#Feminism
You’re Invited: W&H’s Melissa Silverstein Will Be Special Guest in Gloria Steinem Play
Women and Hollywood’s Founder and Publisher is set to serve as Special Guest in “Gloria: A Life,” an interactive play about iconic feminist Gloria Steinem. On November 15 Melissa...
Cate Blanchett to Play Conservative Activist Opposed to Equal Rights in FX’s “Mrs. America”
In real life, Cate Blanchett is an outspoken feminist who famously called out Hollywood’s lack of female-led stories while accepting an Oscar. Her next role will be a major departure. The...
Natalie Portman, Lena Waithe, & More Get Political at Variety’s Power of Women Lunch
With the midterm elections fast approaching, He Who Shall Not Be Named in the White House, and an accused sexual abuser being the newest Supreme Court Justice, the stakes are very high in American...
New Study Finds Women-Driven Superhero and Sci-Fi Stories Empower Girls
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: representation matters. A major reason — if not the major reason — “Wonder Woman” and “Hidden Figures” are...
A Year of Reckoning in Hollywood
I’m not going to say his name because he doesn’t deserve shit. He was one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, and now he’s one of the most reviled men in the business...
Whitney Cummings Working on #MeToo-Themed Comedy for Amazon
Whitney Cummings will explore college in the #MeToo Era for her next TV project. Deadline reports the multi-hyphenate is joining forces with “Precious” director/”Empire”...
TIFF 2018 Women Directors: Meet Jasmin Mozaffari — “Firecrackers”
Jasmin Mozaffari’s student thesis film, “Firecrackers,” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to screen at numerous other fests across Canada and Europe....
BBC America & Women’s Media Center Team Up to Increase Women’s Onscreen Representation
BBC America and Women’s Media Center (WMC) are working together to improve the media’s depictions of women. A press release has announced that the TV network and the feminist organization...
Sarajevo Film Festival Signs 5050×2020 Pledge
The Sarajevo Film Festival has followed Cannes, Annecy, and Locarno’s lead and officially committed to gender equality among its filmmakers and leadership. Fest director Mirsad Purivatra...
Refinery29 Teams Up with NEON to Distribute Women-Driven Features
Refinery29 is getting into the feature film game. The young women’s digital media and entertainment company is partnering with NEON, the studio behind “I, Tonya” and “Ingrid...
BAMcinématek Hosting “Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers” Film Series
BAMcinématek has lined up its next feminist film series. The Brooklyn venue is teaming up with Kino Lorber and the Library of Congress for “Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers,” which...
Trailer Watch: A Filmmaker and Activist Is Honored in “Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen”
According to her son Hepi, the late filmmaker Merata Mita once said, “What you see when you look at an archival film are resurrections taking place.” She explained, “A past life...
Trailer Watch: RBG Is Ready to “Topple the Whole Damn System” in “On the Basis of Sex”
“You’re a smart girl, Ruthie,” some condescending old dude tells a young Ruth Bader frickin’ Ginsburg in the trailer for “On the Basis of Sex.” “You married...
Women in Film & TV International Elects New Board and Prez
Helene Granqvist has been named Women in Film & TV International’s (WIFTI) new president. A press release announced that the Swedish producer, who is also president of WIFT Sweden, was...
Jane Fonda Donates Collection of Films, Letters, & More to Smith College
Smith College’s Sophia Smith Collection — an archive “of the history of women changing the world” — has received its latest donation from a Hollywood and feminist icon....
“Americanah” Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Wins 2018 PEN Pinter Prize
Renowned author, feminist, and speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is this year’s recipient of the PEN Pinter Prize. As The Guardian reports, the honor, named after the late author Harold Pinter,...
The Quad to Celebrate “The New York Woman” in Upcoming Film Series
The Quad has announced an upcoming film series titled “The New York Woman,” a collection of 50-plus films that will be screened June 29-July 19 at the NYC venue. The selected pics,...
Study: Pay Disparity and Harassment Prevalent in Women-Dominated Crafts Jobs
Hollywood obviously has a women problem — that’s no secret. However, when we discuss gender inequality in show business, higher-profile positions, such as actors, directors, producers,...
Quote of the Day: Rashida Jones On the Creative Advantages of Writing and Producing
Rashida Jones might be best known for her onscreen work in “Parks and Recreation,” “Angie Tribeca,” and “The Office,” but she’s also a prolific writer and...
Quote of the Day: Jane Campion Explains Why “We’re in a Really Special Moment”
“Right now, we’re in a really special moment,” says Jane Campion in a new interview with The Guardian. Thanks to movements including #MeToo and #TimesUp, the entertainment industry seems to...
One of 82
On Saturday evening at the Cannes Film Festival I was one of 82 women who climbed the steps of the Palais de Festival — the most prestigious screening room in the world — as a participant...
Mark Your Calendar for Cannes 2018’s Women’s Events
The Cannes Film Festival begins today and along with dozens of film screenings and parties, the fest will feature plenty of events dedicated to gender equality and feminism in film — including...
Apply Now: Women and Hollywood Internship
Women and Hollywood is looking for an intern for the second half of 2018. The position will begin on July 1, 2018 and end on December 23, 2018. Applicants must be willing to commit to six months for...
Trailer Watch: Women Directors Share Their Stories in “Half the Picture”
A new documentary has assembled some of the most prominent women directors, and they’re speaking out about why there are so few of them. There’s plenty of female filmmakers out there, but as a...
Trailer Watch: Laura Dern Revisits Her Past in Sexual Abuse Drama “The Tale”
“The story you’re about to see is true — as far as I know,” says Laura Dern in a trailer for “The Tale.” Jennifer Fox’s film memoir centers on a filmmaker named Jennifer (Dern) who...
Trailer Watch: A Sexual Assault Is the Beginning of the Story in “Angels Wear White”
Two schoolgirls find themselves at the center of a scandal in “Angels Wear White.” Written and directed by Vivian Qu, the China-set drama sees pre-teen friends Xiaowen (Zhou Meijun) and Xinxin...
Cate Blanchett-Led Cannes Jury Adds Kristen Stewart, Ava DuVernay, and More
Cannes’ Competition lineup remains sorely lacking in women-directed films, but the Jury ruling over the fest’s most high-profile program is decidedly more inclusive. As previously announced,...
NYT and New Yorker Win Public Service Pulitzer for Reporting on Weinstein, Sexual Harassment
The 2018 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded yesterday and the journalists on the front lines of the Harvey Weinstein and sexual harassment stories took home the Public Service honor. The New York Times’...
Trailer Watch: Return to Steubenville, Ohio in Disturbing “Roll Red Roll”
“Is this football town putting its daughters at risk by protecting its sons in a situation like this?” asks one of the characters in “Roll Red Roll,” an upcoming documentary exploring the...
SAG-AFTRA Calls for Ban on Auditions In Hotel Rooms And Residences
SAG-AFTRA has announced the first expansion of the Code of Conduct it unveiled in February. Deadline reports that the union has called for a ban on auditions in hotel rooms and residences, locations...
You’re Invited: Women and Hollywood is Continuing the Conversation in Cannes
Heading to Cannes 2018 and interested in discussing topics such as securing funding, working collaboratively, and the lack of women-directed films screening in the fest’s Competition? Please join...
Women in Animation Launches and Signs “ASAP” Anti-Harassment Pledge
Women in Animation (WIA) has followed through on president Margaret Dean’s promise to create and sign a pledge against sexual harassment in the animation industry. According to a press release,...
Cannes Competition Numbers Remain Predictably Low For Female Directors
“The world will never be the same again, the Cannes Film Festival will never be the same again,” said Cannes Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux of a post Harvey Weinstein world. The fest just...
Uzo Aduba and Janet McTeer to Star in New Plays by Lydia R. Diamond and Theresa Rebeck
Uzo Aduba and Janet McTeer are returning to the stage. The respective “Orange Is the New Black” and “Jessica Jones” actresses are set to topline new plays by Lydia R. Diamond and Theresa...
Nearly Half of “Luke Cage’s” New Season Is Women-Directed — A Major Change from Season 1
“Luke Cage” has undergone a major behind-the-scenes makeover. According to blackfilm.com, the Netflix superhero series’ sophomore outing will feature six episodes directed by...
Birds’ Eye View Unveils New Project to Grow Audiences for Women-Directed Films
Birds’ Eye View (BEV) has introduced a new initiative to increase the audiences for female-helmed movies: the “Reclaim The Frame” Influencer Project. From April to September BEV will spotlight...
Ashley Judd to Receive Greenwich Film Fest’s Changemaker Award
Actress, activist, and Silence Breaker Ashley Judd will be celebrated for her international work with women and children at this year’s Greenwich International Film Festival. According to PEOPLE,...
Quote of the Day: Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Why Anger Is Vital for Her Work
Anger is complicated territory for women. Displaying a trace of irritability—nevermind fury — means running the risk of being called imbalanced or irrational. Yet anger is also a useful,...
MPAA Report 2017: Women-Centric Films Dominate and Females Account for 50 Percent of Moviegoers
Women continued to be a major presence and spending force at the movies last year. The MPAA has published its THEME — theatrical and home entertainment market environment — report for...
Guest Post: Why We Founded a Feminist Film Festival in Glasgow
Guest Post by Lauren Clarke and Kathi Kamleitner Conversation is how Femspectives started. About a year ago we were talking about women’s film festivals and their space in the wider film festival...
Quote of the Day: Zoe Saldana Doesn’t Want to Be a Muse
Zoe Saldana’s first blockbuster grossed over $654 million worldwide, but filming 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” was far from a Hollywood dream come true for...
Anita Hill-Led Commission on Sexual Harassment Looks to Hollywood for Funding
The Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equity in the Workplace has set its fundraising sights on the entertainment industry. The Anita Hill-led organization — which show...
Stephens College and SeriesFest Unveil Scholarship for Women Screenwriters Over 55
If you’re 55 or over, identify as a woman, and have TV and film writing aspirations, here’s some good news for you: Stephens College and television festival SeriesFest have announced The Jan...
Trailer Watch: The Hunters Become the Hunted in Coralie Fargeat’s “Revenge”
Described by writer-director Coralie Fargeat as “a revenge movie somewhere between ‘Kill Bill’ and Lara Croft,” “Revenge” sees a woman going on vacation to a remote desert villa with her...
Inclusion Rider Co-Creator Stacy Smith to Deliver Keynote at Women’s Media Summit
A number of activists leading the fight for gender equality in Hollywood are slated to attend the second annual Women’s Media Summit. Set to take place April 5–7 in Provincetown, MA, the event...
Equity’s Safe Space Program and Start-Up Callisto Fight Sexual Harassment in Theater
Trade union Equity has introduced a new campaign to fight sexual harassment in the theater industry. Per The Stage, Equity unveiled Safe Space with the help of singer-actress Billie Piper, who is...
“Chewing Gum’s” Michaela Coel to Deliver Prestigious Lecture at Edinburgh TV Fest
“Chewing Gum” creator, writer, and star Michaela Coel has been invited to give the MacTaggart lecture at this year’s Edinburgh International Television Festival. She’ll become the fifth...
Tribeca Film Fest Adds Day-Long #TimesUp Event
Herstory is being made at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. The fest is set to host #TimesUp’s inaugural New York event, Deadline reports. The day-long program will feature conversations with the...
Women Creators and Directors Making Strides on 2018–19 Pilot Season
This pilot season looks like it will be a historic one for women directors and creators. According to a report from Variety, “female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board.”...
Trailer Watch: Gilead Is Within Offred in “The Handmaid’s Tale” Season 2
When we last saw Offred (Elisabeth Moss), real name June, in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” she was being carted away to who knows where in a foreboding black van. In the trailer for Season 2 of...
Zelda Perkins Testifies About Weinstein NDA Before Parliamentary Committee
Women and Hollywood Trailblazer awardee Zelda Perkins spoke out about Harvey Weinstein’s use of non-disclosure agreements — aka his way of making sure his victims and employees could not...