Weekly Update for June 24: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Films About Women Opening This Week

The Shallows

When Nancy (Blake Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach, she finds herself in the feeding ground of a great white shark. Millions of years of evolution have led the shark to do one thing: survive. Though she is stranded only 200 yards from shore, getting there proves the ultimate test of wills. (Press materials)

The Neon Demon — Co-Written by Mary Laws and Polly Stenham

When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has. (Press materials)

Wiener-Dog

“Wiener-Dog” is a dark, starkly funny story of a single dog and the many different people she touches over her short lifetime. Man’s best friend starts out teaching a young boy some contorted life lessons before being taken in by a compassionate vet tech named Dawn Wiener (Greta Gerwig). Dawn reunites with someone from her past and sets off on a road trip. After leaving Dawn, Wiener-Dog encounters a floundering film professor, as well as an embittered elderly woman and her needy granddaughter all longing for something more. (Press materials)

T-Rex (Documentary) (Opens in NY)

“T-Rex” is an intimate coming-of-age story about a new kind of American heroine. For the first time ever, women’s boxing is included in the 2012 Olympics. Fighting for gold from the U.S. is Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, just 17 years old, and by far the youngest competitor. From the hard knock streets of Flint, Michigan, Claressa is undefeated and utterly confident. Her fierceness extends beyond the ring. She protects her family at any cost, even when their instability and addictions threaten to derail her dream. Claressa does have one stable force in her life. Coach Jason Crutchfield has trained her since she was just a scrawny 11-year-old hanging out at his gym. Jason always wanted a champion, he just never thought it’d be a girl. Her relationships with her coach and her family grow tense as she gets closer to her dream. But Claressa is fierce and determined. She desperately wants to take her family to a better, safer place and winning a gold medal could be her only chance. (Press materials)

Adult Life Skills — Written and Directed by Rachel Tunnard (Opens in the UK)

Anna is stuck: she’s approaching 30, living like a hermit in her mum’s garden shed and wondering why the suffragettes ever bothered. She spends her days making videos using her thumbs as actors — thumbs that bicker about things like whether Yogi Bear is a moral or existential nihilist. But Anna doesn’t show these videos to anyone and no one knows what they are for. This is a story about confronting the things we are most scared of — a story that explores the universal themes of being lost and finding yourself, making peace with who you are, and regaining self-confidence and dignity. It is basically the same themes as “Rocky” if you think about it. But with thumbs. And a cowboy. And no boxing. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Rachel Tunnard and watch an exclusive clip from Tunnard addressing sexism in the industry.

Intruder (Also available on VOD)

A young woman’s (Louise Linton) quiet night in becomes a free-fall into fear in this disturbing home invasion thriller. After she lands her dream job, a young cellist settles in for a relaxing few days holed up in her apartment — but as a violent storm rages outside, she can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her every move. (Press materials)

Films About Women Currently Playing

Finding Dory
Parched — Written and Directed by Leena Yadav
Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) — Written and Directed by Eva Husson
No Stranger Than Love (Also available on VOD)
Janey Makes a Play (Documentary)
Diary of a Chambermaid — Co-Written by Hélène Zimmer
Call Her Applebroog (Documentary) — Directed by Beth B
The Witness (Documentary)
Honeyglue
Creedmoria — Written and Directed by Alicia Slimmer
The Fits — Written and Directed by Anna Rose Holmer
Me Before You — Directed by Thea Sharrock; Written by Jojo Moyes
Alice Through the Looking Glass — Written by Linda Woolverton
Presenting Princess Shaw (Documentary) (Also available on VOD)
Ma ma
Maggie’s Plan — Written and Directed by Rebecca Miller
Sunset Song
Love & Friendship
Dark Horse (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Louise Osmond
Mother’s Day — Co-Written by Anya Kochoff and Lily Hollander
The Huntsman: Winter’s War
Eva Hesse (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Marcie Begleiter
The Meddler — Written and Directed by Lorene Scafaria
God’s Not Dead 2
Hello, My Name is Doris — Co-Written by Laura Terruso
10 Cloverfield Lane
Eye in the Sky
Miracles From Heaven — Directed by Patricia Riggen
Zootopia

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

Misconception — Directed by Jessica Yu

For almost 50 years, the world’s population has grown at an alarming rate, raising fears about strains on the Earth’s resources. But how true are these claims? Taking cues from statistics guru Hans Rosling, “Misconception” offers a provocative glimpse at how the world — and women in particular — are tackling a subject at once personal and global. Academy Award-winning director Jessica Yu follows three individuals and focuses on the human implications of this highly charged political issue, inspiring a fresh look at the consequences of population growth. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Jessica Yu.

Yarn (Documentary) — Directed Una Lorenzen (Opens in NY)

Meet the artists who are redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world. Reinventing our relationship with this colorful tradition, “Yarn” weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers into a visually-striking look at the women who are making a creative stance while building one of modern art’s hottest trends. (Press materials)

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

NUTS! (Documentary) — Directed by Penny Lane
Careful What You Wish For — Directed by Elizabeth Allen (Also available on VOD)
Germans & Jews (Documentary) — Directed by Janina Quint
Chevalier — Co-Written and Directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari
Weiner (Documentary) — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Elyse Steinberg
Unlocking the Cage (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Chris Hegedus
Money Monster — Directed by Jodie Foster
A Beautiful Planet (Documentary) — Directed by Toni Myers
The Invitation — Directed by Karyn Kusama (Also available on VOD)
Kung Fu Panda 3 — Co-Directed by Jennifer Yuh

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

Septembers of Shiraz — Written by Hanna Weg (Also available on VOD)

“Septembers of Shiraz” is a thriller based on the New York Times notable book. This is the story, based on true events, of a secular Jewish family caught in the Islamic revolution in Iran , and their heroic journey to overcome — and ultimately escape — from the deadly tyranny that swept their country and threatened to extinguish their lives at every turn. Starring Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody. (Press materials)

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

High-Rise — Written by Amy Jump
Barbershop: The Next Cut — Co-Written by Tracy Oliver
Meet the Blacks — Co-Written by Nicole DeMasi

TV Premieres This Week

Adventures in Babysitting (Movie) — Written by Tiffany Paulsen (Premieres June 24 on Disney Channel)

“Adventures in Babysitting,” unfolds when Jenny Parker (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola Perez (Sofia Carson), two teen girls with distinctly different personalities, each interview for a coveted photography internship and accidentally swap phones. When the Anderson family calls Jenny’s phone looking for a last-minute babysitter, audacious Lola, in need of some extra cash, picks up and nominates herself. Meanwhile, dependable Jenny is already set to babysit the Cooper family for the evening. Unfortunately, Lola’s first attempt at babysitting takes an unforeseen turn when one of the Anderson kids sneaks out to go to a concert. Jenny, determined to protect her reputation, and Lola with the remaining kids in tow, head out and have the adventure of a lifetime during one magical night in the big city. In a heartfelt story that celebrates individuality, friendship, and self-empowerment, the live-action adventure comedy made for kids, tweens, and families pays homage to the 1980s classic with familiar references and iconic scenes. (Press materials)

Dead of Summer (Series Premieres June 28 on Freeform)

Camp Stillwater is about to reopen after being closed down for years. Deb (Elizabeth Mitchell), the new owner, has thrown her heart, soul, and life savings into renovating the camp she loved as a child. She isn’t the only one excited to return as six former campers — Alex (Ronen Rubinstein), Jessie (Paulina Singer), Cricket (Amber Coney), Joel (Eli Goree), Blair (Mark Indelicato) and Blotter (Zachary Gordon) — join her as counselors hoping to experience the freedom that camp brings now that they are older. Not part of the old crew, Amy (Elizabeth Lail) is not just new to Camp Stillwater, but to camp in general. While Amy tries her best to fit in with the already tight group, Drew (Zelda Williams) is content to be left alone. As everyone settles in and prepares for the campers’ arrival, Amy is the first to get a feeling that something is not right with this idyllic summer camp. (Press materials)

Who Is Billy Bones? (Documentary) — Directed by Kathy Kolla (Currently airing on LinkTV)

“Who Is Billy Bones?” highlights the four-decade-long music career of legendary punk rock vocalist Steven “Billy Bones” Fortuna. Billy Bones was an early pioneer of the punk genre, fronting the 1977 Los Angeles punk band The Skulls with his snarling vocals and socially charged lyrics. Directed by Kathy Kolla, an award-winning director, screenwriter, and actress, the documentary features interviews with punk rock legends including Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt, Woolly Bandits member Christa Collins, Dr. Strange Records founder Dr. Strange, and Fortuna’s wife Christina. The film includes never-before-seen footage of L.A.’s first punk music venue, The Masque, shot exclusively for the project, along with archive interview footage of The Masqueís original proprietor, Brendan Mullen. (Press materials)

Read Kathy Kolla’s guest post on Women and Hollywood.

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

I Dream Too Much — Directed by Katie Cokinos (VOD, Available Now)
Eye in the Sky (Blu-ray and DVD, June 28)
Kung Fu Panda 3 — Co-Directed by Jennifer Yuh (DVD, June 28)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (DVD, June 28)

To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com