Read our message on BLM and the protests against racism and anti-Black police brutality.
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
The Short History of the Long Road – Written and Directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy
For teenage Nola (Sabrina Carpenter), home is the open road. Her self-reliant father (Steven Ogg) is her anchor in a life of transience. The pair criss-cross the United States in a lovingly refurbished RV, making ends meet through odd jobs while relishing their independence. A shocking rupture, though, casts Nola out on her own. She makes her way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in search of a mother she never knew, only for her motorhome to break down unexpectedly. But after forging a bond with an auto body shop owner (Danny Trejo), Nola senses the possibility of mooring her ship in this storm.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Ani Simon-Kennedy.
“The Short History of the Long Road” is now screening in select drive-in theaters. It will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon June 16. Find more viewing info here.
My First and Last Film (Documentary) – Directed by Tracey Thomas
Tracey Thomas’ debut feature film is a deeply personal feature documentary about aging, grief, resilience, and love, as it explores the impact of turning 60. When her creative and romantic partner Dennis passes away during production — and just before his own 60th — the project faces a crossroads.
“My First and Last Film” is now screening via virtual cinemas.
Marona’s Fantastic Tale – Directed by Anca Damian; Written by Anca Damian and Anghel Damian
“Marona’s Fantastic Tale”
This poetic and touching film follows an optimistic stray dog named Marona (Lizzie Brocheré) as she looks back on the human companions she has loved throughout her life. Delivered alongside dazzlingly colorful, sweeping designs, “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” is a life-affirming tale told with the patient, boundless love of a dog, and reminds us that happiness is a small thing.
“Marona’s Fantastic Tale” is now screening via virtual cinemas.
My Father the Spy (Documentary)
“My Father the Spy”: Mistrus Media
As a young Soviet student in 1978, Ieva could not have predicted that a holiday visit to her father, Imants Lešinskis, then working in the Soviet mission at the United Nations in New York City, would irreversibly split her life in two. Entangled in a dark spy game, Ieva is forced to leave her former life behind, never to see her mother or her homeland of Latvia again. Pulling back the curtain on the shady behind-the-scenes world of the Cold War, this film tells a daughter’s dramatic story of her double-agent father, exploring their relationship against the backdrop of events which have their roots over four decades ago. In order to find herself and understand the game she was part of, Ieva sets out on a journey to the past, confronting family secrets, lies, and betrayal.
“My Father the Spy” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon June 16.
Hidden Orchard Mysteries: The Case of the Air B & B Robbery – Written by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackelford
When a home robbery occurs in their peaceful neighborhood, two best friends looking for adventure, Lulu (Ja’ness Tate) and Gabby (Gabriella Pastore), attempt to discover the culprit. But in a small community where their closest neighbors are also the most likely suspects, solving a mystery is tricky business for these junior detectives. But nothing can stay hidden forever, and their investigation digs up bigger secrets than they ever expected.
“Hidden Orchard Mysteries: The Case of the Air B & B Robbery” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV June 16.
Driven – Written by Casey Dillard
Emerson Graham’s (Casey Dillard) nights as a cab driver are filled with annoyances and inconveniences, but until tonight, never attacks or disappearances. After picking up a mysterious passenger, her evening goes from working a job to performing a quest as they must race against the clock to defeat a force of evil. The meter is running.
“Driven” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV June 16.
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“A New Color”
Shirley – Directed by Josephine Decker; Written by Sarah Gubbins (Hulu, Virtual Cinemas)
Judy & Punch – Written and Directed by Mirrah Foulkes (VOD)
A New Color: The Art of Being Edythe Boone (Documentary) – Directed by Marlene “Mo” Morris (VOD)
Advocate (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche; Written by Rachel Leah Jones (VOD)
Born in Evin (Documentary) – Directed by Maryam Zaree (VOD)
Becky – Written by Lane Skye, Nick Morris, and Ruckus Skye (VOD)
Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai (Netflix)
Here Awhile (VOD)
The High Note – Directed by Nisha Ganatra; Written by Flora Greeson (VOD)
Papicha – Directed by Mounia Meddour; Written by Mounia Meddour and Fadette Drouard (Virtual Cinemas)
Ursula von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own (Documentary) (Virtual Cinemas)
The Price of Desire – Written and Directed by Mary McGuckian (VOD)
Feral – Written by Priscilla Kavanaugh, Jason Mendez, and Andrew Wonder (VOD)
On the Record (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick; Written by Amy Ziering, Sara Newens, and Kirby Dick (HBO Max)
Military Wives – Written by Rachel Tunnard and Rosanne Flynn (VOD)
Lucky Grandma – Directed by Sasie Sealy; Written by Sasie Sealy and Angela Cheng (Virtual Cinemas)
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy (Documentary) – Directed by Elizabeth Carroll (Virtual Cinemas)
Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Goldstein (Virtual Cinemas)
Joan of Arc (Virtual Cinemas)
I Will Make You Mine – Written and Directed by Lynn Chen (VOD)
Alice – Written and Directed by Josephine Mackerras (Virtual Cinemas)
Buffaloed – Directed by Tanya Wexler (VOD)
Fourteen (Virtual Cinemas)
How to Build a Girl – Directed by Coky Giedroyc; Written by Caitlin Moran (VOD)
Clementine – Written and Directed by Lara Jean Gallagher (Virtual Cinemas)
CRSHD – Written and Directed by Emily Cohn (Virtual Cinemas)
On a Magical Night (Virtual Cinemas)
The Half of It – Written and Directed by Alice Wu (Netflix)
South Mountain – Written and Directed by Hilary Brougher (VOD)
Becoming (Documentary) – Directed by Nadia Hallgren (Netflix)
Saint Frances – Written by Kelly O’Sullivan (VOD)
The Assistant – Written and Directed by Kitty Green (VOD)
The Photograph – Written and Directed by Stella Meghie (VOD)
Selah and The Spades – Written and Directed by Tayarisha Poe (Amazon Prime)
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael (Documentary) (Film Forum)
Beanpole (VOD, Film Forum)
Fleabag Live (Taped Theater Production) – Directed by Vicky Jones; Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Amazon Prime, Soho Theatre On Demand)
Never Rarely Sometimes Always – Written and Directed by Eliza Hittman (VOD)
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth (Documentary) – Directed by Jeanie Finlay
“Seahorse”: Danny Burrows
Freddy is 30 and yearns to start a family, but for him this ordinary desire comes with unique challenges — he is a gay transgender man. Deciding to carry his own baby took years of soul searching, but nothing could prepare him for the reality of pregnancy, as both a physical experience and one that challenges society’s fundamental understanding of gender, parenthood, and family. He quickly realizes that what to him feels pragmatic, to others feels deeply confusing and confronting; this was not part of his plan. Against a backdrop of increasing hostility towards trans people the world over, Freddy is forced to confront his own naiveté, mine unknown depths of courage, and lean on every friend and family member who will stand by him.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Jeanie Finlay.
“Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV June 16.
The Etruscan Smile – Directed by Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun; Written by Sarah Bellwood, Michal Lali Kagan, and Michael McGowan
“The Etruscan Smile”
Rory MacNeil (Brian Cox), a rugged old Scotsman, reluctantly leaves his beloved isolated Hebridean island and travels to San Francisco to seek medical treatment. Moving in with his estranged son, Rory sees his life transformed through a newly found bond with his baby grandson.
“The Etruscan Smile” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon June 16.
Vampire Dad – Directed by Frankie Ingrassia; Written by Frankie Ingrassia and Kathryn M. Moseley
Psychologist Dr. Raymond Walenski (Jackson Hurst) is the picture-perfect husband and father until one night when everything changes. Victoria (Grace Fulton), the “Goddess of the Underworld,” bites Raymond and turns him into a vampire. Victoria recruits Raymond to be the therapist for creatures of the netherworld because monsters have feelings, too, and they desperately need his help. Raymond struggles with his beastly nature as he treats bulimic zombies, obsessive-compulsive warlocks, and manic werewolves with their emotional issues. Meanwhile, Raymond’s devoted wife tries to keep their teenage daughter, neighbors, and friends from finding out Raymond’s secret.
“Vampire Dad” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV June 16.
Scare Package (Anthology) – Directed by Emily Hagins, Hilary Andujar, Courtney Andujar, Chris McInroy, Noah Segan, Baron Vaughn, Anthony Cousins, and Aaron B. Koontz; Written by Emily Hagins, Hilary Andujar, Courtney Andujar, Cameron Burns, Anthony Cousins, Ben Fee, Frank Garcia-Hejl, John Karsko, Aaron B. Koontz, Chris McInroy, Noah Segan, and Baron Vaughn
Chad (Jeremy King), the owner of Rad Chad’s Horror Emporium, recounts a series of bone-chilling, blood-splattered tales to illustrate the rules of the horror genre to his newest employee.
“Scare Package” will begin streaming on Shudder June 18.
Tell Me I Love You – Written and Directed by Fiona Mackenzie
“Tell Me I Love You” is a sexy, romantic comedy revolving around three young bandmates (Kaniehtiio Horn, Paulina Cerrilla, and Sam Clark) — straight, gay, and fluid — living together as a musical tribe in a borrowed beach house in Malibu. As they work tirelessly to record their first album and catch a break in the cutthroat music industry, something very unexpected happens: life altering true love. Who commits to whom, is the ultimate question.
“Tell Me I Love You” is now available for rent or purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Searching Eva”
Parkland Rising (Documentary) – Directed by Cheryl Horner McDonough (Virtual Cinemas)
Stage: The Culinary Internship (Documentary) – Directed by Abby Ainsworth (Virtual Cinemas)
Searching Eva (Documentary) – Directed by Pia Hellenthal (VOD)
The Infiltrators (Documentary) – Directed by Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera (Virtual Cinemas, VOD)
The Roads Not Taken – Written and Directed by Sally Potter (VOD)
The Social Ones – Written and Directed by Laura Kosann (VOD)
A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps (Documentary) – Directed by Alana DeJoseph; Written by Shana Kelly (Virtual Cinemas)
The Dalai Lama: Scientist (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Dawn Gifford Engle (VOD)
Tokyo Godfathers – Written by Keiko Nobumoto and Satoshi Kon (VOD)
The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital (Documentary) – Directed by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackelford (VOD)
Graves Without a Name (Documentary) – Written by Agnès Sénémaud and Rithy Panh (VOD)
Bull – Directed by Annie Silverstein; Written by Annie Silverstein and Johnny McAllister (VOD)
Ordinary Love – Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (VOD)
TV PREMIERES
Into the Dark: Good Boy (TV Movie) (Premieres June 12 on Hulu)
In celebration of Pet Appreciation Week, this month’s installation centers on Maggie (Judy Greer), a woman who gets an emotional support dog to help quell some of her anxiety. Only, she finds him to be even more effective than she could have imagined because, unbeknownst to her, he kills anyone who adds stress to her life.
Beecham House (Miniseries) – Created by Gurinder Chadha, Shahrukh Husain, and Paul Mayeda Berges; Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Premieres June 14 on PBS)
“Beecham House”
Gurinder Chadha’s new six-part drama series is set on the cusp of the 19th century in Delhi, before the British ruled in that region. The series centers on the enigmatic, soulful John Beecham (Tom Bateman), a handsome former soldier who has purchased the magnificent mansion, Beecham House, to begin a new life with his family.
One Day at a Time: The Politics Episode (Animated Special) (Premieres June 16 on Pop TV)
“One Day at a Time,” which had its mid-season finale on April 14 due to production stoppages as a result of COVID-19, has remotely executed an animated special. “The Politics Episode” will center around Penelope’s (Justina Machado) conservative cousin Estrellita (Melissa Fumero), Tia Mirtha (Gloria Estefan), and Tio Juanito (Lin-Manuel Miranda) coming to visit — and with the impending election, they won’t be able to avoid fighting over politics.
Prehistoric Road Trip (Docuseries) – Directed by Ally Gimbel; Written by Emily Graslie (Premieres June 17 on PBS)
“Prehistoric Road Trip”: Julie Florio/WTTW
In “Prehistoric Road Trip,” host Emily Graslie hits the road for a fun and fascinating journey around the Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming to explore 2.5 billion years of our planet’s history. Each of the three episodes examines different eras in time, focusing on the geology, ecology, and environment. On this immersive adventure, Graslie will uncover and discover the history of North American dinosaurs and other fascinating prehistoric creatures, including ancient fishes, mammoths, and early mammals.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
Tyson in “How to Get Away with Murder”: Mitch Haaseth/ABC
Ava DuVernay, Whoopi Goldberg, & More Elected to Academy Board, Number of Women & POC Hits New High
Women In Film’s Hire Her Back Campaign Calls for Gender & Racial Equality as Productions Resume
Peabody Awards: “When They See Us,” “Fleabag,” “Surviving R. Kelly” & More
Sheffield Doc/Fest Announces Virtual Lineup: “Shut Up Sona,” “The Go-Go’s,” & More
Cicely Tyson to Receive Peabody Career Achievement Award
WGAW Inclusion Report: Underrepresented Writers Making Gains, but Systemic Discrimination Persists
AFI Docs Announces 2020 Lineup, 61 Percent Women-Directed
Quote of the Day: “Supergirl’s” Nicole Maines Advocates for More Nuanced Trans Characters
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
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