#Women Directors
Amanda Lipitz’s New Doc “Found” Acquired by Netflix, Gets Release Date
“Found,” Amanda Lipitz’s documentary about three adopted teens and their unexpected connection, has landed at Netflix. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streamer acquired...
Debbie Lum’s College Application Doc “Try Harder!” Lands at Greenwich Entertainment
The hells of the high-pressure college application process are headed to the screen. Greenwich Entertainment has snagged North American distribution rights to “Try Harder!,” Debbie...
Trailer Watch: A Mother & Daughter Deal with Economic Hardship in Dark Comedy “El Planeta”
Artist Amalia Ulman is ready for you to know her name, if the trailer for her debut film “El Planeta” is anything to go by. With its distinctive black and white visuals and darkly comedic...
Women Make Movies Virtually Screening “Voices of Afghan Women” Collection for Free Through End of August
As the U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan and the Taliban continues to seize power, one of the many looming humanitarian crises involves what the future will hold for Afghan women. The Taliban has...
Mina Shum Attached to Write and Direct Feature “This Is Always” for Amazon Studios
TIFF favorite Mina Shum has a new project on the horizon. The Canadian filmmaker is set to write, direct, and exec produce “This Is Always,” a feature film in development at Amazon...
Teaser Watch: Docuseries “Nuclear Family” Offers an Intimate Portrayal of a Lesbian Family
Ry Russo-Young has made a name for herself directing fiction narrative features, and episodes of scripted television — and now she’s ready to turn the camera on herself and her family. A...
Pick of the Day: “Rare Beasts”
If you, like me, are a fan of the Billie Piper show “I Hate Suzie” — its anti-heroine lead, its focus on the messiness of feminism in theory vs. practice, its general acidity...
“Black Widow,” “Respect,” and “Mrs. America” Among Women’s Image Award Nominees
The Women’s Image Network (WIN) has announced the nominations for the 23rd Women’s Image Awards, which “celebrate artists whose work depicts dimensional female media images”...
Trailer Watch: The “Pen15” Special Takes Us On an Animation Vacation
“Pen15” just got weirder… if that’s even possible. The surrealist “traumedy” — which hasn’t aired new episodes since September 2020 — is back,...
Trailer Watch: Céline Sciamma Returns to Childhood with “Petite Maman”
Céline Sciamma is not yet done exploring the uncertainties of childhood — while 2019’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” was a love story between adults, the French...
Trailer Watch: Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals” Offers Us Front Row Seats to the End of the World
The final trailer for “Eternals,” Chloé Zhao’s much-anticipated foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has arrived — and promises plenty of action, humor, and existential...
Exclusive: The Cast & Crew of “Spirit Untamed” Discuss the Importance of Girls’ Onscreen Rep in Clip
In “Spirit Untamed,” a girl’s love for a mustang named Spirit leads her to forge lasting friendships with other young women — and discover an unexpected connection with her...
Ann Hu Talks Bringing a Personal Story to the Screen with “Confetti”
Writer, producer, and director Ann Hu’s debut “Shadow Magic” (2000) won both the Chinese Academy Award and Presidential Award in China for Best Film. The film premiered at the 2000...
Tara Nicole Whitaker Making Feature Directorial Debut with Animated Pic “Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk”
Tara Nicole Whitaker has contributed to the animation of titles such as “Gravity Falls” and “DuckTales,” illustrated books like “Shady Baby” and the “My Baby Loves”...
Camille A. Brown Set to Make History with Broadway Return of “For Colored Girls…”
Ntozake Shange’s Obie Award-winning 1976 choreopoem classic “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” is once again returning to New York theater, this...
Trailer Watch: “LuLaRich” Exposes LuLaRoe’s Faux-Feminist Pyramid Scheme
LuLaRoe, a pyramid scheme that prides itself on empowering women, is the latest shady business venture to receive the investigative documentary treatment. A trailer for Julia Willoughby Nason and...
Sarah O’Gorman & Vicky Jewson Will Direct “The Witcher: Blood Origin” Limited Series for Netflix
Sarah O’Gorman and Vicky Jewson are joining the Witcherverse. They have been tapped to direct “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” the prequel series to Netflix fantasy show “The...
Posy Dixon’s Beverly Glenn-Copeland Doc “Keyboard Fantasies” Acquired by Greenwich Entertainment
“The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” is heading to the big screen. According to a press release, Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Posy Dixon’s...
FX Sets Brit Marling Limited Series, Taps Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton for “Fleishman Is in Trouble”
FX announced a limited series from “The OA’s” Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, and confirmed “Little Miss Sunshine’s” Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton have been...
“Sort Of,” Coming-of-Age Comedy Centering Gender Fluidity, Headed to HBO Max
“Sort Of” is making its way to HBO Max. The upcoming Canadian comedy will premiere on the streamer this fall, a press release announced. “Sort Of” will make its North American...
TIFF 2021 Adds Julie Cohen & Betsy West’s Julia Child Doc, Ava DuVernay’s Colin Kaepernick Series
Ava DuVernay, Julie Cohen, and Betsy West are the latest filmmakers to have projects added to the Toronto International Film Festival’s 2021 edition. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cohen...
Pick of the Day: “CODA”
From start to finish, “CODA” is a delight. Siân Heder’s second feature is heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny, and everything I’d hoped it would be after reading about its...
Debbie Allen Will Be Presented with the Television Academy’s Governors Award at 2021 Emmys
Debbie Allen will need to make some room on her mantle — the Television Academy’s Governors Award will soon take its place among her three Emmys, Golden Globe, Olivier Award, and 10 NAACP...
Trailer Watch: “Introducing, Selma Blair” Invites Audiences to Join Her Journey with MS
Selma Blair offers an intimate look behind the scenes of her life in “Introducing, Selma Blair.” Rachel Fleit’s documentary sees the actress reckoning with her Multiple Sclerosis...
Sarajevo Film Festival Introduces Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality
The 27th annual edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, and a new award is being introduced to promote gender equality at the fest. The Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality...
Trailer Watch: “The Deadliest Disease in America” Highlights Racism in Healthcare
“By a show of hands, who really believes that racism exists in healthcare?” Crystal R. Emery asks in a new trailer for “The Deadliest Disease in America.” Directed and...
Lisa D’Apolito to Direct Doc About Ventriloquist Shari Lewis and Her Puppet Lamb Chop
“Love, Gilda” filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito is set to direct another doc about a beloved performer. A press release has announced she will helm “Shari & Lamb Chop,” which...
Karla-Simone Spence Will Topline ITV Period Drama “The Confessions of Frannie Langton”
Karla-Simone Spence has been tapped to lead “The Confessions of Frannie Langton,” an ITV period drama based Sara Collins’ award-winning 2019 novel. The “Gold Digger”...
TIFF Announces Special Retrospective of Alanis Obomsawin & Platform Program
The Toronto International Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for Alanis Obomsawin. The award-winning Abenaki documentary filmmaker, writer, singer, and activist was previously named as this...
Rowan Blanchard and Auli’i Cravalho Team Up for Sammi Cohen Queer Coming-of-Age Pic
Rowan Blanchard is getting off the train and heading back to high school. The “Snowpiercer” actress and “Girls Meets World” alumna is set to topline an untitled coming-of-age...
New York Film Fest Announces 2021 Main Slate, Lineup Is 31 Percent Women-Directed
New York Film Festival (NYFF) has unveiled its Main Slate. Of 32 films set to screen, 10 are directed or co-directed by women, amounting to about 31 percent of the program. Last year, women directed...
Zooey Deschanel, Karina Longworth, & Vanessa Hope Team Up for Narrative Podcast About Joan Bennett & Walter Wanger
“You Must Remember This” creator Karina Longworth is digging up more Hollywood history. The podcast host is launching a narrative podcast exploring actress Joan Bennett and producer...
Trailer Watch: Sara Colangelo Revisits the Story Behind the 9/11 Victims Fund in “Worth”
“What would your life be worth?” Michael Keaton is asked in a new trailer for Sara Colangelo’s third feature. Based on a true story, “Worth” takes place in the aftermath...
Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic’s Cannes Winner “Murina” Lands U.K.-Ireland Distribution
Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic’s feature directorial debut has secured distribution. Modern Films acquired U.K.-Ireland rights to “Murina,” this year’s winner of Cannes’ Camera...
Hanelle M. Culpepper Will Direct Action Pic “Coyote Blue”
Hanelle M. Culpepper has another feature in the works. The prolific, history-making small screen helmer already has “1000 Miles,” a drama inspired by the true story of an enslaved...
rePRO Film Festival 2021 Women Directors: Meet Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt – “Bei Bei”
Rose Rosenblatt and Marion Lipschutz are partners in Incite Pictures/Cine Qua Non. Their prior titles include “Young Lakota,” “The Education of Shelby Knox,” “Live Free...
Gurinder Chadha Has a Bollywood-Inspired Animated Pic in the Works
Gurinder Chadha is expanding her horizons. Best known for her smash hit “Bend It Like Beckham,” the writer and director is planning to foray into the world of animation. She’s...
Sydney Freeland to Helm Netflix Native American Basketball Pic “Rez Ball”
Sydney Freeland has lined up her third feature. Deadline reports that she’ll follow up 2014’s “Drunktown’s Finest” and 2017’s “Deidra & Laney Rob a...
Women’s Skateboarding Doc Now in Production at Tokyo Games, Jessica Edwards Directing
The first feature film charting the evolution of women’s skateboarding from underground activity to Olympic sport is on the way. A press release has announced production on “Skate...
Trailer Watch: It’s a Woman’s World in the “Y: The Last Man” TV Adaptation
Set to James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” the new trailer for the long-in-the-works, much anticipated television adaptation of “Y: The...
Tribeca Prize-Winning Rowing Drama “The Novice” Acquired by IFC Films
Lauren Hadaway’s award-winning feature directorial debut has found a home. IFC Films snagged North American rights to the “The Novice,” now slated for release in select theaters,...
Trailer Watch: Nanfu Wang Revisits the Early Days of COVID-19 with “In the Same Breath”
The award-winning director of “One Child Nation” and “Hooligan Sparrow” takes on the COVID-19 crisis with “In the Same Breath.” Nanfu Wang’s latest explores...
Debbie Allen, Kay Cannon, Nicole Kassell, & More to Serve as Mentors in New DGA Program for Women Directors
The women of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) are forming a squad. The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee has launched the Women’s Steering Committee Squad Mentorship Program (WSC Squad),...
Pick of the Day: “The Macaluso Sisters”
A fun day at the beach has unforeseen ripple effects in “The Macaluso Sisters,” Emma Dante’s adaptation of her play of the same name. Comprised of three parts that catch up with the...
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” Acquired by Netflix Ahead of Venice World Premiere
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut has found a home ahead of its world premiere at Venice Film Festival next month. U.S. rights to “The Lost Daughter,” an adaptation of Elena...
Trailer Watch: Marina Zenovich Dives Deep into Show Biz Misogyny in “What Happens in Hollywood”
Documentarian Marina Zenovich turns her eye to Hollywood’s insidious misogyny in a new docuseries. A trailer for “What Happens in Hollywood” has arrived and sees actresses,...
Julia Ducournau’s Cannes Winner “Titane” Will Open TIFF’s Midnight Madness Section, More Films Announced
“Titane” will be making its North American premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. A press release announced that Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winner will open...
Trailer Watch: Kay Cannon and Camila Cabello Modernize “Cinderella”
Camila Cabello vows to make a life for herself in a new trailer for “Cinderella,” Kay Cannon’s modern take on the beloved fairy tale. In this version of the story, Cinderella...
Thea Sharrock to Direct Soccer Pic “The Beautiful Game”
Thea Sharrock is making another film based on a true story. She’s set to follow up 2020’s “The One and Only Ivan,” a family pic about a gorilla who makes headlines for his...
Pick of the Day: “Pray Away”
As moving as it is infuriating,” “Pray Away” sees director Kristine Stolakis taking a sobering look at the ongoing toll of conversion therapy. The doc explores the “ex-gay...
August 2021 Television Preview
Summer television will go out with a bang this August, with releases ranging from a star-studded miniseries set at a health-and-wellness resort to an Emmy nominee’s animated return. This...