ALL POSTS
America Ferrera Launches Production Company, Quickly Sells Two Projects
Former “Ugly Betty” star America Ferrera has launched a new production company called Take Fountain. The Emmy-winning star of the upcoming NBC comedy “Superstore” signed an overall deal with...
Where Does This Diverse Broadway Season Leave Women of Color?
Viola Davis said in her Emmy speech last month, “The onlything that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You can’twin an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” The...
Producer Mehret Mandefro on How Her Bride-Abduction Drama ‘Difret’ Shows that Change Can Happen
In “Difret,” 14-year-old Hirut (Tizita Hagere) is kidnapped while walking home from school and forced into marriage by an older man she doesn’t know — and who’s willing to do whatever...
Trailer Watch: Krysten Ritter is an Anti-(Super)Heroine in ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’
A full trailer for “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” has landed, and it begins with the eponymous character telling us, “A big part of the job is looking for the worst in people. Turns out I excel at...
Reed Morano on ‘Meadowland,’ Working with Olivia Wilde and Motherhood Discrimination
When cinematographer Reed Morano was invited to join the prestigious American Society of Cinematography (ASC) in 2013, she became their youngest-ever member. The revered director of photography...
Agnieszka Holland Announces Next Feature: Polish Murder Mystery ‘Game Count’
A series of grisly murders and the “quirky old lady” the police keep coming back to in their homicide investigation will form the basis of “Game Count,” Agnieszka Holland’s next feature...
(A Celebratory) Weekly Update for October 23: Women Centric, Directed and Written Films Playing Near You
It’s a great week for women at the movies. It’s not often that we can say that, but this lineup of new releases by and about women is well worth celebrating. The story behind women’s...
Rebecca Rhine Becomes Int’l Cinematographer Guild’s First Female Leader
Last year, women comprised just 5% of cinematographers in the top 250 grossing films — a paltry figure that actually marked an improvement from the 3% rate in 2013 and the 2% rate in 2012....
New Canadian Research Reveals a Cold Shoulder to Women in Film and TV Up North
Blame Canada. Or, at the very least, hold Canada accountable. A report released this week reveals that, like the American entertainment industry, women are still incredibly underrepresented behind...
Seeking Our Story: The Making of an Oscar Winner: Kathryn Bigelow and “Near Dark”
Kathryn Bigelowand female filmmakers in general had much to celebrate after the “Hurt Locker” director’s history-makingOscar win in 2010. But misperceptions — that Bigelow only makes...
Happy Friday: Ava DuVernay’s Glorious Speech at the ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards
Ava DuVernay gave one hell of a speech at the 22nd annual ELLE Women and Hollywood Awards this week. The “Selma” director, who was honored at the event, echoed Toni Morrison’s description of...
Women & Hollywood Podcast #17: ‘Suffragette’ Director Sarah Gavron
Women and Hollywood spoke with director Sarah Gavron about her new film “Suffragette,” which we endorse with the utmost enthusiasm and appreciation. Written by Abi Morgan, the historical drama...
‘Supergirl’ Bares Feminist Conflicts, Not Abs
Fernanda Coppel to Adapt Her Play About Female Sports Agent for Showtime
Showtime is bringing playwright Fernanda Coppel’s “King Liz” from the stage to the screen. Coppel will adapt her off-Broadway play, centered on fictional sports agent Liz Reco, for the premium...
Director Leslee Udwin Discusses Censored ‘India’s Daughter’ and the “Disease” of Global Rape Culture
Leslee Udwin is a British filmmaker and human rights activist. Most recently, she has written, directed and produced the critically acclaimed documentary “India’s Daughter” — a film that...
Tribeca Enterprises and Chanel Launch New Program for Women Filmmakers, Participants Announced (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Anna Martemucci won the $75,000 Tribeca Chanel grant to make her short, “One Cambodian Family Please for My Pleasure.” The deciding jury included Julianne Moore, Patricia Clarkson, Mary...
Proud and Out(spoken): LGBTQ History Month 2015’s VOD and Web Series Picks
It’s exhausting enough that women are all-too-often underrepresented and excluded on and off screen. But for queer women, this situation is exacerbated to the point where our community (writing as...
2015 Gotham Nominations: ‘Diary of a Teenage Girl,’ ‘Carol,’ ‘Tangerine’ Lead With Most Nods
The 2015–16 award season kicked off this morning with the announcement of the nominations for the 25th Gotham Independent Film Awards. Leading the pack with four nominations is Marielle...
A Scholar’s Reflections on Women Directors: Discrimination and Mentorship, Then and Now
October is WomenDirectors Month on Turner Classic Movies, and my stint as a co-host has been awonderful excuse to revisit over 100 years of women directors and their films. Forthe first 20+ years of...
Watch: ‘SNL’ Star Sasheer Zamata Becomes ACLU Celebrity Ambassador, Talks Women’s Rights
Actress and comedian Sasheer Zamata has been named a celebrity ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Zamata’s title will see the “Saturday Night Live” featured player...
‘American Hustle’-Style Movie Being Written About Sylvia Robinson, “Mother of Hip Hop”
After the hip-hop blockbuster “Straight Outta Compton” made headlines this summer for erasing the women who made NWA possible, a new movie seeks to showcase female contributions to the musical...
Women in Animation Rolls Out ‘50–50 by 2025’ Initiative
Many top animation programs boast 50% or more female students in their graduating classes, but the cartoon world still employs four men for every woman. In response to this stark gender inequity,...
Trailer Watch: Natalie Portman Protects Her Husband and Child in Western ‘Jane Got a Gun’
We finally have a trailer for “Jane Got A Gun,” the Natalie Portman-led Western that’s been mired in controversy for years. The film has been making headlines since its original director,...
5 Reasons to Watch ‘Suffragette’ This Weekend
The fight for women’s right to the ballot comes alive this weekend with the opening of “Suffragette,” starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Romola Garai, Anne-Marie Duff and Meryl...
Trailer Watch: Jennifer Lawrence is a Powerhouse in Sordid Tale of Millionaire Inventor ‘Joy’
A newly cut trailer has been released for Jennifer Lawrence’s upcoming vehicle “Joy,” her third collaboration with director David O. Russell. The spot begins with Joy (Lawrence) telling her...
Chicken & Egg Announces Participants of Inaugural Accelerator Lab for Non-Fiction Projects
Chicken & Egg Pictures has announced the selected participants of its inaugural Accelerator Lab, which will offer first- and second-time female filmmakers working on non-fiction projects the...
Biopic About Paralympic Bronze Medalist and ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Runner-Up Amy Purdy in the Works
When Amy Purdy was 19 years old, she contracted a form of bacterial meningitis that led to both of her legs being amputated below the knee. Purdy, who is now 35, has since made her mark in sports,...
Happy Lauren Graham Day! ‘Gilmore Girls’ Returns, as Does Graham’s Partnership With Mae Whitman
Lauren Graham has starred in two of the most beloved television series since the new millennium: the WB’s cult classic “Gilmore Girls” and NBC’s critically acclaimed “Parenthood.” Both...
Trailer Watch: Charlotte Rampling Enters the Best Actress Race in Marital Drama ’45 Years’
On the cusp of her 45-year wedding anniversary, Kate (Charlotte Rampling) begins to question her relationship with her husband Geoff (Tom Courtenay) when another woman enters their marriage. When...
Karyn Kusama’s ‘The Invitation’ Wins Best Film Award at 48th Sitges Film Festival
Karyn Kusama’s dinner-party drama “The Invitation” took home the Best Film trophy from Spain’s Sitges Film Festival over the weekend. The film opened the the 2015 SXSW Festival and has been...
Lupita Nyong’o’s Liberian Civil War Drama ‘Eclipsed’ Headed to Broadway
Lupita Nyong’o is taking her Liberian-civil-war drama, “Eclipsed,” to Broadway. After making her stage debut just two months ago, the Oscar-winning actress and the rest of her off-Broadway...
‘Project Greenlight’ Exemplifies All That is Wrong With the Film Business
I don’t particularly like reality shows, so I really had no interest in watching HBO’s “Project Greenlight.” But after all the talk about the show’s diversity issues and seeing the title...
Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis Inspires TV Show
Wendy Davis, the Democratic Texas state senator who became a viral sensation after filibustering an anti-abortion bill for 11 hours, will serve as the inspiration for a new NBC dramedy. Written by...
Gemma Arterton to Star in Catherine Shepherd’s Directorial Debut About Virgin Birth
Catherine Shepherd’s directorial debut “Like A Virgin” has found a leading lady in “Gemma Bovery” star Gemma Arterton. Deadline reports that the former Bond girl will play a woman named...
Women Helmers Win 3 of 4 Awards at London Film Fest; Athina Rachel Tsangari Takes Best Film
“The programming team has declared this the year of the strong woman,” said festival director Clare Stewart back in September at the the launch of this year’s BFI London Film Festival. The...
Take Part in the EEOC’s Investigation into Industry-Wide Discrimination Against Women Directors
Last May, The New York Times published a15-page letter from the ACLU to the EEOC and two California state agenciesurging them to investigate Hollywood for sex discrimination against...
Sally Potter Casting Next Two Films, Dad-Daughter Portrait ‘Molly’ and Political Comedy ‘The Party’
Sally Potter is prepping her two follow-ups to 2012’s Cold War-set coming-of-age tale “Ginger and Rosa.” “I now have two complete scripts ready to go,” the British director announced of...
Trailer Watch: Sofia Coppola Directs Star-Studded Netflix Musical-Comedy ‘A Very Murray Christmas’
Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray are reuniting for the first time since 2003’s “Lost in Translation” in an unexpected format: a Christmas special for Netflix. While Coppola’s films consistently...
Sisters Doing it for Themselves: October 2015 Crowdfunding Picks
Women are capable of anything, especially when it comes to fighting to tell their stories told. The following eclectic selection of projects is testament to the expansive talent and aptitude that...
Weekly Update for October 16: Women Centric, Directed and Written Films Playing Near You
Films About Women Opening This Week Truth Cate Blanchett is at the peak of her talents as producer Mary Mapes, who, along with Robert Redford as Dan Rather, takes the fall for reporting on a false...
BFI Officially Launches Diversity Fund
Expect to find more diversity both on and off camera in upcoming British film projects. The British Film Institute (BFI) will officially launch its Diversity Fund with an initial investment of £1...
‘Room’ Author/Screenwriter Emma Donoghue on Her “Deeply Feminist” Film and Industry Sexism
The release of “Room” will likely spell the beginning of Brie Larson’s career as an A-list star. While Larson won great favor with critics for her heartbreaking portrayal of a group-home...
10 Women Directors Who Could Helm a ‘Star Wars’ Spin-Off
Producer Kathleen Kennedy, who’ll oversee the upcoming “Stars Wars” trilogy and standalone Han Solo film, is adamant that her version of a galaxy that originally only had just six women in it...
Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks Wins $300,000 Gish Prize for “Highly Accomplished Artists”
Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks has been awarded the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, which honors “highly accomplished artists… who have pushed the boundaries of their art forms, contributed to...
Issa Rae’s ‘Insecure’ Picked Up By HBO
Issa Rae’s long-gestating TV series, “Insecure,” has received a series order from HBO. That’ll make Rae, who got her start with her two-season web series “The Misadventures of Awkward...
Join Women and Hollywood’s Free Conversation on the Swedish Model for Gender Equity in Film
The Swedish Film Institute has been making headlines recently for achieving 50–50 parity in its funding distribution between male and female filmmakers. Please join Women and Hollywood’s...
‘Room’ Author/Screenwriter Emma Donoghue on Her “Deeply Feminist” Film and Industry Sexism
The release of "Room" will likely spell the beginning of Brie Larson’s career as an A-list star. While Larson won great favor with critics for her heartbreaking portrayal of a...
Support ’13 Chambers,’ a Horror Anthology by 13 Women Directors
An abandoned, 97-year-old school will be the site of a new horror anthology featuring 13 female filmmakers — provided the producing team can fundraise just $10,000 for the project. There are...
2015 DOC NYC Lineup is 38% Female-Helmed; Hillary Rodham Clinton to Appear at Fest
DOC NYC’s 2015 lineup has been announced, and of 104 features screening, 39 are directed or co-directed by women — a figure that amounts to 38% of the programming. Last year, women helmed 43...
Lynn Shelton to Team Up With ‘This American Life’ for Movie About P.I. Moms Caught in Drug Scheme
Lynn Shelton is set to direct a movie version of the most popular stories “This American Life” has ever aired. “The Incredible Case of the P.I. Moms” told the story of soccer moms who...
Kate Winslet To Play War Photographer Lee Miller on the Big Screen
Back in March, we reported that Jennifer Lawrence will play war photographer Lynsey Addario in an upcoming adaptation of Addario’s bestselling memoir “It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life...