Weekly Update for November 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Films About Women Opening This Week

My Dead Boyfriend (Also Available on VOD)

Mary’s (Heather Graham) life has been defined by a string of temp jobs and a half-hearted attempt to become a writer. But all that changes when she comes home to find her boyfriend dead in front of the TV set. During her misadventures in trying to get rid of his ashes — accidentally becoming the bassist in a rock band, bonding with the dog he left behind, and awkward encounters with numerous ex-lovers — Mary discovers that there was much more to her couch potato boyfriend than she ever thought imaginable. (Press materials)

Stephanie Miller’s Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour (Special One-Night Theatrical Release November 7)

Stephanie Miller, the wildly popular national progressive talk star, with a huge and fervently devoted audience, comes to big screens across the nation on the eve of Election Day 2016 with the most current (and comical) social and political observations. Combining her punching commentary with the stand-up of John Fugelsang and comedy duo Frangela (Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton), this tour has been met with rave reviews and sold out crowds. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

The Watermelon Woman (Theatrical Re-Release) — Written and Directed by Cheryl Dunye (Opens November 10 in NY)

Cheryl (Cheryl Dunye) is a 20-something black lesbian working as a clerk in a video store while struggling to make a documentary about Fae Richards, an obscure black actress from the 1930s. Cheryl is surprised to discover that Richards (known popularly as “the Watermelon Woman”) had a white lesbian lover. At the same time, Cheryl falls in love with a very cute white customer at the video store. (Press materials)

Beauty Bites Beast (Documentary) — Directed by Ellen Snortland (Opens in NY; Opens in LA November 11)

Most of us have heard these statistics: the World Health Organization says one in three women worldwide experience sexual or physical violence, and one in every six women in America have been victims of sexual assault. Why are so many of our sisters, wives, daughters, and mothers targets for violence? Could it be because societies teach women and girls — and boys and men — that women are helpless? That they must depend upon males to protect them, rather than defend themselves? Women and girls have a right to set boundaries — emotionally, verbally, and, if push comes to shove, physically. Teaching them that fact is one missing key to empowering females to stop personal violence. “Beauty Bites Beast “ aims to spark discussions to help put an end to violence against women and girls. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Films About Women Currently Playing

The Eagle Huntress
Rings
The Windmill — Co-Written by Suzy Quid (Also Available on VOD)
Burn Burn Burn — Directed by Chanya Button (Opens in the UK) (Also Available on Netflix in the U.S. and Canada)
It Had to Be You — Written and Directed by Sasha Gordon
The Handmaiden
Ouija: Origin of Evil
I’m Not Ashamed — Written By
Certain Women — Written and Directed by Kelly Reichardt
Christine
Aquarius
Miss Hokusai
The Girl on the Train — Written by Erin Cressida Wilson
American Honey — Written and Directed by Andrea Arnold
Denial
Queen of Katwe — Directed by Mira Nair
The Dressmaker — Written and Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Sand Storm — Written and Directed by Elite Zexer
Bridget Jones’s Baby — Directed by Sharon Maguire; Co-Written by Helen Fielding and Emma Thompson
Author: The JT LeRoy Story (Documentary)
Mia Madre — Co-Written by Valia Santella
Ixcanul
Florence Foster Jenkins
Under the Shadow (Also Available on VOD)
Equity — Directed by Meera Menon; Written by Amy Fox
Ghostbusters — Co-Written by Katie Dippold
Our Little Sister
Cameraperson (Documentary) — Directed by Kirsten Johnson
Bad Moms
Finding Dory

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

Operator — Directed by Logan Kibens; Written by Sharon Greene and Logan Kibens (Opens November 8) (Also Available on VOD)

Joe (Martin Starr), a programmer and obsessive self-quantifier, and Emily (Mae Whitman), a budding comedy performer, are happily married until they decide to use one another in their work. “Operator” is a dark comedy about love, technology, and what can’t be programmed. (Press materials)

What Happened Last Night — Written and Directed by Candice T. Cain

College senior Sarah (Alix Kermes) suffers from a broken heart after her boyfriend cheats on her and leaves. Across campus, Danny (Clayton Snyder) is mending a broken heart of his own after his girlfriend slept with one of his fraternity brothers. While their roommates are having fun with debauchery and sexual promiscuity, Sarah and Danny stay in their respective apartments never to look for love again thanks to the infidelities of their exes. But when they are persuaded to head to the Gamma Bash with Tiny (David Otunga), Liz (Shelley Regner), Melanie (Amber Rose), and Joe (Cody Calafiore), they realize that college is not only about hot sex and drunken nights. When Sarah and Danny wake up in bed next to each other, they both ask, “What happened last night?” (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

By Sidney Lumet — Directed by Nancy Buirski
Don’t Call Me Son — Written and Directed by Anna Muylaert
The Uncondemned (Documentary) — Written and Co-Directed by Michele Mitchell

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

None

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

El Jeremías — Written by Ana Sofia Clerici
Nine Lives — Co-Written by Gwyn Lurie
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life — Co-Written by Kara Holden
Being 17 — Co-Written by Céline Sciamma
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children — Written by Jane Goldman
Masterminds — Co-Written by Emily Spivey
Mr. Church — Written by Susan McMartin

TV Premieres This Week

The Crown (Series Premieres November 4 on Netflix)

“The Crown” focuses on Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) as a 25-year-old newlywed faced with the daunting prospect of leading the world’s most famous monarchy while forging a relationship with legendary Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (John Lithgow). The British Empire is in decline, the political world is in disarray, and a young woman takes the throne….a new era is dawning. (Press materials)

Karen Carpenter: Goodbye to Love (Documentary) (Premieres November 5 on Reelz)

“Karen Carpenter: Goodbye to Love” tells the story of the 1970s star from the easy listening group The Carpenters. Karen Carpenter was an icon of her generation but — while The Carpenters clocked more than 80 million record sales — was battling anorexia behind the scenes. With interviews from both close friends and The Carpenters insiders, “Karen Carpenter: Goodbye to Love” digs deep into Karen’s often difficult and complex relationship with her mother, Agnes, and older brother, Richard, and shows her struggles with a grueling concert schedule that had her performing more than 200 times a year. Viewers will also see Karen through her failed solo album and an even more disastrous marriage. (Press materials)

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