Films About Women Opening This Week
Jenny’s Wedding — Written and Directed by Mary Agnes Donoghue
When Jenny Farell (Katherine Heigl) decides to marry the love of her life, Kitty (Alexis Bledel), the small, safe world her family has always inhabited changes completely and they are left with a simple but difficult choice — either change with it or drown. (Press materials)
The Kindergarten Teacher
“The Kindergarten Teacher” is the story of a teacher who becomes at first enchanted and then ultimately consumed by the poetic genius of her five-year-old student. As the titular protagonist, Nira (Sarit Larry) discovers that her young student, Yoav (Avi Shnaidman), has an otherworldly talent for language and poetry, and she slowly and progressively becomes interested in cultivating the boy’s gift. But when fascination morphs into obsession, Nira pushes the boundaries of her relationship with the boy and his family in an attempt to protect his talent before he passes from boyhood to adolescence, and his purity is lost. (Press materials)
Films About Women Currently Playing
Unexpected — Directed by Kris Swanberg; Written by Megan Mercier and Kris Swanberg
A Gay Girl in Damascus: The Amina Profile (Documentary) — Directed and Written by Sophie Deraspe
Phoenix
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker (Documentary) — Co-Written by Susan Ecker
Frank the Bastard (Also available on VOD)
Trainwreck — Written by Amy Schumer
Lila & Eve (Also available on VOD)
Twinsters (Documentary) — Co-Directed and Written by Samantha Futerman
The Mama Sherpas (Documentary) — Directed by Brigid Maher (Also available on VOD)
Tangerine
Amy (Documentary)
A Little Chaos — Co-Written by Alison Deegan
Runoff — Written and Directed by Kimberly Levin
Inside Out
Spy
Tomorrowland
I’ll See You In My Dreams
Pitch Perfect 2 — Directed by Elizabeth Banks; Written by Kay Cannon
Hot Pursuit — Directed by Anne Fletcher
Aloft — Written and Directed by Claudia Llosa
Woman in Gold
Iris (Documentary)
Gemma Bovary — Directed by Anne Fontaine
She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry (Documentary) — Directed by Mary Dore
Films Directed by Women Currently Playing
On Beauty (Documentary) — Directed by Joanna Rudnick (opens in NY)
Stray Dog (Documentary) — Directed by Debra Granik
Batkid Begins (Documentary) — Directed and Co-Written by Dana Nachman
Infinitely Polar Bear — Directed and Written by Maya Forbes
The Wolfpack (Documentary) — Directed by Crystal Mosell
Films Written by Women Opening This Week
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation — Co-Written by Laeta Kalogridis
Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate — an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF. (IMDB)
Paulo Coelho’s Best Story — Written by Carolina Kotscho
Global phenomenon Paulo Coelho was not always the best-selling inspirational author he is today. For decades, he searched for his calling, just like the allegorical heroes in the spiritual classics “The Alchemist” and “The Pilgrimage.” Tracing his journey from humble roots to eventual emergence as the prolific author of 30 books that have sold over 165 million copies, this film reveals the most unbelievable wonder of all: the man behind the masterpieces. (Press materials)
Films Written by Women Currently Playing
Lucky Stiff — Written by Lynn Ahrens
Terminator: Genisys — Co-Written by Laeta Kalogridis
Jurassic World — Co-Written by Amanda Silver
TV Premiering This Week
Cold Justice (TNT) July 31
Think “Cold Case” meets “CSI” with a bit of “Rizzoli & Isles” mixed in, then make it real. That’s the formula for this unscripted procedural drama that follows two veteran female investigators as they attempt to crack murder cases that have lingered for years without answers and closure. Kelly Siegler is an attorney and former Texas prosecutor. Her “Cold Case” partner is Yolanda McClary, a longtime crime scene investigator. Together, the women are putting their vast knowledge and experience to work helping local law-enforcement officers and families of violent-crime victims get the truth. (Press materials)
Toe Tag Parole: To Live and Die on Yard A (Documentary) (HBO) August 3 — Co-Directed by Susan Raymond
In 2000, a California State Prison inmate serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) approached the warden to request a dedicated yard for men serving life sentences that would break the code of violence dominating prison life. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) subsequently transformed Yard A at California State Prison into The Progressive Programming Facility, which inmates call The Honor Yard. The only one of its kind in the United States, this experimental prison yard is free of violence, racial tensions, gang activity and illegal drug and alcohol use. (Press materials)
Playing House (USA) August 4 — Co-Created by Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair
Childhood best friends Maggie Caruso (Lennon Parham) and Emma Crawford (Jessica St. Clair) shared many adventures while growing up in their small Connecticut town. But their biggest adventure is about to get under way when mother-to-be Maggie discovers her husband is having an online affair. With her BFF now left alone to care for a baby, Emma decides to give up her burgeoning business career in China to return to her hometown and help Maggie raise the child. (Press materials)
Difficult People (Hulu) August 5 — Co-Created by and Starring Julie Klausner
TV blogger Julie (Julie Klausner) and her best friend Billy, who works as a waiter, try out stand-up routines at night in New York City. (Metacritic)
Born Again Virgin (TV One) — Starring Danielle Nicolet, Meagan Holder and Brely Evans
Jenna (Danielle Nicolet), a 34 year-old up-and-coming blogger, decides to become celibate when she finds her body count is starting to trump her age. Using her blog as encouragement for her newly adapted sex diet and also as a sounding board for her girlfriends’ often amusing “sexcapades,” Jenna is determined to make the blog a success and transform her friends in the process. (Press materials)
VOD/DVD Releasing This Week
Faults (DVD)
Adult Beginners (DVD) — Co-Written by Liz Flahive
A Little Chaos — Co-Written by Alison Deegan (DVD)
Insurgent (DVD)
Every Secret Thing (DVD) — Directed by Amy Berg; Written by Nicole Holofcener
Madame Bovary — Directed and Co-Written by Sophie Barthes (DVD)
Spare Change — Written by Stephanie Mathless (VOD)
Far From the Madding Crowd (DVD)
52 Tuesdays (DVD) — Directed by Sophie Hyde
Jackie and Ryan (DVD) — Written and Directed by Ami Canaan Mann
