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Weekly Update for March 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“A Wrinkle in Time” Films About Women Opening This Week A Wrinkle in Time — Directed by Ava DuVernay; Written by Jennifer Lee A reimagining of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel that...
SXSW 2018 Women Directors: Meet Alison Klayman — “Take Your Pills”
Alison Klayman’s debut documentary feature “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it was awarded a U.S. Documentary Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Defiance....
“Half the Picture” Doc About Women Directors Finds a Home
Women accounted for just 11 percent of directors working on the 250 top-grossing films in 2017. “Half the Picture” investigates why women are so often excluded from the director’s chair...
SXSW 2018 Women Directors: Meet Lynn Shelton — “Outside In”
Lynn Shelton’s feature credits include “Humpday,” “Your Sister’s Sister,” and “Laggies.” Her work has screened at festivals such as TIFF, Sundance, Cannes Directors’ Fortnight,...
ReFrame Pushes for More Inclusive Hiring in Hollywood with New Handbook
ReFrame, a Hollywood inclusion program that boasts 50 industry leaders among its ranks, has set its sights on updating show business’ current hiring practices — i.e. its habit of employing...
SXSW 2018 Women Directors: Meet Becca Gleason — “Summer ‘03”
Becca Gleason is the writer and director of three short films which made the rounds on the festival circuit; her directorial debut, “Molly,” won the LACMA Young Directors award, and her second...
Trailer Watch: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Is a Superhero in Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s “RBG”
As her legendary dissents prove, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg knows how to turn a phrase. Her way with words is one of her trademarks — as is her exercise regimen — and...
Tribeca 2018 Competition Lineup Is 44 Percent Women-Directed
The Tribeca Film Festival has unveiled its 2018 lineup and women directors are very well represented. As previously reported, Tribeca’s opening film will be Lisa D’Apolito’s Gilda Radner doc...
Trailer Watch: Maxine Peake Hits the Stand-Up Scene in “Funny Cow”
Life has always been “too much and not enough” for Maxine Peake’s character in “Funny Cow.” It’s only on-stage — and out of the reach of her abusive husband — that she seems...
Rachel Morrison & Diane Warren Sign on to Amy Ziering & Kirby Dick’s Upcoming #MeToo Hollywood Doc
Two of last night’s Oscar nominees have boarded Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s upcoming doc about the lack of parity and diversity within Hollywood. “Mudbound” cinematographer Rachel Morrison...
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...
Films, Music, News, Television, Trailers
Trailer Watch: A Young Hip Hop Artist Discovers Her Voice in “Roxanne Roxanne”
Shanté, the protagonist of Roxanne Shanté biopic “Roxanne Roxanne,” is used to people speaking for her. When she comes home past curfew, she can’t get a word in while her mother, Peggy (Nia...
Study: Women Received Just 23 Percent of Non-Acting Oscar Noms This Year
Yeah, we’re not impressed, either, Tonya: Oscar nominee Margot Robbie in “I, Tonya” The 2018 Academy Award nominations are marked by a few milestones. “Mudbound’s” Rachel Morrison is the...
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...
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...
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...
Trailer Watch: Michelle Pfeiffer Is in Over Her Head in “Where Is Kyra?”
Michelle Pfeiffer loses her knight in shining armor in a new trailer for Sundance drama “Where Is Kyra?” “Thank God for my mom, she saved my ass,” Kyra (Pfeiffer) says in a new trailer for...
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...
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...
Keira Knightley to Topline Spy Thriller “Official Secrets”
Keira Knightley is set to star in another spy story. Just months after signing on to topline a spy drama penned by Camilla Blackett (“Fresh Off the Boat”) comes word that the two-time Oscar...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer Band Together for Favored Nations Deal on New Film
News of Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer’s on-screen reunion just got that much sweeter. “The Help” co-stars are re-teaming for a holiday comedy, and thanks to Jada Pinkett Smith, we now...
Guest Post: Why I Stepped in Front of the Camera for My Short About Grief and Aging
Guest Post by Susan Bay Nimoy In 1979 I was one of six women in the Directors Guild of America that confronted the male-run Hollywood machine by demanding more directing opportunities for women....
Yara Shahidi, Gillian Jacobs, Jessica Sanders, & More to Direct Season 2 of “Shatterbox Anthology”
Details about Season 2 of “Shatterbox Anthology” have emerged. A press release has announced the directors participating in this run of Refinery29’s women-directed short film series. The...
Veena Sud Reuniting with Mireille Enos for New Feature
“The Killing’s” creator and leading lady are re-teaming for a new project. Mireille Enos is starring in “Between the Earth and the Sky,” a family drama from Veena Sud. Deadline reports...
Weekly Update for January 19: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Forever My Girl” Films About Women Opening This Week Mary and the Witch’s Flower — Co-Written by Riko Sakaguchi “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” Mary (Ruby Barnhill) is a plain,...
Julie Dash and Nina Menkes Named First Recipients of Eos World Fund for Women Directors
Director and producer Gwen Wynne (“Wild About Harry”) is set to unveil a new funding initiative for female filmmakers. A press release announced that she’s launching the Eos World Fund at...
Barbara Kopple Will Receive Hot Docs’ 2018 Outstanding Achievement Award
Documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple is truly a force to be reckoned with. She has received not one but two Academy Awards atop a bevy of other honors. Now, Kopple will receive the Outstanding...
Quote of the Day: Keira Knightley on Hiring More Women and #TimesUp
Throughout her career, Keira Knightley has been anything but shy when asked about Hollywood’s disappointing lack of female stories and creators. She has consistently spoken her mind and continues...
Trailer Watch: Gloria Allred Refuses to Be Silenced in “Seeing Allred”
“Seeing Allred” “Women are now empowered,” feminist attorney Gloria Allred declares in the trailer for “Seeing Allred,” “and they will never be silent again.” That’s true: our...
Abigail Disney and Killer Content Team Up to Form New Studio Spotlighting Women and POC
Abigail Disney and Killer Content are joining forces to support projects from women and people of color. Variety reports that filmmaker and philanthropist Disney and media company Killer Content...
Chicken & Egg Pictures Announces Breakthrough Filmmaker Award Recipients
Chicken & Egg Pictures will support Nanfu Wang, Ramona Diaz, Natalia Almada, Laura Nix, and Kimi Takesue as they break through to the next phase of their filmmaking careers. The five documentary...
Women In Film LA Announces Film Finishing Fund Recipients
Thanks to Women In Film, Los Angeles, over a dozen projects by and about women are on their way to the finish line. The non-profit organization has announced the winners of the 32 annual film...
“Mudbound” DP Rachel Morrison Makes History with ASC Nomination
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has announced the nominees for their upcoming ASC Awards, and “Mudbound” EP Rachel Morrison is among those in the running for the group’s...
Trailer Watch: A Sorority Learns About Sisterhood in “Step Sisters”
“Nobody respects you guys because you don’t respect each other,” a reluctant step coach tells her new team in a trailer for “Step Sisters.” The upcoming Netflix comedy centers on Jamilah...
Eliza Hittman and Penny Lane Receive Grants from Rooftop Films
“Beach Rats” writer-director Eliza Hittman and “Nuts!” helmer Penny Lane both have something to celebrate. They’ve scored grants from non-profit org Rooftop Films, Variety reports. The...
“Step” Helmer Amanda Lipitz to Direct English-Language Remake of “Instructions Not Included”
Amanda Lipitz directed one of our favorite documentaries released this year, and now she’s set to make her narrative directorial debut. The “Step” helmer has signed on to bring an...
2017’s Best Documentaries By and About Women
“Step” A workers’ rights activist, a movie star-turned-inventor, and a retiring prima ballerina are just a few of the characters at the center of our favorite documentaries by and about women...
Cara Mertes Named Hot Docs’ 2018 Doc Mogul
Cara Mertes is set to be honored at the 2018 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, POV Magazine reports. The director of the JustFilms initiative at the Ford Foundation will receive...
Weekly Update for December 8: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“I, Tonya” Films About Women Opening This Week I, Tonya (Opens in NY and LA) Based on the unbelievable but true events, “I, Tonya” is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater Tonya...
“Unrest,” “One of Us,” and Other Women-Directed Documentaries Advance in Oscar Race
The Oscar race is heating up. The Academy has narrowed down the films in the running for Documentary Feature to 15, and four of them are directed or co-directed by women, amounting to about 27...
Oscars 2018: Best Documentary Short Semi-Finalists Announced, Over 50 Percent Are Women-Directed
Oscar nominations won’t be announced until January 23, but we’re getting a peek at what to expect next month. A “screening committee drawn from documentary branch members has winnowed a field...