#Films
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Kasi Lemmons – “Harriet”
Kasi Lemmons is an award-winning director, writer, actress, and professor. Her acclaimed 1997 feature directorial debut, “Eve’s Bayou,” received the Independent Spirit Award for Best First...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Lisa Barros D’Sa – “Ordinary Love”
Lisa Barros D’Sa’s debut feature film, “Cherrybomb,” co-directed with Glenn Leyburn, premiered at the Berlinale in 2009. Barros D’Sa and Leyburn’s second feature, “Good Vibrations,”...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Myriam Verrault – “Kuessipan”
Myriam Verreault made a name for herself by co-directing, scripting, producing, and editing “West of Pluto,” her critically-acclaimed 2019 feature debut. The film went on to be screened...
Weekly Update for September 6: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (Documentary) At the height of unprecedented success, Linda Ronstadt, a restless and adventurous artist, turned away from pop music to...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Maria Sødahl – “Hope”
Maria Sødahl has written and directed several television dramas, documentaries and short films. Her first feature film, “Limbo,” was nominated for ten of Norway’s Amanda Awards,...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Coky Giedroyc – “How to Build a Girl”
With a background in documentaries, pop videos, and arts programs, British director Coky Giedroyc made her feature debut with “Stella Does Tricks,” starring Kelly Macdonald. Her BAFTA-...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Tamar Shavgulidze – “Comets”
Tamar Shavgulidze was born in Tbilisi. She’s made several shorts and one feature; her projects have won competitions at the National Film Center four times, and she also has been a jury member...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Gabriela Cowperthwaite – “The Friend”
Gabriela Cowperthwaite is a Brazilian American filmmaker who rose to prominence with the release of her 2013 film “Blackfish,” which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Shelly Love – “A Bump Along the Way”
Award-winning artist and director Shelly Love has devised, written, and directed numerous music videos, commercials, and short films including “Little White Bird,” “Pod,” “Scratch,”...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Aisling Chin-Yee – “The Rest of Us”
Aisling Chin-Yee is an award-winning producer, writer, and director. She produced “Rhymes for Young Ghouls,” which was a TIFF Top 10 film and won Best Director at the Vancouver...
Women of Color Led or Co-Led 11 of 2018’s Top 100 Films, According to New Research
As we’re all well aware, women are very much underrepresented on the big screen. However, according to new research from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, there is...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Alla Kovgan – “Cunningham”
Alla Kovgan is writer, director, and editor who was born in Moscow. Her film “Nora” received 30 awards and was broadcast worldwide. She co-directed, wrote, and edited the Emmy-nominated...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Chiara Malta – “Simple Women”
Chiara Malta’s documentary “Armando E La Politica” premiered as the opening night film at Turin Film Festival and aired on ZDF and Arte. She has written and directed many shorts,...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Unjoo Moon – “I Am Woman”
Born in South Korea and raised in Australia, Unjoo Moon has directed and produced many award winning short films, music videos, commercials, and documentaries which have screened internationally at...
Venice Film Fest Hosts Gender Equality Seminar
Historically, Venice Film Festival has not seemed to give a shit about gender parity or inclusion. Artistic director Alberto Barbera has said he would rather quit than set gender quotas. In the wake...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Neasa Hardiman – “Sea Fever”
Neasa Hardiman is a BAFTA-winning director and writer whose work spans film and television, including BBC/Netflix’s “Happy Valley” and Netflix’s “Jessica Jones.”...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet María Paz González – “Lina from Lima”
María Paz González was born in Temuco, Chile. She studied journalism at the Universidad de Chile, and specialized in screenwriting and filmmaking. She’s worked in different roles of film...
TIFF 2019 Women Directors: Meet Sarah Gavron – “Rocks”
Sarah Gavron’s previous credits include “Brick Lane,” which earned her a BAFTA nomination and The Alfred Dunhill Talent Award at the London Film Festival, and the Dennis Potter...
TIFF 2019 Preview: Feminist Anthems, Tales of Teen Girlhood, Harriet Tubman, & More
The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival kicks off Thursday and the fest’s schedule is packed with women-centric and women-made projects we can’t wait to catch. As usual, Women and...
Weekly Update for August 30: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Official Secrets – Written by Sara Bernstein, Gregory Bernstein, and Gavin Hood Based on world-shaking true events, “Official Secrets” tells the gripping...
Venice 2019 Women Directors: Meet Isabel Sandoval – “Lingua Franca”
Isabel Sandoval is a New York-based Filipina filmmaker. Her feature directorial debut, “Señorita,” premiered in competition at the 2011 Locarno Film Festival, and won the Emerging...
Trailer Watch: Uzo Aduba Starts an Education Reform Movement in “Miss Virginia”
“School or juvenile hall?” Uzo Aduba asks in the trailer for “Miss Virginia. “You have got to choose.” Her character, Virginia Walden, is talking to her son (Niles...
Venice 2019 Women Directors: Meet Marie Grahtø – “Psychosia”
Marie Grahtø graduated from the independent film school Super16 in 2014. She has travelled to festivals around the world with her short films “Daimi” (2012) and “Yolo”...
Trailer Watch: A Doctor Takes on Local Politics — and Sexism — in “The Perfect Candidate”
The protagonist of Haifaa Al-Mansour’s “The Perfect Candidate,” a young female doctor in Saudi Arabia, is getting fed up. She’s not receiving the funding she needs at her...
Venice 2019 Women Directors: Meet Mattie Do – “The Long Walk”
Mattie Do is Laos’ first, and only, female filmmaker. Her feature debut, “Chanthaly,” was the ninth feature film produced in the country since the 1975 revolution, the first Lao...
Trailer Watch: Tilda Swinton Rewrites Cinematic History in “Women Make Film”
Women’s contributions to cinema have gone unacknowledged for far too long. “Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema” aims to educate and enlighten audiences, illustrating...
Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen & Slim” Will Open AFI FEST 2019
Melina Matsoukas is returning to the American Film Institute (AFI). According to a press release, the AFI alumna’s feature directorial debut, “Queen & Slim,” will make its world...
Venice 2019 Women Directors: Meet Shahad Ameen – “Scales”
Writer-director Shahad Ameen was born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Her short films include 2009’s “Our Own Musical” and 2011’s “Leila’s Window.” The...
Jennifer Reeder’s “Knives and Skin” Acquired by IFC Midnight
Jennifer Reeder’s latest has found a home. IFC Midnight snagged North American rights to “Knives and Skin.” The genre coming-of-age pic made its world premiere at the Berlinale and...
Venice 2019 Women Directors: Meet Gitanjali Rao – “Bombay Rose”
A self-taught animator and filmmaker, Gitanjali Rao emerged into the international stage with her animated short “Printed Rainbow,” which premiered at Cannes Critics’ Week in 2006....
Weekly Update for August 23: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Vita & Virginia – Directed by Chanya Button; Written by Chanya Button and Eileen Atkins (Available on VOD August 30) Set amidst the bohemian high society of 1920s...
Women and Hollywood’s Picks of the Week for August 22
Note: Picks of the Week will be going on hiatus until mid-September. We hope you have a great end of the summer. Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s top recommendations —...
Weekly Update for August 16: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Where’d You Go, Bernadette – Written by Holly Gent, Richard Linklater, and Vince Palmo Based on the beloved novel by Maria Semple, “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”...
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Writing a Feature Film with Plans to Direct
Phoebe Waller-Bridge won’t be breaking the fourth wall on her next project — she’ll be stepping behind it. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the “Fleabag”...
Women and Hollywood’s Picks of the Week for August 15
Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s recommendations — women-driven and women-made movies, series, VOD releases, and more — and tells you why they are worth your time and...
Trailer Watch: The Holidays Are Rough on Emilia Clarke in “Last Christmas”
“Father bloody Christmas, get me out of here,” Emilia Clarke says in the trailer for “Last Christmas.” It’s unclear whether her character, Kate, wants to escape the...
Trailer Watch: Sasheer Zamata Spends “The Weekend” with Her Ex and His New Girlfriend
Zadie (Sasheer Zamata, “SNL”) is in for a trying weekend. She’s spending it at a bed and breakfast with her ex (Tone Bell, “Disjointed”) and his new girlfriend, Margo...
Weekly Update for August 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING The Kitchen – Written and Directed by Andrea Berloff “The Kitchen” stars Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”), Tiffany...
TIFF 2019 Announces Discovery Titles and Docs, Ellen Page and Barbara Kopple Among Directors
Ellen Page, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Barbara Kopple are just a few of the directors who will be screening films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF 2019 has unveiled the...
Women and Hollywood’s Picks of the Week for August 8
Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s recommendations — women-driven and women-made movies, series, VOD releases, and more — and tells you why they are worth your time and money. One...
Weekly Update for August 2: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING The Nightingale – Written and Directed by Jennifer Kent “The Nightingale” is Jennifer Kent’s follow-up to her 2014 horror hit “The Babadook.”...
San Sebastian 2019: Official Selection Includes Three Women-Directed Films
Earlier this week, the San Sebastian International Film Festival announced that women directed more than half of its 2019 New Directors lineup. Now the fest has unveiled new additions to its Official...
Trailer Watch: Hannah Pearl Utt Uncovers Family Secrets in Her Comedy “Before You Know It”
In “Before You Know It,” Hannah Pearl Utt stars as stage manager Rachel Gurner, who still lives with her quirky family of artists — aspiring actress sister, playwright father, and...
Women and Hollywood’s Picks of the Week for August 1
Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s recommendations — women-driven and women-made movies, series, VOD releases, and more — and tells you why they are worth your time and money. The...
Trailer Watch: An Act of Self-Defense Turns a Couple into Folk Heroes in “Queen & Slim”
One Tinder date ends up changing two people — and the world — forever in the latest trailer for “Queen & Slim.” After going out to dinner, Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith,...
Weekly Update for July 26: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Share – Written and Directed by Pippa Bianco (Premieres July 27 on HBO) “Share,” written and directed by Pippa Bianco, feels in some ways like a horror...
Jennifer Lopez Will Topline, Produce, and Possibly Direct STXfilms’ “The Godmother”
In September’s “Hustlers,” Jennifer Lopez will play a stripper who, along with her co-workers, robs her Wall Street bro customers. Now there’s word the multi-hyphenate will...
Women and Hollywood’s Picks of the Week for July 25
Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s recommendations — women-driven and women-made movies, series, VOD releases, and more — and tells you why they are worth your time and...
Weekly Update for July 19: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Varda by Agnès (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Agnès Varda (Opens in the UK) Whether in front of the camera or behind it, Agnès Varda was a visual...
Study: Just 14% of Past Decade’s Sci-Fi and Superhero Films Featured Solo Female Leads
Last year a study from Women’s Media Center (WMC) and BBC America concluded that female representation in superhero and sci-fi stories can have an empowering effect on girls in the real world. This...
Outfest 2019 Preview: The Lesbian Herstory Archives, Young Love, Family Drama, & More
Outfest, a Los Angeles film festival celebrating the LGBTQ community, kicks off today, July 18. Women and Hollywood has selected five women-directed titles we’re especially excited about,...