Weekly Update for October 20: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Films About Women Opening This Week

Tragedy Girls

“Tragedy Girls” is a twist on the slasher genre following two death-obsessed teenage girls (Alexandra Shipp and Brianna Hildebrand) who use their online show about real-life tragedies to send their small Midwestern town into a frenzy and cement their legacy as modern horror legends. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Jane (Documentary)

Using a trove of unseen footage, “Jane” tells the story of Jane Goodall’s early explorations, focusing on her groundbreaking field work, her relationship with cameraman and husband Hugo van Lawick, and the chimpanzees that she studied. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Tempestad (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Tatiana Huezo (Opens in NY)

Two women, their voices echoing over the landscape and highways of Mexico from North to South, discuss how official corruption and injustice allowed violence to take control of their lives. The film is a meditation on corruption and on the notion of “impunidad,” the impunity or lack of accountability of those in power, whether part of the Mexican government or the country’s drug cartels. An emotional and evocative journey, steeped not only in loss and pain, but also in love, dignity, and resistance. (Press materials)

I Am Not a Witch — Written and Directed by Rungano Nyoni (Opens in the UK)

Part magic realist fable and part gendered social critique, Rungano Nyoni’s debut feature focuses on a young girl who is banished from her village in Zambia and sent to a camp for exiled witches. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Rungano Nyoni.

Never Here — Written and Directed by Camille Thoman

Installation artist Miranda Fall (Mireille Enos) follows, photographs, and documents the lives of strangers to create her art. One night her secret lover witnesses a violent act from Miranda’s apartment window. To protect his identity, Miranda poses as the primary witness, making statements to the police about a crime she did not see. She begins to create a new piece of work, based on these circumstances. This simultaneously selfish and selfless act sends Miranda into a maze of doubt and fear, blurring the lines between artist and subject. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Somebody’s Mother — Directed by Gabriela Tollman; Written by Gabriela Tollman and Evelyne Tollman (Opens in LA)

On the anniversary of her baby’s death Clare (Gabriela Tollman) has an anxiety attack and calls her sister Anna (Evelyne Tollman) for help. Anna arrives, but is hiding a dark secret about her own child. Clare attempts to face her grief while Anna hides from what she’s done. Hitting rock bottom, the two sisters find a way to find meaning and heal the sudden tragedy that struck their lives. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Let Her Out

A young woman (Alanna LeVierge) recovering from an accident is horrified when she experiences periodic blackouts and terrifying dreams. Her doctor discovers a benign tumor that appears to be traces of a “vanishing twin,” which is rapidly increasing in size. (Press materials)

Films About Women Currently Playing

Secret Superstar
Bad Blood (Also Available on VOD)
Gnome Alone — Co-Directed by Shelly Shenoy; Co-Written by Zina Zaflow
Swing Away — Co-Written by Julia Wall (Also Available on VOD)
The Secret Scripture
Happy Death Day
How to Break Up with Your Douchebag — Co-Written and Directed by Gabriela Tagliavini
For Ahkeem (Documentary)
M.F.A. — Directed by Natalia Leite; Written by Leah McKendrick (Also Available on VOD)
The Florida Project
Una
Dina (Documentary)
So B. It
My Little Pony: The Movie — Co-Written by Meghan McCarthy and Rita Hsiao
Better Watch Out
Signature Move — Directed by Jennifer Reeder; Written by Lisa Donato and Fawzia Mirza
Blood Stripe — Co-Written by Kate Nowlin
Chavela (Documentary) — Directed by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi
Te Ata — Written by Esther Luttrell
Battle of the Sexes — Co-Directed by Valerie Faris
Woodshock — Written and Directed by Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy
Unrest (Documentary) — Directed by Jennifer Brea; Written by Jennifer Brea and Kim Roberts
Victoria & Abdul
Bobbi Jene (Documentary) — Directed by Elvira Lind
Friend Request
mother!
Home Again — Written and Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer
The Unknown Girl
Dolores (Documentary)
Tulip Fever
Polina — Written and Co-Directed by Valérie Müller
Leap! — Co-Written by Carol Noble
The Villainess
The Teacher
Marjorie Prime
Patti Cake$
The Glass Castle
Ingrid Goes West
Annabelle: Creation
Kidnap
Step (Documentary) — Directed by Amanda Lipitz
The Midwife
Girls Trip — Co-Written by Tracy Oliver
Wish Upon — Written by Barbara Marshall
The Little Hours
Maudie — Directed by Aisling Walsh; Written by Sherry White
47 Meters Down (Also Available on VOD)
Lost in Paris — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Fiona Gordon
Wonder Woman — Directed by Patty Jenkins
Love, Kennedy
The Women’s Balcony — Written by Shlomit Nehama
Hidden Figures — Co-Written by Allison Schroeder

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

One of Us (Documentary) — Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Also Available on Netflix)

“One of Us” is a deep and moving look at the lives of three individuals who have chosen to leave the hugely insular world of Hasidic Judaism. Etty, a mother of seven, decides to leave a violent marriage and divorce her husband; Ari, a teenager on the verge of manhood, is struggling with addiction and the effects of childhood abuse; and Luzer is an actor who, despite having found success in the secular world, still wrestles with his decision eight years earlier to leave the Hasidic community. Produced over three years, “One of Us” offers unique and intimate access to the lives of all three as they deal not only with questions of their beliefs but also with the consequences of leaving the only community they have ever known. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Rachel Grady.

A Silent Voice — Directed by Naoko Yamada; Written by Reiko Yoshida

“A Silent Voice” follows the poignant and moving story of Shoya Ishida (Miyu Irino), a school bully, and Shoko Nishimiya (Saori Hayami), a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shoko transfers to Shoya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated. Years later, the tables turn, and Shoya finds himself the victim. “A Silent Voice” depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming-of-age outside the norm. (Press materials)

The Strange Ones — Co-Directed by Lauren Wolkstein

Mysterious events surround two travelers (Alex Pettyfer and James Freedson-Jackson) as they make their way across a remote American landscape. On the surface all seems normal, but what appears to be a simple vacation soon gives way to a dark and complex web of secrets. (Press materials)

Heal (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Kelly Noonan Gores (Opens in LA)

Director Kelly Noonan Gores’ documentary takes us on a scientific and spiritual journey where we discover that our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions have a huge impact on our health and ability to heal. The latest science reveals that we are not victims of unchangeable genes, nor should we buy into a scary prognosis. The fact is we have more control over our health and life than we have been taught to believe. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste (Documentary) — Directed by Anna Chai and Nari Kye (Also Available on VOD
The Departure (Documentary) — Co-Written and Directed by Lana Wilson
The Party — Written and Directed by Sally Potter (UK)
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women — Written and Directed by Angela Robinson
Faces Places (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Agnès Varda
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton (Documentary) — Directed by Rory Kennedy (Also Available on VOD)
The Tiger Hunter — Co-Written and Directed by Lena Khan
Loving Vincent — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Dorota Kobiela
Trophy (Documentary) — Co-Directed Christina Clusiau
School Life (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin (Also Available on VOD)
Viceroy’s House — Written and Directed by Gurinder Chadha; Co-Written by Moira Buffini
Beach Rats — Written and Directed by Eliza Hittman
Detroit — Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (Documentary) — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Catherine Bainbridge
Pop Aye — Written and Directed by Kirsten Tan

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

None.

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

Sylvio — Co-Written by Meghan Doherty
Earth: One Amazing Day (Documentary) — Co-Written by Geling Yan
Bending the Arc (Documentary) — Written by Cori Shepherd Stern
Kingsman: The Golden Circle — Co-Written by Jane Goldman
Logan Lucky — Written by Rebecca Blunt
The Fencer — Written by Anna Heinämaa
13 Minutes — Co-Written by Léonie-Claire Breinersdorfer
The Big Sick — Co-Written by Emily V. Gordon
Cars 3 — Co-Written by Kiel Murray

TV Premieres This Week

“At Home with Amy Sedaris”: truTV’s Instagram account

The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story (Premieres October 20 on Netflix)

Mexican superstar actress Kate del Castillo reveals the untold story of her encounter with El Chapo Guzmán, the world’s most-wanted drug lord. (Press materials)

The Watcher in the Woods (TV Movie) — Directed by Melissa Joan Hart (Premieres October 21 on Lifetime)

“The Watcher in the Woods”: Warren Orchard

When Jan Carstairs (Tallulah Evans) and her family move into the idyllic Alywood manor for the summer, Mrs. Alywood (Anjelica Huston) is taken aback by Jan’s striking resemblance to her daughter, Karen, who vanished 20 years ago. The family is warned against entering the surrounding woods, but Jan and her little sister Ellie (Dixie Egerickx) hear voices coming from the forest. Strange occurrences begin to unnerve the family and Jan begins to suspect that they are linked to Karen’s disappearance. As Jan unravels the dark past hidden by the townspeople, she delves further into the mystery and deeper into danger. (Press materials)

Michel’le: Still Standing (Documentary Special) (Premieres October 22 on Lifetime)

American R&B singer and songwriter Michel’le sits down with Wendy Williams in this one-hour special. Michel’le opens up about her relationship with her kids and exes, the new direction of her career, and her current connection with her fans. Featuring never-before-seen footage of special moments with her family and friends, this is an intimate look at a woman on the rise. (Press materials)

At Home with Amy Sedaris (Talk Show) — Co-Created by Amy Sedaris (Premieres October 24 on truTV)

Amy Sedaris cordially invites you into her home, where she will show off diverse but necessary homemaking skills, from creating popsicle-stick buddies and gutting a fish to making raisin necklaces and entertaining businessmen. As always, Amy will use her unique expertise to entertain guests, demonstrate her know-how by preparing meals, and exhibit her can-do spirit by attempting to work out personal issues. Remember, if you want to be the perfect host, accentuate the positives and medicate the negatives. (Press materials)

Wanted — Co-Created by Rebecca Gibney (Premieres October 24 on Netflix)

“Wanted” tells the story of two strangers who, after intervening in a deadly carjacking, are swept up in a rollercoaster chase across Australia. (Press materials)

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

Annabelle: Creation (VOD/DVD, October 24)
Atomic Blonde (VOD, October 24)
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Bonni Cohen (VOD, October 24)
Personal Shopper (DVD, October 24)

Women and Hollywood’s 10th Anniversary Trailblazer Awardees — New York

Women and Hollywood held one of its 10th anniversary events in New York this week and presented the NYC Trailblazer Awards. The NYC awardees (pictured above from left to right) are director Julie Taymor (“The Lion King,” “Frida”), director Amma Asante (“Belle,” “Where Hands Touch”), HBO Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins, GameChanger Films president Mynette Louie, and director Julie Dash (“Daughters of the Dust,” “Queen Sugar”).

Congratulations to our NYC Trailblazers and thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate!

Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.

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