#Women Writers
Emma Seligman’s “Shiva Baby” Lands at Utopia
Emma Seligman’s feature debut has found a home. Utopia Media snagged worldwide rights to “Shiva Baby” ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Variety broke...
Madonna Is Directing Her Own Biopic, Co-Writing with Diablo Cody
Madonna can “Take a Bow,” because she’s re-writing the rules of filmmaking. She’s set to direct her third feature, and the subject matter couldn’t be any more personal:...
Marjane Satrapi to Be Honored by Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival
Marjane Satrapi is set to be honored at the 2020 Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival (EMIFF), now in its ninth year. According to Variety, the “Radioactive” director will...
Attagirl Film Lab Unveils Inaugural Class, Majority of Projects Are Directed by Women and POC
Attagirl, a film lab supporting women and non-binary writers, directors, and producers, has selected the projects for its inaugural edition. A press release announced that 13 films have been chosen,...
Julia Hart’s “I’m Your Woman” to Open AFI Fest, Rachel Brosnahan Stars
Julia Hart’s latest will open the 2020 edition of AFI Fest. “I’m Your Woman” sees “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s” Rachel Brosnahan leading another period...
Halle Berry’s “Bruised” Goes to Netflix in Massive Deal
Halle Berry’s feature debut is packing a wallop at the Toronto International Film Festival. Netflix snagged worldwide rights to “Bruised” ahead of its world premiere at the fest,...
Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” Wins Golden Lion, Venice’s Top Prize
“Nomadland” has been awarded Venice International Film Festival’s most prestigious prize, the Golden Lion. Written and directed by Chloé Zhao, the drama tells the story of Fern...
Weekly Update for September 11: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Opening
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING AND COMING TO STREAMING/VOD I Am Woman – Directed by Unjoo Moon; Written by Emma Jensen In 1966, single mother Helen Reddy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) leaves her old life...
Trailer Watch: Eva Noblezada Sings Her Truth in “Yellow Rose”
“I never fit in, never could win,” an aspiring country music performer sings in a new trailer for “Yellow Rose.” The drama tells the story of Rose (Eva Noblezada,...
Trailer Watch: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Exposes “The Great American Lie” in Her New Doc
For too many people, the American Dream — the idea that, in the U.S., you can start with nothing but achieve anything — isn’t just a fantasy, but a complete hoax. Jennifer Siebel...
Maria Schrader Wraps Production on “I Am Your Man”
Maria Schrader is following up “Unorthodox” with a German-language feature. Deadline reports that the Emmy-nominated director recently wrapped production on “I Am Your Man”...
TIFF 2020 Women Directors: Meet Madeleine Sims-Fewer – “Violation”
Madeleine Sims-Fewer studied film production at York University and completed an MFA in acting at Drama Centre London. She met Dusty Mancinelli at the 2015 TIFF Talent Lab and the pair joined forces...
TIFF 2020 Women Directors: Meet Cathy Brady – “Wildfire”
Cathy Brady is a two-time Irish Film & Television Award-winning director. She was recognized for her short films “Small Change” and “Morning.” In 2011 she directed the...
Trailer Watch: Malin Akerman Hosts Kat Dennings and Aisha Tyler for “Friendsgiving”
Malin Akerman and Kat Dennings’ plans for a quiet Thanksgiving take a major turn in “Friendsgiving,” Nicol Paone’s feature directorial debut. A new trailer for the comedy sees...
TIFF 2020 Preview: Frances McDormand Hits the Road, Female DJs Get Their Due, & More
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) hasn’t gone entirely digital this year, but the fest has adapted to life in a COVID-19 world. Set to take place September 10-19, the 45th edition...
Trailer Watch: Lily James Is Haunted By Her Husband’s Ex in “Rebecca”
A fairy tale transforms into a nightmare in “Rebecca,” an atmospheric Gothic pic based on Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel. A trailer for the Lily James-starrer kicks off with a...
Join the Girls Club for a Conversation with Miranda July About “Kajillionaire”
Miranda July will be discussing “Kajillionaire” at the Girls Club’s next live event. The conversation will be held Thursday, September 10, at 5:30 p.m. EST. Written and directed by...
Exclusive Featurette: Nicole Riegel on “Holler,” Her TIFF Pic About a Woman Struggling to Pay for College
“When I was a high school senior, I had a meeting with my guidance counselor. She told me that I would probably never go to college, and it was one of the most discouraging things that I think...
Weekly Update for September 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Opening
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING AND COMING TO STREAMING/VOD Mulan – Directed by Niki Caro; Written by Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin, Amanda Silver, and Rick Jaffa Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro...
Quinta Brunson Has a Teacher Comedy in the Works at ABC
Quinta Brunson is shining a spotlight on the trials and tribulations of our nation’s educators. The “A Black Lady Sketch Show” star has received a put pilot commitment for a...
Chelsea Handler Sells Comedy Series to HBO Max and Peacock
Chelsea Handler has new shows in the works at both HBO Max and Peacock. Deadline reports the multi-hyphenate will executive produce “Blair” for the former and “Wiped Out” for...
Kristin Scott Thomas, Daisy Ridley, & Nina Hoss to Star in Jane Anderson’s WWII Drama “Women in the Castle”
Kristin Scott Thomas, Daisy Ridley, and Nina Hoss will confront the horrors of war and its aftermath in “Women in the Castle,” an adaptation of Jessica Shattuck’s 2017 New York...
Shatara Michelle Ford’s “Test Pattern” Acquired by Kino Lorber
Shatara Michelle Ford’s award-winning feature debut has found a home. A press release announced that Kino Lorber acquired North American rights to “Test Pattern,” described as...
Venice 2020 Women Directors: Meet Celine Held – “Topside”
Celine Held is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker. She works as a co-writer and director with her partner Logan George. Their work as a team has premiered in competition at SXSW, Sundance Film Festival, and...
Book Excerpt: “Love Is All Around: And Other Lessons We’ve Learned from The Mary Tyler Moore Show”
The following is adapted from Paula Bernstein’s “Love Is All Around: And Other Lessons We’ve Learned from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Reprinted by permission of Running Press,...
Teaser Watch: Julie Taymor, Julianne Moore, & Alicia Vikander Celebrate Gloria Steinem in “The Glorias”
“I want to write about the women’s movement,” says Gloria Steinem in a new teaser for “The Glorias.” The feminist icon’s journalism and activism played — and...
Zeina Durra’s Andrea Riseborough-Starrer “Luxor” Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn
At a time when most of us are stuck at home, Zeina Durra’s latest offers a powerful reminder of what it’s like to explore a country other than your own. “Luxor,” her sophomore...
Trailer Watch: A Young Activist Becomes Radicalized in Venice’s “And Tomorrow the Entire World”
Is violence ever really justified? How far could — or should — one go to stop fascism or Nazism? Is peaceful protest actually effective? These are some of the questions Julia von Heinz...
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’s” Kristen Bartlett Has “Big Wishes” Comedy Series in the Works at ABC
“Full Frontal with Samatha Bee’s” Kristen Bartlett explores what happens when folks age out of Make-a-Wish and other charities dedicated to making sick kids’ dreams come true...
TV Series About The Slits’ Viv Albertine in the Works
Punk’s not dead on the small screen: a limited series about Viv Albertine is in the works. Deadline reports that Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley’s Number 9 Films and Rachael...
September 2020 Film Preview
By Shayna Maci Warner and Tatiana McInnis September is rich in documentaries and epic narratives with long-awaited releases. This month’s varied documentary releases highlight women’s...
Mamie Till Mobley Limited Series Ordered at ABC, Gina Prince-Bythewood Will Direct First Ep
Another project about Mamie Till Mobley is in the works. On the heels of the announcement that Chinonye Chukwu is directing a feature about Emmett Till, his death, and Mobley’s galvanization of...
Weekly Update for August 28: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Opening
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING AND COMING TO STREAMING/VOD Driven to Abstraction (Documentary) – Directed by Daria Price “Driven to Abstraction” unravels a mutating tale of self-delusion,...
Sofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks” to Make World Premiere at New York Film Festival
New York Film Festival (NYFF) will host the world premiere of “On the Rocks.” Sofia Coppola’s father-daughter comedy will screen as part of the fest’s new Spotlight section,...
Chinonye Chukwu to Direct Pic About Emmett Till’s Death, How His Mother Helped Spark Civil Rights Movement
Chinonye Chukwu’s next project will revisit a tragic, and galvanizing, moment in American history. According to Deadline, the “Clemency” filmmaker has signed on to direct a feature...
Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier Developing Live-Action “Powerpuff Girls” Reboot for The CW
Time to combine sugar, spice, and everything nice with Chemical X: a “Powerpuff Girls” reboot is in the works. Variety confirms a live-action update of Blossom, Bubbles, and...
Trailer Watch: Radha Blank Takes the Mic in “The Forty-Year-Old Version”
A struggling playwright decides to reinvent herself as a rapper in “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” this year’s winner of Sundance’s Directing Prize. Written and directed by...
Ekwa Msangi’s Intergenerational Immigrant Story “Farewell Amor” Acquired by IFC Films
Ekwa Msangi’s feature debut has secured distribution. A press release announced that IFC films snagged North American rights to “Farewell Amor,” an intergenerational immigrant...
Keira Knightley and Clio Barnard Team Up for Apple TV+ Adaptation of “The Essex Serpent”
Keira Knightley has signed on to topline another period drama. Deadline reports that she’ll lead and exec produce “The Essex Serpent,” an adaptation of Sarah Perry’s 2016...
Trailer Watch: Brea Grant’s “12 Hour Shift” Sees Nurses Dabbling in Black Market Organ-Trading
An ER nurse makes extra cash from freshly expired bodies in Brea Grant’s “12 Hour Shift.” A new trailer for the pic, which is set in 1999, introduces us to Mandy (Angela Bettis,...
Trailer Watch: Gal Gadot Takes On Kristen Wiig in “Wonder Woman 1984”
“This world is not yet ready for all that you will do. Your time will come Diana — and everything will be different,” Gal Gadot is told in a new trailer for “Wonder Woman...
Weekly Update for August 21: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films You Can Watch from Home
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD Lingua Franca – Written and Directed by Isabel Sandoval After securing a job as a live-in caregiver for Olga (Lynn Cohen), an elderly Russian woman in...
Kimmy Gatewood and Alison Becker Sell Feature Comedy Script “Girlworld” to Amazon Studios
Character actresses, comedians, and writing partners Kimmy Gatewood (“GLOW”) and Alison Becker (“Parks and Recreation”) have sold a script to Amazon Studios....
Janicza Bravo Will Tell Dan Mallory’s Story in “A Suspense Novelist’s Trail of Deceptions”
Janicza Bravo is taking on another story about an unreliable narrator. The “Zola” filmmaker has been tapped to write and direct “A Suspense Novelist’s Trail of...
Lynn Shelton to Be Honored by The American Cinematheque
The American Cinematheque is set to honor Lynn Shelton. Deadline reports that the non-profit org is hosting an online event paying tribute to the late writer-director’s body of television work...
Sarah Cooper & Cindy Chupack Are Bringing “How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings” to CBS
Sarah Cooper’s star continues to ascend. The TikTok sensation recently lined up her first comedy special with Netflix and now word comes that she’s developing a comedy series at CBS...
American Black Film Fest 2020 Women Directors: Meet Lineo Sekeleoane – “Zulu Wedding”
Lineo Sekeleoane is an award-winning film and television director and producer. She helmed the short film “My Zulu Promise,” and produced the short “Home Sweet Home” for M-Net...
Bettina Oberli’s “My Wonderful Wanda” Will Make History When It Opens the 2020 Zurich Film Festival
“My Wonderful Wanda” (“Wanda, mein Wunder”) is set to kick off Zurich Film Festival’s (ZFF) 16th edition, marking the first time that a female-directed film will open...
Sarah Gavron’s “Rocks” Sets UK/Ireland Theatrical Release, Will Open in September
After its initial release plan was disrupted by COVID-19, Sarah Gavron’s ode to girlhood and female friendship, “Rocks,” is finally coming to theaters. According to a press release,...
Olivia Wilde Will Direct a Spider-Woman Movie for Marvel
Olivia Wilde has signed on to direct her first blockbuster. The “Booksmart” helmer finalized a deal with Sony Pictures “to develop and direct an untitled, female-centric Marvel film...
Women Represent Just 35% of Film Reviewers, According to New Thumbs Down Report
Dr. Martha Lauzen and the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film have published the latest “Thumbs Down” report on gender representation in film criticism — and,...