ALL POSTS
Pick of the Day: “Miss Juneteenth”
Today’s release of “Miss Juneteenth” couldn’t be more welcome or better timed. As calls for making Juneteenth a federal holiday gain further momentum amidst Black Lives Matter...
Pick of the Day: “Babyteeth”
The slog of long-term illness can do weird things to people — not just those who are actually sick, but their loved ones, as well. Shannon Murphy’s “Babyteeth,” the story of a...
Elizabeth Lo’s Hot Docs Winner “Stray” Acquired by Magnolia Pictures
Magnolia Pictures has landed North American rights to “Stray,” an award-winning documentary about stray dogs in Istanbul. Elizabeth Lo made her directorial debut with the film, which was...
Trailer Watch: Bryce Dallas Howard Makes Her Feature Directorial Debut with “Dads” Doc
“I want to know more about what it takes to be a father and celebrate all the great dads out there,” says Bryce Dallas Howard in a trailer for “Dads,” her feature directorial...
Connections and Conversations: Crowdfunding Picks
Remembering the things that connect us and bring us together, as well as committing to honest conversation with each other — even when the topic is difficult — has never been more...
Submit Now: The Athena Film Festival
Submissions are open for the 2021 Athena Film Festival. A celebration of fierce and fearless leaders, the fest is now entering its 11th year, and currently accepting short film submissions. The New...
Voting Rights Doc from Stacey Abrams, Liz Garbus, and Lisa Cortés Acquired by Amazon Studios
Worldwide rights to an untitled voting rights documentary from Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés have been acquired by Amazon Studios. A press release announced the news. Prominently featuring insights...
Ivy Meeropol on Looking Beyond Evil in “Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn”
Ivy Meeropol’s documentary feature debut was “Heir to an Execution,” which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. It was followed by two short...
Debra Messing, Ali Wentworth, and Liz Tuccillo Team Up for Starz Political Comedy “East Wing”
After revisiting her star-making role in “Will & Grace” Debra Messing has boarded a new comedy series that’s taking her to the White House. The Emmy-winning actress will topline...
Totem Films Launches New Documentary Label with Female-Driven Projects
Totem Films has launched a new documentary label, Totem Doc, and will present its inaugural lineup of four female-driven projects at Cannes Film Market next week. Screen Daily confirmed the news. The...
Jessica Chastain Developing Series Based on Alice Feeney Thriller “His & Hers”
Jessica Chastain continues to add to her packed slate. The actress’ production company, Freckle Films, along with producer Kristen Campo (“The Killing,” “The L Word: Generation Q”), and...
Trailer Watch: “Hanna” Infiltrates a Secret School of Assassins in Season 2
A new trailer for “Hanna’s” second season introduces a change in scenery. The next chapter in the teen assassin’s journey sees Hanna (Esmé Creed-Miles, “Dark...
Constance Wu Joins Emma Holly Jones Rom-Com “Mr. Malcolm’s List”
Emma Holly Jones has recruited another “Crazy Rich Asians” cast member. The filmmaker is extending her short “Mr. Malcolm’s List” into a feature. Gemma Chan starred in...
Lydia Dean Pilcher’s “A Call to Spy” Acquired by IFC
Lydia Dean Pilcher’s tribute to three female spies who helped defeat the Nazis in the French Resistance of World War II has found a home. IFC Films snagged North American rights to “A...
Apply Now: American Documentary’s Artist Mental Health Fund for BIPOC Directors & Producers
Applications are now open for a new U.S.-based fund designed to support artists of color, specifically with regards to mental health. American Documentary (AmDoc), the nonprofit organization behind...
Pick of the Day: “Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth”
Shortly before I watched “Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth,” Jeanie Finlay’s documentary about a trans man embarking upon pregnancy and parenthood, “Harry Potter” author...
Spec Script from “This Is Us” Writer Kay Oyegun Acquired by HBO Max, Tika Sumpter to Star
Kay Oyegun has added another exciting project to her slate. A psychological thriller script from the “This Is Us” writer-producer attracted the attention of “several suitors” before...
Trailer Watch: Emily Mortimer Faces Heartbreak and a Haunting in “Relic”
Most of us are familiar with the sight of a parent humoring their frightened child by checking under the bed for a monster. A new trailer for “Relic” depicts a less familiar scene: an...
Future and Fantasy: VOD and Web Series Picks
Women filmmakers are redefining what intimacy and relationships may look like in the future — not through making tired critiques of dating apps, but rather by offering expansive interpretations...
Keira Knightley to Star in Hulu’s “The Other Typist,” Ilene Chaiken Serving as Showrunner
Keira Knightley, last seen in Philippa Lowthorpe’s “Misbehaviour,” is making a leap to television. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two-time Oscar nominee is set to star in and...
Human Rights Watch Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Mira Jargil – “Reunited”
Mira Jargil is known for the award-winning festival hit “The Time We Have,” the feature documentary “Dreaming of a Family,” and the series “Till Death Do Us Part.” The...
Gabrielle Union and Numa Perrier Team Up For Netflix Rom-Com “The Perfect Find”
Gabrielle Union and Numa Perrier are joining forces. The “L.A.’s Finest” star will topline and produce the “Jezebel” writer-director’s next pic, Netflix rom-com...
Human Rights Watch Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Erika Cohn – “Belly of the Beast”
Erika Cohn is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director and producer. Most recently she completed “The Judge,” a Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated film about the first woman judge...
Ramona S. Diaz’s “A Thousand Cuts” Acquired by PBS’ “Frontline”
“A Thousand Cuts” has secured distribution. A press release announced that PBS’ “Frontline” scored U.S. rights to the Sundance title. Offering an inside look at the fight...
Academy Announces Inclusion Standards for Oscars Eligibility
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is further addressing its inclusivity problem. The Academy has announced a “fresh set of measures aimed at boosting representation both within...
Human Rights Watch Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Shalini Kantayya – “Coded Bias”
Shalini Kantayya directed the season finale episode for the National Geographic television series “Breakthrough,” a series profiling trailblazing scientists transforming the future. Her debut...
Weekly Update for June 12: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films You Can Watch from Home
Read our message on BLM and the protests against racism and anti-Black police brutality. FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD The Short History of the Long Road – Written and Directed by...
Remembering Lynn Shelton
We were honored to host Lynn Shelton in an interview with The Girls Club to discuss her films and her recent work on “Little Fires Everywhere.” Sadly, Lynn passed away just two weeks...
Human Rights Watch Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Christina Antonakos-Wallace – “From Here”
Christina Antonakos-Wallace is a filmmaker and cultural organizer. Her short films and interactive work has been exhibited in over a dozen countries, in contexts from schools to festivals galleries...
Keke Palmer Will Topline Historical Thriller “Alice,” Krystin Ver Linden’s Feature Debut
Keke Palmer is going back in time. According to Variety, the “Hustlers” actress is set to topline and exec produce “Alice,” a historical thriller from Steel Springs...
Human Rights Watch Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Juliana Fanjul – “Radio Silence”
Juliana Fanjul received a BA in Visual Communication and attended the documentary department at EICTV (International Cinema and TV School of San Antonio de las Banos). She received a Masters in...
Amma Asante, Julie Taymor, & More to Speak at Carla Conference 2020 on Diversity & Inclusion
An online conference hosted by Women in Film & TV International is set to bring creatives, researchers, executives, financiers, and activists together to discuss how we can create “lasting...
Gabrielle Union Options LGBTQ Memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue” for TV
Gabrielle Union is bringing George M. Johnson’s life story to the small screen. The “L.A.’s Finest” actress and exec producer’s I’ll Have Another Productions has...
Human Rights Watch Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Ursula Liang – “Down a Dark Stairwell”
Ursula Liang is a journalist-turned-filmmaker and producer. Her producing credits include “One October,” “Tough Love,” “Wo Ai Ni Mommy,” “Spartan Ultimate...
Dakota Johnson, Christy Hall, & Carrie Brownstein Team Up for Amazon’s “Rodeo Queens”
Dakota Johnson is joining forces with the co-creator of “I Am Not Okay With This.” The actress will follow up her role in Nisha Ganatra’s “The High Note” with another...
Ava DuVernay, Whoopi Goldberg, & More Elected to Academy Board, Number of Women & POC Hits New High
Ava DuVernay, Whoopi Goldberg, and “A Star Is Born” producer Lynette Howell Taylor are among the 16 people who have been elected or reelected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and...
Trailer Watch: Michelle McNamara Investigates the Golden State Killer in “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark”
“The story of the victims — it has to be told,” says Michelle McNamara in a new trailer for “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.” The HBO docuseries is based on the late author’s 2018...
Women In Film’s Hire Her Back Campaign Calls for Gender & Racial Equality as Productions Resume
The COVID-19 crisis and recent Black Lives Matter protests have laid bare the racial, class, and gender disparities that exist in law enforcement, healthcare, labor, and well, everywhere. As...
Peabody Awards: “When They See Us,” “Fleabag,” “Surviving R. Kelly” & More
The winners are in for this year’s Peabody Awards. Selected from nearly 1,300 entries and 60 nominees, this year’s recipients are described by Peabody executive director Jeffrey P. Jones...
Women Warrior Pic “Tomiris” Lands U.S. Distribution
“Tomiris” has secured U.S. distribution. Arclight Films and Well Go USA snagged rights to the action-adventure pic centering on women warriors. A press release confirmed the news. Based...
Trailer Watch: “Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn” Looks Beyond the Contradictions
“To call Roy Cohn evil, it’s true, but it doesn’t explain 100 other things about him,” says one of the characters featured in “Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy...
Dianne Houston to Direct “The Melony Armstrong Story”
Dianne Houston is paying tribute to a fellow trailblazer. The Academy Award nominee will write and direct “The Melony Armstrong Story” for Moving Picture Institute, Deadline...
Trailer Watch: “Imagining the Indian” Fights Against Native American Mascoting
“This country doesn’t really do anything voluntarily in terms of granting human rights. It comes through movements, and movements educate people,” says one of the characters...
Sheffield Doc/Fest Announces Virtual Lineup: “Shut Up Sona,” “The Go-Go’s,” & More
The UK’s most prominent documentary festival has unveiled its 2020 lineup. This year’s programming will be largely digital due to COVID-19. Sheffield Doc/Fest is “launching a VOD...
Cicely Tyson to Receive Peabody Career Achievement Award
Cicely Tyson will soon have a Peabody to add to the honorary Oscar, three Emmys, and Kennedy Center Honors prize on her mantel. The iconic actress is this year’s recipient of the Peabody...
WGAW Inclusion Report: Underrepresented Writers Making Gains, but Systemic Discrimination Persists
In the past year, underrepresented writers — including women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people over age 55 — have made strides in movies and...
AFI Docs Announces 2020 Lineup, 61 Percent Women-Directed
Like many festivals, AFI Docs is going digital this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Film Institute just announced the full slate of films being presented online via a press release....
Weekly Update for June 5: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films You Can Watch from Home
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD Shirley – Directed by Josephine Decker; Written by Sarah Gubbins Towards the beginning of “Shirley,” an unwanted house guest tells Shirley...
Quote of the Day: “Supergirl’s” Nicole Maines Advocates for More Nuanced Trans Characters
“I think it’s that more and more trans characters [can] be less than perfect and be a–holes and be the villains,” Nicole Maines tells Variety in a new feature. “We can look at them,...
Pick of the Day: “Shirley”
Towards the beginning of “Shirley,” an unwanted house guest tells Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss) that one of the author’s stories made her feel “thrillingly horrible.”...
Oprah Winfrey to Host Televised Town Hall Addressing America’s Systemic Racism
As demonstrations against racism and anti-Black police brutality continue in the U.S. and around the world, Oprah Winfrey is using her platform to inspire frank conversation, and hopefully inspire...