer-director, Jordan Peele,...
“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...
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...
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...
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 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...
Sign Up for Paula Vogel’s Playwriting Boot Camp
Attention, aspiring playwrights: You have a chance to learn the tools of the trade from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Paula Vogel. According to BroadwayWorld, the “Indecent” scribe will be...
Trailer Watch: Alison Brie Enters the Ring and Changes Her Life in “GLOW”
A trailer has finally landed for Alison Brie-starrer “GLOW,” and it’s perfect. The Netflix series is set in the ’80s and centers on Ruth (Brie, “Community”), an out-of-work actress who...
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...
Trailer Watch: Zoe Lister-Jones and Adam Pally Turn Their Fights into Music in “Band Aid”
“Band Aid” “What if we turned all our fights into songs? Let’s start a band,” says Anna (Zoe Lister-Jones) in a new trailer for “Band Aid.” The comedy centers on a married couple who...
Trailer Watch: Lola Kirke Falls in Love with a Married Woman in Deb Shoval’s “AWOL”
A trailer has landed for Deb Shoval’s “AWOL,” a lesbian romance toplined by Lola Kirke (“Mistress America”). “You need to start thinking about your future,” Joey (Kirke) is told by her...
Reese Witherspoon to Produce Adaptations of Two New Women-Penned Books
Looks like Reese Witherspoon is just as busy as her “Big Little Lies” character, Madeline Martha Mackenzie. The Oscar-winning multi-hyphenate is producing adaptations of Gail Honeyman’s...
Weekly Update for May 12: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Snatched” Films About Women Opening This Week Snatched — Written by Katie Dippold After her boyfriend dumps her on the eve of their exotic vacation, impetuous dreamer Emily Middleton...
Sally Potter’s “The Party” Gets U.S. Distribution
Three months after making its world premiere at the Berlinale, “The Party” has found a U.S. home. Writer-director Sally Potter’s latest feature has been acquired by Roadside Attractions, The...
Teaser Watch: Reese Witherspoon Gets New Roommates in Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s “Home Again”
“I just always act out on my birthday. It’s like my own personal New Year’s Eve,” explains Alice (Reese Witherspoon) in a newly released teaser for Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s “Home Again.”...
Frankie Shaw’s “SMILF” Gets Picked Up by Showtime
Showtime has given a series order to Frankie Shaw’s “SMILF,” The Hollywood Reporter confirms. The former “Mr. Robot” actress is wearing many hats on the semi-autobiographical 10-episode...
Elizabeth Chomko’s Feature Debut Starring Hilary Swank Acquired by Bleecker Street
Elizabeth Chomko’s feature debut has found a home. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Bleecker Street snagged the North American rights to “What They Had,” a family drama toplined by Hilary...
June Diane Raphael Is Writing a Book About Women Running for Office
June Diane Raphael wants more women to run for political office — so she is writing a book encouraging women to do just that. As People reports, the actress-comedian will pen “Represent: The...
Miranda Richardson to Star in New Series from Kay Mellor
Oscar-nominated actress Miranda Richardson will topline “Girlfriends,” a new drama from Kay Mellor (“In the Club”). Per Deadline, Phyllis Logan (aka Mrs. Hughes of “Downton Abbey”) and...
Trailer Watch: Nicole Kidman Joins Elisabeth Moss in “Top of the Lake” Season 2
A trailer has finally landed for the highly anticipated sophomore season of Jane Campion’s “Top of the Lake,” and it looks like the newest installment of the murder mystery will just be as...
“Snatched” Writer Katie Dippold Talks Writing Roles for Women Over 40
Katie Dippold has been a screenwriter for about a decade. She made a splash with 2013’s “The Heat,” but became a household name last year with the premiere of “Ghostbusters” — the...
Playwright Katori Hall Named Artistic Director of Memphis’ Hattiloo Theater
“The Mountaintop” playwright Katori Hall will be the next artistic director of the Hattiloo Theater, the New York Times reports. Located in Hall’s hometown, Memphis, the Hattiloo is an...
Carol Morley to Direct Patricia Clarkson-Starrer “Out of Blue”
A neo-noir mystery toplined by Patricia Clarkson and helmed by Carol Morley? Count us in. A press release has announced that Clarkson will star in “Out of Blue,” Morley’s follow-up to 2014’s...
“Westworld” Co-Creator Lisa Joy Renews Overall Deal with Warner Bros. TV
Lisa Joy will continue doing business with Warner Bros. TV. The “Westworld” co-creator/co-showrunner/EP has extended her overall deal with the studio. Joy will stay on as co-showrunner of the...
Trailer Watch: Kirsten Dunst Loses Touch with Reality in “Woodshock”
“Woodshock” “Remember when we used to play in the woods together? I got lost that one summer. When I turned around, you were gone,” Theresa (Kirsten Dunst) recalls in the newly released...
Jill Soloway Renews Overall Deal with Amazon Studios
Jill Soloway will be sticking with Amazon Studios for the foreseeable future. The “Transparent” creator and showrunner has extended her overall deal with the streaming service for another three...
Trailer Watch: A Rebellion Is Brewing in Season 5 of “Orange Is the New Black”
“The only way out is for us to come together,” says Gloria (Selenis Levya) in a newly released trailer for Season 5 of “Orange Is the New Black.” The action-packed spot returns to this...
Jacqueline Goldfinger Wins $10K Yale Drama Series Prize
Jacqueline Goldfinger has been awarded the 2017 Yale Drama Prize for her play “Bottle Fly,” a multi-generational family drama. The honor comes with a stipend of $10,000, and “Bottle Fly”...
Trailer Watch: “Rough Night” Tackles HPV and Human Friendipedes
FYI: “If you’ve had sex after the year 1991, then you do have HPV.” A new Red Band trailer has dropped for Lucia Aniello’s “Rough Night,” and it’s full of gems like this. The ensemble...
Weekly Update for May 5: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“3 Generations” Films About Women Opening This Week Tomorrow Ever After — Written and Directed by Ela Thier “Tomorrow Ever After” Shaina (writer-director Ela Thier) is a historian...
“Little Women” Miniseries on the Way From PBS and BBC
It’s been nearly 150 years since “Little Women” was first published and the March sisters remain some of the most beloved characters of all-time — a fact which will be capitalized on by...
Charlize Theron’s “Tully” and Brie Larson’s “The Glass Castle” Receive Release Dates
Mark your calendars: release dates for the Charlize Theron-toplined “Tully” and the Brie Larson-starrer “The Glass Castle” have been announced. Variety writes that “Glass Castle,” an...
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen to Star in “50 Shades”-Inspired “Book Club”
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen are teaming up. The trio will star in “Book Club,” an indie comedy about lifelong friends in their 60s whose worlds are rocked by Anastasia Steele...
“Transparent” Writer Faith Soloway Has a New Show in the Works
“Transparent” writer and producer Faith Soloway has a new show in development. Variety reports that she’s teaming up with UK-based Dancing Ledge Prods. to make its first series, “Super...
Trailer Watch: Women Rally Against an Extremist Rabbi in “The Women’s Balcony”
A U.S. trailer has arrived for “The Women’s Balcony,” a story of women fighting for justice in their place of worship. The dramedy centers on the aftermath of a bar mitzvah celebration that...