FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (Documentary)
At the height of unprecedented success, Linda Ronstadt, a restless and adventurous artist, turned away from pop music to explore an astonishing variety of musical styles, from American standards to country to classical operetta, before circling back to her family roots with traditional Mexican canciones. Withstanding constant pressure from a risk-averse industry, Ronstadt insisted on following her musical instincts. Today, Ronstadt has Parkinson’s disease, and her magnificent singing voice has been silenced. But rather than letting that voice be lost to history, “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” tells Ronstadt’s story through her own words and music.
Find screening info here.
Jinn – Written and Directed by Nijla Mu’min (One Week Only in NY)
“Jinn”
Summer (Zoe Rennee), a carefree, 17-year-old Black girl, finds herself navigating complex questions of faith, family, sexuality, and identity when her mother converts to Islam. The story draws on some of the filmmaker’s own experiences to fashion a bittersweet portrait of a young woman finding her way in the world. (BAM)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Nijla Mu’min.
Find screening info here.
Edie – Written by Elizabeth O’Halloran (Opens in NY and LA)
83-year-old Edie (Sheila Hancock) believes that it is never too late to pack an old camping bag, leave her life behind, and embark on an adventure she never got to have: climbing the imposing Mount Suilven in Scotland.
Find screening info here.
Satanic Panic – Directed by Chelsea Stardust (Also Available on VOD)
Sam’s (Hayley Griffith) first day as a pizza delivery driver is not going according to plan. At the end of a long day and not enough tips, her last delivery turns out to be for a group of Satanists looking for someone to sacrifice. Now in a fight for her life, Sam must fend off witches, evil spells, and demonic creatures, all while trying to keep her body — and soul — intact.
After Munich (Documentary) – Directed by Francine Zuckerman (Opens in Winnipeg, Canada) (Airs on Canada’s Documentary Channel September 8)
“After Munich” is about the aftermath of the Munich Olympic massacre of 11 Israeli athletes in 1972 and how four women’s lives have been changed forever.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN OPENING
I’m Leaving Now (Documentary) – Directed by Lindsey Cordero and Armando Croda (Opens in NY)
“I’m Leaving Now”
Felipe Hernández, an undocumented immigrant, combs the streets of New York City collecting cans to survive on the margins of society. After 16 years of hard living, he makes plans to return to Mexico, but discovers his family has squandered his money and are in debt. Felipe must decide how much more he can sacrifice for a family he no longer knows.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Lindsey Cordero.
Find screening info here.
Next Level – Directed by Ilyssa Goodman
“Next Level” centers on teens who compete for best performer of the summer while at Next Level, a specialized dance/hip-hop/songwriting performing arts program.
The Whistler: Origins – Written by Irina Dendiouk and Gisberg Bermudez
A father wrestles with a curse and saving his daughter’s soul from a phantasmagorical figure.
TV PREMIERES
Into the Dark: Pure (TV Movie) – Written and Directed by Hannah Macpherson (Premieres September 6 on Hulu)
A 17-year-old poster girl for her town’s purity movement is tormented by a supernatural presence, just as she fears her community will discover she has long had a secret boyfriend.
Grit (Documentary) – Directed by Cynthia Wade and Sasha Friedlander (Premieres September 9 on PBS)
“Grit”
When she was six years old, Dian heard a deep rumble and turned to see a tsunami of mud barreling towards her village. Sixteen villages, including Dian’s, were wiped away. More than a decade after the catastrophe, the mud continues to ravage the land. Mud and toxic gases erupt daily destroying everything in their wake. Nearly 60,000 people have lost their homes. The once thriving region has been transformed into a desolate wasteland. Dian is determined to rise out of her muddy life. She and her mother, along with many neighbors, demand justice. “Grit” bears witness to Dian’s transformation into a politically active teenager as she questions the role of corporate power and money in democracy.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Cynthia Wade and Sasha Friedlander.
In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11 (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Schatz (Premieres September 11 on HBO)
When the Twin Towers were attacked on September 11, 2001, students had just started their day at Stuyvesant, the prestigious New York City specialized public high school, blocks from the World Trade Center. “In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11” offers a unique eyewitness perspective on that tragic day and its aftermath, and revisits the events of 9/11 through conversations with eight Stuyvesant alumni who, as teenagers, lived through the attack and whose lives were forever changed by it.
What Happened on September 11 (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Schatz (Premieres September 11 on HBO)
Born after the terror attacks, a generation of young people wonders — What happened on 9/11? Why did it happen? What was its impact on our country and the world? Exploring these and other questions in a kid-friendly way, HBO Family’s latest documentary is an introduction to the events of 9/11.
VOD/STREAMING RELEASES
Boy Genius – Directed by Bridget Stokes; Written by Vicky Wight (VOD, September 6)
Late Night – Directed by Nisha Ganatra; Written by Mindy Kaling (Amazon Prime, September 6)
Hellmington (VOD, September 10)
The Third Wife – Written and Directed by Ash Mayfair (VOD, September 10)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BLOG
Perez in “Rise”: NBC/Virginia Sherwood/NBC
“Boxed In 2018-19” TV Study Reports Increases in Women’s On and Offscreen Representation
Women of Color Led or Co-Led 11 of 2018’s Top 100 Films, According to New Research
Rosie Perez to Receive Latinavator Award
Venice Film Fest Hosts Gender Equality Seminar
Halina Reijn’s “Instinct” Is The Netherlands’ Pick for International Feature Film Oscar Race
TIFF 2019 Preview: Feminist Anthems, Tales of Teen Girlhood, Harriet Tubman, & More
Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Be Honored with BAFTA LA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year
Exclusive: Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” Teams Up with The New York Women’s Foundation
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter
@WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com.
