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FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING
All About Nina – Written and Directed by Eva Vives
Although they’re never mentioned by name, #MeToo and #TimesUp are basically the heart and soul of Eva Vives’ feature directorial debut. Mary Elizabeth Winstead takes on the titular role in “All About Nina,” a hard-drinking, caustic stand-up comedian whose star finally seems to be on the rise. Nina’s known for skewering misogyny and the power dynamics in sex and dating in her act. Her comedy is full of anger because, well, there’s a hell of a lot for women to be mad about. In one bit she riffs, “I swear, if men were raped as much as women, there’d be an automatic death penalty for rapists.” That’s funny, but it’s also true and incredibly infuriating. Overall, “All About Nina” skimps on neither the comic nor the tragic parts of its heroine’s life. In the era of #MeToo, that’s exactly the kind of film we need. (Rachel Montpelier)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Eva Vives.
Find screening info here.
Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (Documentary)
“Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.”
“Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” takes two decades’ worth of footage to create a portrait of the refugee turned pop singer. A Sri Lankan-born daughter of a Tamil leader, M.I.A. took refuge in the UK after leaving the home where she grew up. She uses her rap music to bring attention to the plight of the Tamils, and is lambasted in the media across the globe for being political. But she is political and can’t have it both ways, which is what she seems to want. This intersection of the artist’s life serves as the backbone of the film. As a result, “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” is a fascinating chronicle of how culture and politics are inherently intertwined. (Melissa Silverstein)
Find screening info here.
Little Women – Directed by Clare Niederpruem; Written by Clare Niederpruem and Kristi Shimek
This modern retelling of “Little Women” brings a new generation together with their mothers, sisters, and friends. From girls playing in the attic to women living with purpose, the March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — are committed to always supporting each other. Yet, growing up sometimes means growing apart. An aspiring writer, Jo (Sarah Davenport) leaves for New York, determined to publish a novel. In the wake of rejected draft upon draft, her editor challenges Jo to write about something more interesting: her family. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
Summer ‘03 – Written and Directed by Becca Gleason
“Summer ’03”
Inspired by true events, “Summer ’03” centers on 16-year-old Jamie (Joey King, “The Kissing Booth”) and her extended family, who are left reeling after her calculating grandmother unveils an array of family secrets on her deathbed. Jamie is left to navigate her nascent love life and maintain her closest friendships in the midst of this family crisis. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Becca Gleason.
Find screening info here.
Bad Reputation (Documentary) (Also Available on VOD)
“Bad Reputation”
It’s true, Joan Jett became mega-famous from the number-one hit “I Love Rock n Roll,” but that’s only part of the story. That fame intensified with the music video’s endless play on MTV, world tours and many hits to follow, like “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” But that staple of popularity can’t properly define a musician. Jett put her hard work in long before the fame, ripping it up onstage as the backbone of the hard-rock legends The Runaways, starting her record label out of the trunk of a car after being rejected by 23 labels, and influencing many musicians — both her cohort of punk rockers and generations of younger bands — with her no-bullshit style. “Bad Reputation” gives you a wild ride as Jett and her close friends tell you how it really was in the burgeoning ’70s punk scene and the rocky road to stardom. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
Maggie Black – Written by Jessalyn Maguire (Opens in LA) (Also Available on VOD)
“Maggie Black” revolves around a successful young writer’s first pregnancy, the excitement of which is overshadowed by her complicated relationship with reality. Haunted by her past but determined to do what she thinks is best for the baby Maggie (Jessalyn Maguire) secretly stops taking her medications. As she and her husband try to prepare their new home for their baby, Maggie descends into a nightmare of her own making. (Press materials)
Hell Fest – Written by Blair Butler, Akela Cooper, and Seth M. Sherwood
College student Natalie (Amy Forsyth) is visiting her childhood best friend, Brooke (Reign Edwards), and her roommate, Taylor (Bex Taylor-Klaus). If it was any other time of year these three and their boyfriends might be heading to a concert or bar, but it is Halloween, which means that, like everyone else, they will be bound for Hell Fest — a sprawling labyrinth of rides, games, and mazes that travels the country and happens to be in town. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
At First Light (Also Available on VOD)
High school senior Alex (Stefanie Scott) develops supernatural powers after a paranormal experience with light orbs in her hometown. Afraid, she turns to her friend Sean (Theodore Pelerine) and together they flee, scared for their safety though not aware that the greatest danger of all is Alex. (Press materials)
The Outer Wild (Also Available on VOD)
In this post-apocalyptic frontier western, mankind has given way to a new breed of beast, mutated from man. A survivor named Laura (Lauren McKnight) may be the cure to these mutations but she flees to save herself. Aided by a hunter sent to catch her, she braves the dangerous, unnatural wilderness in order to find a fabled refuge of freedom — and only there will she discover the fate of humanity at the end of the world. (Press materials)
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN OPENING
“306 Hollywood”
306 Hollywood (Documentary) – Directed by Elan Bogarín and Jonathan Bogarín; Written by Elan Bogarín, Nyneve Laura Minnear, and Jonathan Bogarín
“306 Hollywood” is a magical realist documentary of two siblings who undertake an archaeological excavation of their late grandmother’s house. They embark on a journey from her home in New Jersey to ancient Rome, from fashion to physics, in search of what life remains in the objects we leave behind. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Elan Bogarín.
Find screening info here.
Lessons From a School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane (Short Documentary) – Directed by Kim A. Snyder (Available on Netflix)
“Lessons from a School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane”
“Lessons from a School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane” depicts Father Bob Weiss, who in the days following the Sandy Hook Massacre that took the lives of 20 children and six of their educators on December 14, 2012, was tasked with the burial of eight of those children. In the throes of profound PTSD, he receives a letter from Father Basil O’Sullivan in Dunblane, Scotland where, in 1996, 16 school children were gunned down at the hands of an unhinged lone gunman. In the ensuing months, the two priests forge a bond across the Atlantic through a series of letters sharing experiences of trauma and recovery. (Press materials)
A Dangerous Idea: Eugenics, Genetics and The American Dream (Documentary) – Directed by Stephanie Welch; Written by Stephanie Welch and Andrew Kimbrell (Opens in NY) (Available on VOD October 2)
A dangerous idea has threatened the American Dream from the beginning — the belief that some groups and individuals are inherently superior to others and more deserving of fundamental rights. Such biased eugenic views provided an excuse for some of America’s most shameful history. “A Dangerous Idea” reveals how biologically determined politics has historically disenfranchised women and people of color, provided a rationale for state sanctioned crimes committed against America’s most vulnerable citizens, and now gains new traction under the Trump administration. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
hillbilly (Documentary) – Directed by Sally Rubin and Ashley York (Opens in LA)
“hillbilly” goes on a personal and political journey into the heart of the Appalachian coalfields, exploring the role of media representation in the creation of the iconic American “hillbilly,” and examining the social, cultural, and political underpinnings of this infamous stereotype. “hillbilly” uncovers an unexpected set of artists, poets, and activists, queer musicians, “Affrilachian” poets, and intersectional feminists — all unexpected voices emerging from this historically misunderstood region. “hillbilly” is a timely and urgent exploration of how we see and think about Appalachian and rural identity in contemporary America, offering a call for dialogue between urban and rural communities during this divisive time in our nation’s history. (Press materials)
Free Solo (Documentary) – Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
“Free Solo” is a stunning, intimate, and unflinching portrait of the free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock — the 3,000ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park — without a rope. Celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind, Honnold’s climb set the ultimate standard: perfection or death. Succeeding in this challenge, Honnold enters his story in the annals of human achievement. “Free Solo” is both an edge-of-your seat thriller and an inspiring portrait of an athlete who exceeded our current understanding of human physical and mental potential. The result is a triumph of the human spirit. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
Moynihan (Documentary) – Directed by Toby Perl Freilich and Joseph Dorman (Opens in NY October 3)
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion — but not to his own facts.” –Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003). His aristocratic demeanor and Harvard polish belied his Depression-era roots in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen, the son of a single mother. This film is a portrait of this longtime political luminary and four-term New York senator — a complex man who struggled to alleviate poverty and racism, but who was maligned for his use of the expression “benign neglect.” Over the years, Moynihan’s work has frequently been misinterpreted by both the left and the right. Ta-Nehisi Coates, Eleanor Holmes Norton, George Will, and Henry Kissinger — along with narration by award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”) — give insight into this “connoisseur of statistics” who served four presidents, anticipated the breakup of the Soviet Union, and was as comfortable writing about philosophy, ethnicity, and architecture as he was rethinking the Social Security and welfare systems. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
Smallfoot – Written by Clare Sera and Karey Kirkpatrick
An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns the Bigfoot legend upside down when a bright young Yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist — a human. News of this Smallfoot throws the simple Yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage, and the joy of discovery. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
3 Years in Pakistan: The Erik Audé Story (Documentary) – Directed by Jamielyn Lippman (Available on VOD October 2)
“3 Years in Pakistan: The Erik Audé Story” is a feature length documentary about an American actor, who was sent to death row in one of the most dangerous prisons in Pakistan for a crime he didn’t commit. Proven innocent, he was forced with the choice of pride vs. freedom. While on a business trip, Erik Audé was sent to Pakistan where he was arrested at Islamabad International Airport when they found 3.6 kilos of opium hidden in the lining of his suitcase. He was sent to remand where he was beaten, electrocuted, and water tortured for the next three years. (Press materials)
Golden Job – Written by Erica Li, Kin-Lok Kwok, and Heiward Mak
A group of former mercenaries reunite to plan an epic heist: boosting a truck full of medicine held by a foreign intelligence agency to supply a refugee camp in need. But when they find the truck is actually filled with stolen gold, the band of brothers realize they’ve been double-crossed by one of their own — and putting the situation right will be all out war. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
TV PREMIERES
“I Feel Bad”: Evans Vestal Ward/NBC
Lost Song (Premieres September 28 on Netflix )
Rin is an energetic girl who loves to eat and lives in a verdant frontier village. Deep within the royal palace in the bustling capital city, the songstress Finis spends her days in solitude. Both share a special power no other person has. A miraculous power that can heal wounds, create water, and stir the wind — the power of song. Guided by destiny, the two young women each face an arduous journey with the power of song. (Press materials)
Dark Money (Documentary) – Directed by Kimberly Reed; Written by Kimberly Reed and Jay Arthur Sterrenberg (Premieres October 1 on PBS)
“Dark Money”
Your vote can be bought, but at what cost? “Dark Money” follows local Montana journalist John S. Adams, who is determined to uncover the truth about funding in his state’s elections. The film gains insights over the course of three election cycles, as it solves an increasingly complicated and blurred puzzle. “Dark Money” traces Adams’ steps and sheds light on the grassroots movement to unveil the mysterious financing behind our elections. (Press materials)
Queen of the World (Documentary) (Premieres October 1 on HBO)
“Queen of the World” will offer unique insights into Her Majesty The Queen’s role as a figure on the global stage, and the baton she is passing to the younger members of the Royal Family as they continue to build upon the Commonwealth, an association of free and independent nations, the majority of which were formerly part of the British Empire. Today, there are 2.4 billion Commonwealth citizens, which is almost one-third of the world’s population. Filmed over more than a year with privileged access to The Queen, her family, her staff, and her residences, this landmark documentary tells the story of how the Commonwealth has been a central focus and passion throughout Her Majesty’s life. (Press materials)
Student Athlete (Documentary) – Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton (Premieres October 2 on HBO)
Unpaid college athletes generate billions of dollars for their institutions every year. “Student Athlete” unveils the exploitative world of high-revenue college sports through the stories of four young men at different stages of their athletic careers, as well as a coach-turned-advocate and a whistle-blowing shoe rep who exposes the money trail. This provocative documentary exposé illuminates the complex rules and inequities of the billion dollar college athletics industry in America and reveals how uncompensated athletes and their families are affected. (Press materials)
Home Truth (Documentary) – Directed by Katia Maguire and April Hayes; Written by Katia Maguire, April Hayes, and Rebecca Laks (Premieres October 3 on PBS)
“Home Truth”
“Home Truth” chronicles one family’s pursuit of justice, shedding light on how our society responds to domestic violence and how the trauma from domestic violence tragedies can linger throughout generations. Filmed over the course of nine years, the film captures intimate moments in the lives of Jessica and her family as well as interviews with members of Jessica’s legal team, including attorney Carrie Bettinger-Lopez (former Obama White House Advisor on Violence Against Women) and Lenora Lapidus of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Katia Maguire and April Hayes.
I Feel Bad – Created by Aseem Batra (Premieres October 4 on NBC)
Emet (Sarayu Blue) is the perfect mom, boss, wife, friend, and daughter. OK, she’s not perfect. In fact, she’s just figuring it out like the rest of us. Sure, she feels bad when she has a sexy dream about someone other than her husband, or when she pretends not to know her kids when they misbehave in public, or when she uses her staff to help solve personal problems. But that’s OK, right? Nobody can have it all and do it perfectly. From executive producer Amy Poehler comes a modern comedy about being perfectly OK with being imperfect. (Press materials)
VOD/STREAMING RELEASES
Molly – Directed by Colinda Bongers and Thijs Meuwese (VOD, October 2)
DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis – Directed by Cecilia Aranovich and Ian Hamilton; Written by Shea Fontana (VOD, October 2)
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD IN THE NEWS
In the wake of #TimesUp, the Milwaukee Film Festival boosts share of movies made by women (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
JOIN WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD AT THE WRAP’S POWER WOMEN SUMMIT
Tarana Burke, Olivia Wilde, Nancy Duboc, and Mira Sorvino are confirmed to speak at the event: TheWrap
Women and Hollywood is proud to be on the steering committee for TheWrap’s Power Women Summit, which will be held on November 1 and 2 in Los Angeles. The summit will provide two days of education, mentorship, workshops, and networking to promote the goal of greater women’s leadership in this industry, and gender balance in media, entertainment, and technology overall.
Some of the confirmed speakers include: Olivia Wilde, Mira Sorvino, Vice Media CEO Nancy Dubuc, #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke, and Former CEO of Paramount Sherry Lansing.
Thanks to Amazon Studios, Women and Hollywood has 25 tickets to offer for FREE to members of our community. If you would like to be considered for one of the tickets, we need you to send a short essay by 5pm EST on October 1 on why coming to this summit will be beneficial to your life and your work.
Learn more about the event and find specific application instructions here.
PICKS OF THE WEEK FROM WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD
Bonnie Milligan in “Head Over Heels: Joan Marcus
ReFrame Is Accepting TV Submissions for Gender Equality Stamp
Neither Here Nor There: Crowdfunding Picks
Josie Rourke’s “Mary Queen of Scots” Named AFI Fest’s Closing Night Film
Mimi Leder’s RBG Biopic “On the Basis of Sex” to Open AFI Fest
Bonnie Milligan Talks Representation & Female Empowerment in Broadway’s “Head Over Heels”
Poland’s Gdynia Film Festival Takes the Gender Parity Pledge
The Met Is Finally Commissioning Operas by Women
France Launches Financial Incentives for Productions with Gender Parity
Women and Hollywood Is Here for Your Consulting Needs
Kenya Temporarily Lifts Ban on “Rafiki,” Making the Lesbian Love Story Eligible for Oscars
Guest Post: How I Founded an Art House Cinema and Made Supporting Women a Priority
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com.
