#Women Directors
Prano Bailey-Bond’s Psychological Horror Pic “Censor” Lands at Magnolia
“Censor” has found a home ahead of its European premiere at the Berlinale in March. Magnolia Pictures snagged North American rights to Prano Bailey-Bond’s Sundance pic, Variety...
“Stargirl” Sequel in the Works at Disney+, Julia Hart to Reprise Directing Duties
We haven’t heard the last of Stargirl Caraway’s songs: Disney+ is prepping a “Stargirl” sequel. Released in 2020 and based on the best-selling YA book of the same name,...
Shannon Walsh’s Gig Economy Doc “The Gig Is Up” Lands at Dogwoof
Cue up “5 to 9,” Dolly Parton’s re-imagined take on “9 to 5.” The song is a fitting soundtrack for “The Gig Is Up,” Shannon Walsh’s exploration of the...
Jasmila Žbanić’s Oscar-Shortlisted War Drama “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Acquired by Neon’s Super Ltd
Following screenings at last year’s Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, Jasmila Žbanić’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” landed on the shortlist for the 2021...
Trailer Watch: A College Student Attends the Worst Wake Ever in Emma Seligman’s “Shiva Baby”
From the moment Danielle (Rachel Sennott) arrives at a shiva, everything that could go wrong does go wrong. A trailer has dropped for Emma Seligman’s “Shiva Baby” and promises tons...
Athena Film Festival Trailer Encourages Viewers to “Imagine a New Future”
Set to run March 1-31, this year’s Athena Film Festival (AFF) is going digital due to COVID-19. “In a year like no other, we’re digging deeper,” a newly released trailer from...
“Rocks” Wins Best Film at British Independent Film Awards
“Rocks” claimed the top prize at this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). Sarah Gavron’s coming-of-age drama was named Best British Independent Film at the online...
Sara Colangelo’s 9/11 Victim Compensation Drama “Worth” Acquired by Netflix & the Obamas’ Higher Ground
Sara Colangelo’s follow-up to “The Kindergarten Teacher” has secured distribution. Netflix and Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, scored rights to...
See and Be Seen: Crowdfunding Picks
Self-perception is a two-way mirror. Self-perception is how we see ourselves: all our ambitions, all our anxieties reflected plainly in the looking glass. Self-perception is also how the person on...
Chloé Zhao Makes History as Most Awarded Filmmaker in a Single Awards Season
Since its world premiere with simultaneous screenings at Toronto International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival in September, “Nomadland” has taken home award after award. After...
Groenlandia Launches Editorial Department Focused on Women-Directed Film
Production company Groenlandia has announced a new editorial department specifically dedicated to films from women directors. Created with “the goal of putting female directors at the center of...
Trailer Watch: “Allen v. Farrow” Goes Behind the Scenes of Hollywood’s Biggest Scandal
“It doesn’t matter what’s true. What matters is what’s believed,” says Mia Farrow in a new trailer for “Allen v. Farrow.” Hailing from “On the...
Minkie Spiro and Charlotte Stoudt to Adapt Kate Summerscale’s “The Haunting of Alma Fielding”
Minkie Spiro and Charlotte Stoudt are re-teaming. The pair are following up their collaboration on FX’s Emmy-winning series “Fosse/Verdon” by adapting Kate Summerscale’s book...
The Horizon Award Announces 2021 Recipients
Shira Baron and Marian De Pontes are the winners of the seventh annual Horizon Award, an honor presented to emerging female filmmakers. According to Screen Daily, Baron and De Pontes will both...
Ruth Negga to Topline Josephine Baker Limited Series from Dee Harris-Lawrence & Millicent Shelton
Ruth Negga is set to play another trailblazer. The Oscar-nominated “Loving” star has signed on to topline and exec produce “Josephine,” a limited series inspired by the...
Trailer Watch: Madeleine Sims-Fewer Seeks Revenge in Psychological Thriller “Violation”
“You created a reality that is completely different from everyone else’s, where you’re this saint who gets tricked into doing bad things,” a woman tells her sister in...
Angela Washko Shines a Spotlight on a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Alum in Slamdance Doc “Workhorse Queen”
A recent recipient of the Creative Capital Award, Impact Award at Indiecade, and the Franklin Furnace Performance Fund, Angela Washko’s art practice has been highlighted in The New Yorker, Frieze...
Svetlana Cvetko on Painting a Different Picture of LA in “Show Me What You Got”
Svetlana Cvetko is renowned for her cinematography work on a list of critically acclaimed documentaries, including Oscar winner “Inside Job,” Oscar-nominated “Facing Fear,”...
Gia Coppola’s “Mainstream” Goes to IFC Films, Maya Hawke Stars
Gia Coppola’s follow-up to “Palo Alto” has secured distribution. A press release announced that IFC Films snagged North American rights to Maya Hawke-starrer...
Pick of the Day: “Dead Pigs”
Cathy Yan’s zippy comic book pic “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” was one of the last films to open in theaters before COVID shut everything down, but...
Pick of the Day: “The World to Come”
Vanessa Kirby follows up her powerhouse performance in “Pieces of a Woman” with another awards contender. The winner of the Queer Lion at last year’s Venice Film Festival, Mona Fastvold’s...
Minhal Baig Inks Overall Deal with Amazon, Sets First Project
Minhal Baig is going into business with Amazon Studios. The “Hala” writer-director has signed an overall deal which will see her developing and producing content for the streamer, per...
Cathy Yan Reflects on Her “Prescient” Debut Film “Dead Pigs,” and the Evolution of the Film Industry
Cathy Yan’s debut film, “Dead Pigs,” premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018, where it won a Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting, and garnered numerous...
Berlinale 2021: 28 Percent of Competition Titles Are Women-Directed
The Berlin International Film Festival has announced its 2021 Competition lineup. Eighteen titles will compete for the fest’s highest honor, the Golden Bear, and five of them are directed or...
Over Half of SXSW’s 2021 Competition Titles Are Directed by Women
Once again, women directed or co-directed the majority of SXSW Competition titles. The festival has unveiled its 2021 lineup, and women helmed nine of the 16 Feature Competition titles, amounting to...
The Definition of Self: VOD Picks
How do we define ourselves? Do we look at the fragmented bits and pieces of our identities, or do we look at the whole? Are we defined by our families, our names, our passions? Can we be defined at...
Trailer Watch: Frances McDormand Is Ready to Get Busy Living in Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland”
“My dad used to say, ‘What’s remembered lives.’ I maybe spent too much of my life just remembering,” says Frances McDormand in a new trailer for “Nomadland.”...
Nicole Kassell Directing “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” Adaptation for New Line
Nicole Kassell will follow up her Emmy-winning adaptation of “Watchmen” by revisiting another beloved story. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she’s been tapped to helm New...
Oscar Shortlists Announced: “Time,” “Crip Camp,” “Hope,” More Docs and International Features Make the Cut
Oscar shortlists are in. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced shortlists in nine categories at the upcoming Academy Awards, including Documentary Feature and International...
Hannah Einbinder Joins Jean Smart in Untitled HBO Max Comedy From “Broad City” Alumnae
HBO Max’s untitled Jean Smart comedy has found its co-lead. A press release announced that Hannah Einbinder, best known for her work as a stand-up comedian, will play Smart’s protegee in...
Ninja Thyberg’s Sundance Pic About L.A.’s Porn Industry “Pleasure” Lands at A24
Ninja Thyberg’s feature debut has secured distribution following its world premiere at Sundance. A24 acquired U.S. rights to “Pleasure,” a look inside L.A.’s adult film industry, and...
Trailer Watch: Cathy Yan Tells a Stranger than Fiction Story in “Dead Pigs”
A trailer has landed for “Dead Pigs,” Cathy Yan’s feature directorial debut. Before taking the reins on 2020 Harley Quinn standalone pic “Birds of Prey,” the...
“Nomadland” Named Best Film by Toronto Film Critics Association and London Critics’ Circle
“Nomadland” continues to dominate awards season. Hot off its Golden Globe nominations, Chloé Zhao’s third feature has just been named Best Film by The Toronto Film Critics Association...
Cathy Yan to Write and Direct Sci-Fi Pic “The Freshening”
Cathy Yan will follow up her tribute to Harley Quinn’s fantabulous emancipation — and breakfast sandwiches — with a sci-fi love story. The “Birds of Prey” helmer is set...
Exclusive: Loira Limbal, Jialing Zhang, & Cristina Ibarra Among 2021 Chicken & Egg Award Recipients
Loira Limbal, Jialing Zhang, Cristina Ibarra, Maryam Ebrahimi, Tatiana Huezo, and Elwira Niewiera will be honored with a $50,000 grant and a year-long mentorship program for their documentary...
Bert & Bertie Directing Municipal Fraud Pic “Queen Bitch & The High Horse,” Cate Blanchett Producing
Bert & Bertie are partnering up with Cate Blanchett. The directing duo are set to direct “Queen Bitch & The High Horse,” which is being produced by Blanchett’s Dirty Films...
Teaser Watch: Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick Revisit the Allegations and Headlines of “Allen v. Farrow”
Chances are, even if you’re unfamiliar with Mia Farrow as an actress or have never seen a Woody Allen movie, you know about their shared history. Farrow and Allen’s daughter, Dylan...
Kim A. Snyder’s March For Our Lives Doc “Us Kids” Lands at Greenwich Entertainment
Described by director Kim S. Snyder as “a coming-of-age story about a bunch of regular teenage kids who live their lives against the backdrop of this horrendous national issue of gun...
Nicole Riegel’s Jessica Barden-Starrer “Holler” Lands at IFC Films
Nicole Riegel’s feature debut has found a home. IFC Films acquired North American rights to “Holler,” a coming-of-age drama led by “End of the F*cking World’s”...
Chloé Zhao to Direct “Dracula” for Universal
Hot off her Golden Globe noms for “Nomadland,” Chloé Zhao has signed on to write, direct, and produce “Dracula” for Universal Pictures. The auteur will be putting a fresh...
Portraits of Metamorphosis: Crowdfunding Picks
By Kara Headley and Vicki A. Lee This week’s crowdfunding picks are a patchwork quilt of womanhood and girlhood, a vibrant assemblage of characters who are either coming of age or undergoing...
Rebecca Hall’s “Passing” Goes to Netflix in $15 Million Deal, Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga Star
Rebecca Hall has landed a massive deal for her directorial debut. Netflix landed international rights to period drama “Passing” for a reported $15.75 million following its world premiere...
Athena Film Festival Announces 2021 Lineup, Tracey Deer’s “Beans” to Open the Fest
Tracey Deer’s “Beans” will open the 11th annual edition of the Athena Film Festival (AFF) at Barnard College. The coming-of-age drama about a 12-year-old Mohawk girl set against the...
Oscars 2021 International Feature Contenders: Meet Kaouther Ben Hania – “The Man Who Sold His Skin”
Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s films have screened at prestigious festivals including Cannes, Locarno, IDFA, and Hot Docs. Her film “Beauty and the Dogs” premiered in the...
Sally Aitken’s Sundance Doc “Playing With Sharks” Lands at National Geographic
Sally Aitken’s tribute to a pioneering marine conservationist has found a home. National Geographic Documentary Films snagged worldwide rights to “Playing with Sharks,” a portrait...
PGA Awards Doc Nominees: “Time,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” and More
The Producers Guild of America has announced the seven titles nominated in the documentary motion picture category at the 2021 PGA Awards, and four of them are directed by women: “Dick Johnson...
Oscars 2021 International Feature Contenders: Meet Barbara Paz – “Babenco: Tell Me When I Die”
Barbara Paz is an award-winning Brazilian actress, producer, and director. In her acting career she has performed in over 25 plays. She is also a popular television star under permanent contract to...
Siân Heder’s “CODA” Becomes First Film to Sweep Top U.S. Dramatic Prizes at Sundance
“CODA” has made history yet again. After nabbing a record-breaking distribution deal with Apple, Siân Heder’s coming-of-age story about a teen girl who is also the only hearing...
Golden Globe Nominations: Regina King, Chloé Zhao, & Emerald Fennell Land Best Director Nods, Make History
For the first time in its 78-year history, the Golden Globe Awards has recognized more than one woman in its Best Director category. Nominations for the 2021 edition of the awards ceremony were...
Oscars 2021 International Feature Contenders: Meet Julie Schroell – “River Tales”
Julie Schroell is a filmmaker and audiovisual artist living in Berlin. She started her career by directing a series of commissioned films, such as “The Farmer’s Blues” (2011), in...
Anthony Fauci Doc on the Way from Co-Director Janet Tobias, EP Liz Garbus, and National Geographic
Dr. Anthony Fauci, aka the person who helped America navigate the apocalyptic intersection of COVID-19 and Trump, is getting his own documentary. National Geographic Documentary Films announced the...