#movies
Weekly Update for January 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Rust Creek – Directed by Jen McGowan; Written by Julie Lipson (Also Available on VOD) An ordinary woman must summon extraordinary courage to survive a nightmare...
Report: Black Male Directors Made Major Gains in 2018, Number of Women Plateaued Again
The good news: The number of black directors working on top-grossing films reached a 12-year high in 2018. Sixteen black helmers, including “Black Panther’s” Ryan Coogler and...
Miniseries and Film About “Out of Africa” Author Karen Blixen in the Works
The life of author, adventurer, and businesswoman Karen Blixen might make its way to the screen once more. According to Deadline, Nordisk Film is developing “The Lioness,” an...
“Quantico” Star Yasmine Al Massri to Topline and Produce “Juliet”
Yasmine Al Massri is taking on producing duties for her next project. The “Quantico” and “Miral” actress is set to star in and produce “Juliet,” a feature drama...
2018 Celluloid Ceiling Report: Number of Women Directors on Top 250 Films Falls to 8%
New year, same story. Dr. Martha Lauzen and the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film has released a new report, “The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women on...
Weekly Update for December 21: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
Season’s greetings from Women and Hollywood! Thank you so much for your continued support of our work. We’ll be taking some time off for the holidays, so this will be our last weekly...
On the Big and Small Screens, 2018 Was the Year of #MeToo and #TimesUp
Despite being so deeply ingrained in the cultural discourse, #MeToo and #TimesUp are still in their early days as social movements. #TimesUp is less than a year old and, while Tarana Burke created it...
Reese Witherspoon Taps Liz Hannah to Write “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” Adaptation
Things are moving forward on Reese Witherspoon’s adaptation of “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.” Deadline confirms Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is joining forces with...
2018’s Best Films By and About Women
Many of our favorite films saw female characters claiming or reclaiming their power: Mary Stuart set her sights upon the English throne, and two ladies-in-waiting realized winning Queen Anne’s...
Guest Post: Mira Nair’s Groundbreaking Career, from Bollywood to Hollywood
Guest Post by Amardeep Singh I’ve been fascinated by director Mira Nair since I first saw her 1991 film “Mississippi Masala,” a drama about the romance between an Indian immigrant (Sarita...
2018’s Best Documentaries By and About Women
Women and Hollywood’s top documentaries of 2018 feature a Nobel-winning activist, a filmmaker investigating her stolen project, and a world-renowned pop singer. Inspiring, heartbreaking, and...
Berlinale 2019’s Panorama Program Is 23% Women-Helmed So Far
The Berlin International Film Festival has unveiled the first half of its 2019 Panorama program. Unfortunately, its initial numbers aren’t as encouraging as the Competition lineup’s...
Costume Designer Alexandra Byrne Talks Creating the Looks of “Mary Queen of Scots”
For Alexandra Byrne, designing the clothes for “Mary Queen of Scots” came somewhat naturally. After all, she created the costumes for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and won an Oscar for her...
Weekly Update for December 14: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Mary Poppins Returns (Opens December 19) “Mary Poppins Returns” “Mary Poppins Returns” is set in 1930s, Depression-era London — the time period of the...
Trailer Watch: Cybill Shepherd Hits the Road and Falls in Love in “Being Rose”
“Since my husband died, I’ve been like a ghost,” Cybill Shepherd admits in the trailer for “Being Rose.” Her character, Rose, is isolated, unhappy, and missing her...
Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan to Star in Lesbian Romance “Ammonite”
Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan will play unlikely lovers in the next project from writer-director Francis Lee (“God’s Own Country”). According to Deadline, the two actresses are...
“Mary Queen of Scots” Director Josie Rourke on Transitioning from Stage to Screen
Josie Rourke might just be directing her first movie, but “Mary Queen of Scots” is the first of what will be many. It’s a little crazy to say that Mary is the perfect role for Saoirse...
Actress Daphne Zuniga to Make Feature Directorial Debut
No stranger to twisty drama, “Melrose Place” veteran Daphne Zuniga will be making her feature directorial debut with a thriller. Deadline confirms the actress has signed on to helm...
Pic About Feud Between Actresses Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse in the Works
The rivalry between 19th century stage actresses Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse could be coming to the big screen. A feature about their feud, described as “‘The Favourite’ meets...
Jodie Foster Will Star in and Direct English-Language Remake of Iceland’s “Woman at War”
Jodie Foster is going to war. Deadline reports the Oscar winner will topline and direct a remake of “Woman at War,” Iceland’s submission for 2019’s Best Foreign Language Film...
Exclusive: Roberta Grossman’s WWII Resistance Doc “Who Will Write Our History” Secures Release
“Who Will Write Our History,” Roberta Grossman’s chronicle of a lesser known form of WWII-era resistance, will have a theatrical run, Women and Hollywood has learned exclusively....
Sudabeh Mortezai’s “Joy” Wins Best Film at Marrakech Fest
Sudabeh Mortezai has nabbed another festival prize for her second feature, “Joy.” Less than two months after it took BFI London Film Festival’s top prize, Variety confirms the sex...
Priyanka Chopra-Led Family Drama from Shonali Bose Is in Production
Priyanka Chopra is taking on a true story for her next project. According to Variety, the “Quantico” actress will star in Shonali Bose’s “The Sky Is Pink.” Currently in...
Weekly Update for December 7: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Mary Queen of Scots – Directed by Josie Rourke It’s a little crazy to say Mary, Queen of Scots is the perfect role for Saoirse Ronan because I am certain that...
“Dumplin'” Director Anne Fletcher on Why She Wants Audiences to Feel “Unique and Special”
Danielle Macdonald, who we were introduced to in “Patticake$,” takes on the lead in “Dumplin’,” a story about a teen girl who enters her mother’s (Jennifer...
Golden Globes Nominate Zero Women Directors. Again.
It seems another Time’s Up red carpet protest is in order. The Golden Globe nominations have been announced and, even for a Hollywood awards ceremony, they are very male and, in many...
“The Favourite” Nabs Record 10 BIFA Awards, Continues to Reign Over the Box Office
“The Favourite” revolves around the manipulations and betrayals of Queen Anne’s court, but it’s inspiring a lot of love and loyalty from audiences and awards committees. The...
Weekly Update for November 30: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Clara’s Ghost – Written and Directed by Bridey Elliott (Opens December 6) (Available on VOD December 7) Set over the course of a single evening in the Reynolds...
Trailer Watch: “The Heiresses” Run Out of Money in Paraguay’s Oscar Submission
A trailer has dropped for “The Heiresses,” Paraguay’s official submission in the foreign-language Oscar race. The award-winning drama tells the stories of Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita...
Trailer Watch: Katherine Waterston Investigates a Mysterious Death in “State Like Sleep”
“Peel back a layer and no one’s who they seem to be,” Michael Shannon says in the trailer for “State Like Sleep.” That’s what protagonist Katherine (Katherine...
Viola Davis to Topline and Produce Shirley Chisholm Biopic, Maggie Betts Directing
Viola Davis has lined up her first project under her recent Amazon deal. The Oscar winner will portray the titular pioneering politician in “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm,” Deadline...
Women Represent 42 Percent of Sundance 2019 Competition Directors
If you’re planning to attend the Sundance Film Festival in January, there will be plenty of women-directed films to check out. The fest has announced its 2019 feature lineup, and 42 percent of...
Women Make Up Over 50 Percent of Variety’s Annual Directors to Watch List
Women dominate Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch list for 2019. Women represent 60 percent of slots on the annual ranking, which recognizes up-and-coming filmmaking talent. Olivia Wilde...
Domee Shi, First Woman to Direct Pixar Short, Will Helm Feature Debut
Domee Shi made history this year by becoming the first woman to direct a Pixar short, “Bao.” Now she’s set to pivot to feature filmmaking. As Deadline reports, Shi is attached to...
Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Releasing Lisa France Documentary “Roll With Me”
ARRAY has lined up its latest film release. Ava DuVernay’s independent distribution company will be screening “Roll With Me,” Lisa France’s doc about recovering addict and...
Trailer Watch: A Tragic Romance Unfolds in “If Beale Street Could Talk”
“You trusted love this far. Trust it all the way,” says Regina King in an emotional new trailer for “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Barry Jenkins’ follow-up to...
2018 Gotham Awards: Wins for Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider,” “Killing Eve,” Elsie Fisher, & More
Women were among the big winners at last night’s IFP Gotham Awards. Not only did Chloé Zhao’s Western, “The Rider,” take home the top prize, but women-driven and -created...
“Roma” and “The Favourite” Shine at the Box Office
It appears turkey wasn’t the only thing people were craving over Thanksgiving weekend: a box office report from Deadline suggests that women-driven films with awards buzz were also high in...
Cannes 2019’s Directors’ Fortnight Now Accepting Submissions
Cannes Film Festival sidebar Directors’ Fortnight is now accepting films for its 2019 edition. Organized by the French Directors’ Guild, next year’s Directors’ Fortnight...
Weekly Update for November 21: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING The Favourite – Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara (Opens in NY and LA November 23) Set in the early 18th century, we take a closer look at the reign of Queen...
Marsha Mason on Being in the “Prime” of Her Career and Life as a Theater Director
Marsha Mason has had an extraordinary career in film, television, and theater over the past five decades — and she feels like she’s just getting started. She’s received four...
Writer to Watch: “The Little Drummer Girl’s” Claire Wilson
Persistence and playing the long game have been the secrets to UK screenwriter Claire Wilson’s success. The co-writer of new AMC/BBC One miniseries “The Little Drummer Girl” was in...
“Rafiki” Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu to Direct “Covers” for Working Title and Universal
Wanuri Kahiu is bringing another romantic tale to the big screen. The “Rafiki” director will helm “Covers,” a love story set in Los Angeles’ music scene, for Working...
Weekly Update for November 16: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING Widows – Written by Gillian Flynn and Steve McQueen Viola Davis leads “Widows,” a heist thriller about a group of women who share little in common besides the...
“Grown-ish’s” Francia Raisa Bringing Landmark Desegregation Case to the Big Screen
Another film about a game-changing court case may soon be joining the ranks of “On the Basis of Sex” and “Loving.” According to Variety, “Grown-ish”...
Lisa Donato’s Trans Drama “Gossamer Folds” Begins Production, Alexandra Grey Starring
Alexandra Grey broke our hearts as a struggling young trans woman on “Transparent,” and she’s poised to tell another emotional story in “Gossamer Folds.” The 1986-set...
Kiersey Clemons to Topline and Produce Film About Youngest Woman on NY Stock Exchange
Kiersey Clemons is headed to Wall Street. The “Transparent” actress has signed on to portray Lauren Simmons, the youngest woman in the history of the New York Stock Exchange and the...
Charlotte Sieling Working on Period Drama About Scandinavian Monarch Margrete The First
Danish film and TV director Charlotte Sieling has lined up her biggest project to date. As Screen Daily reports, the “Queen of the South” and “Homeland” helmer is making an...
Stephany Folsom to Pen Michelle Williams Abortion Drama “This Is Jane”
Another woman has joined “This Is Jane’s” creative team. According to Variety, “Toy Story 4” and Black List writer Stephany Folsom will pen the feature, about a pre-Roe...
Ita O’Brien Is Transforming the Way Film, TV, and Theater Handle Sex Scenes
One of the many conversations #MeToo and Time’s Up have inspired has to do with the nature of creative arts professions. If you work in film, television, theater, or a related field, chances...
Weekly Update for November 9: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING The Girl in the Spider’s Web “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” Computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Claire Foy) and journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason)...