FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING
I Am Not a Witch – Written and Directed by Rungano Nyoni (Opens in NY; Opens in LA September 14)
When eight-year-old Shula (Maggie Mulubwa) turns up alone and unannounced in a rural Zambian village, the locals are suspicious. A minor incident escalates to a full-blown witch trial, where she is found guilty and sentenced to life on a state-run witch camp. There, she is tethered to a long white ribbon and told that if she ever tries to run away, she will be transformed into a goat. As the days pass, Shula begins to settle into her new community, but a threat looms on the horizon. Soon she is forced to make a difficult decision — whether to resign herself to life on the camp, or take a risk for freedom. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Rungano Nyoni.
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser – Written by Lindsey Beer (Available on Netflix)
“Sierra Burgess Is A Loser”
“Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” is a modern rom-com retelling of the Cyrano de Bergerac story, set in high school. The story centers on Sierra (Shannon Purser, “Stranger Things”), an intelligent teen who does not fall into the shallow definition of high school pretty but, in a case of mistaken identity that results in unexpected romance, she teams with the popular girl (Kristine Froseth, “The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair”) in order to win her crush. (Press materials)
Peppermint
“Peppermint”
“Peppermint” is an action thriller which tells the story of young mother Riley North (Jennifer Garner), who awakens from a coma after her husband and daughter are killed in a brutal attack on the family. When the system frustratingly shields the murderers from justice, Riley sets out to transform herself from citizen to urban guerilla. Channeling her frustration into personal motivation, she spends years in hiding honing her mind, body, and spirit to become an unstoppable force — eluding the underworld, the LAPD, and the FBI — as she methodically delivers her personal brand of justice. (Press materials)
Nelly – Written and Directed by Anne Émond (Opens in NY; Opens in LA September 14)
“Nelly”
A high-class prostitute by choice, Nelly Arcan’s (Mylène Mackay) colorful life is recreated in a multi-layered and stylish mix of make-believe and memoir, revealing Nelly’s alter egos: the neurotic writer, the vulnerable lover, the call girl, and the star. Nelly shocked the literary world with her elegant writing and the lurid details of sex work in her autobiographical first novel, “Whore,” which became a critically acclaimed bestseller. Despite unprecedented success, Nelly’s remarkable life ended in tragedy. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Anne Émond.
Find screening info here.
Kusama: Infinity (Documentary) – Directed by Heather Lenz; Written by Heather Lenz and Keita Ideno
“Kusama: Infinity”
Yayoi Kusama is best known for her colorful polka dot- and pumpkin-themed designs and her massively popular mirrored Infinity Rooms. For decades, her work pushed boundaries that often alienated her from her peers and those in power in the art world. She was an underdog with everything stacked against her: growing up in Japan during World War II, life in a dysfunctional family that discouraged her creative ambitions, sexism and racism in the art establishment, and mental illness in a culture where that was a particular stigma. In spite of it all, Kusama has endured and has created a legacy of artwork that spans the disciplines of painting, sculpture, installation art, performance art, poetry, and novels. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Heather Lenz.
Find screening info here.
City of Joy (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Madeleine Gavin (Available on Netflix)
“City of Joy”: DOC NYC
“City of Joy,” directed by first-time director Madeleine Gavin, follows the first class of women at a revolutionary leadership center in eastern Congo called City of Joy, and weaves their journey as burgeoning leaders with that of the center’s founders — Dr. Denis Mukwege, 2016 Nobel Peace Prize nominee; women’s rights activist Christine Schuler-Deschryver; and radical feminist Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues” — three individuals who imagined a place where women who have suffered horrific rape and abuse can heal and become powerful voices of change for their country. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Madeleine Gavin.
Alright Now (Also Available on VOD)
Joanne Sykes (Cobie Smulders) is lead singer of the once popular ’90s indie rock band The Filthy Dukes. They’ve been on the road since 1996, slowly but surely managing to play 150-capped venues. We find the Dukes at their last ever gig, and as the band falls apart, so does Joanne; she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her with just about everyone, and there’s little left for her once the group disbands. So, thinking about the next step, she drunkenly applies for university. University isn’t quite what Joanne expected — far less wild partying, and a lot more yoga and kale. Whilst there, she falls in love with a librarian called Pete (Richard Elis). It’s far from smooth sailing, but just maybe she’ll re-discover her love for music. (Press materials)
Susanne Bartsch: On Top (Documentary) (Opens in LA) (Available on VOD September 11)
“Susanne Bartsch: On Top”: Hot Docs
People have flocked to New York City to break free from the oppressive shackles of social norms and find themselves for decades; Susanne Bartsch has dedicated her life to creating a safe haven for just those people. The mother of avant-garde self-expression, Susanne creates imaginative spaces where people can live out their wildest fantasies night after night. “Susanne Bartsch: On Top” explores Susanne’s life and impact through never-before-seen archival footage, verité cinematography, personal testimonials, and highly stylized imagery. From quiet moments at home to the creation of deliciously debaucherous spectacles, Susanne juggles family life with the overwhelming stress of being a one-woman industry. At an age when most of her peers have slowed down, Susanne moves forward more determined than ever. (Press materials)
Mara (Also Available on VOD)
After a man is seemingly strangled in his bed, criminal psychologist Kate Fuller (Olga Kurylenko, “Vampire Academy”) interviews the sole witness, the victim’s eight-year-old daughter, Sophie. When asked to identify the killer, Sophie says “Mara.” As Kate digs into the case, she unearths a community of people who claim to be tormented by a shadowy menace, a centuries-old demon who kills her victims as they sleep. (Press materials)
God Bless the Broken Road – Written by Jennifer Dornbush and Harold Cronk
“God Bless the Broken Road” tells the story of a young mother (Lindsay Pulsipher) who loses her husband in Afghanistan and struggles to raise their young daughter in his absence. The film combines elements of faith, country music, and stock car racing while paying tribute to those who serve in the military. (Press materials)
Find screening info here.
Lost Fare – Written by Rachel Reaugh and Bruce Logan
Freda (Alexis Rosinsky), 11, abused daughter of a hardened hooker, hides from her mother’s pimp, Sonny (Jason Ambrose), who’s intent on selling Freda to a high-paying customer. Freda escapes to a nearby motel room and inadvertently sees Jack (Aaron Hendry), an ex-con cabbie, trying to hang himself. Freda, with the help of her “imaginary friend” Bella (Annabelle Kavanagh), talks Jack into helping her find her brother, which leads them to Sonny’s mansion, where the deadly drama resolves. (Press materials)
The Most Assassinated Woman in the World – Written by Vérane Frédiani (Available on Netflix)
Paula Maxa (Anna Mouglalis) is the Parisian Grand Guignol Theatre’s leading lady, famous for being murdered on stage every day. But is there a link between the theater and a series of gruesome real-life murders? (Press materials)
Reversing Roe (Documentary) – Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg (Opens in NY and LA September 13) (Also Available on Netflix)
“Reversing Roe”
Forty-five years after it revolutionized abortion law in America, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade is once again at a crossroads. The timely new documentary “Reversing Roe” presents a deeply illuminating look of the state of abortion and women’s rights in America. The film offers candid and riveting interviews with key figures from both sides of the divide, among them doctors Colleen McNicholas and Curtis Boyd; feminist icon Gloria Steinem; Operation Rescue president Troy Newman; and National Right to Life president Carol Tobias. (Press materials)
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN OPENING
Hal (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Scott
Although Hal Ashby directed a remarkable string of acclaimed, widely admired classics throughout the 1970s — “Harold and Maude,” “The Last Detail,” “Shampoo,” “Coming Home,” “Being There” — he is often overlooked amid the crowd of luminaries from his generation. Ashby was a Hollywood director who constantly clashed with Hollywood, but also a unique soul with an unprecedented insight into the human condition and an unmatched capacity for good. His films were an elusive blend of honesty, irreverence, humor, and humanity. Amy Scott’s exuberant portrait explores that curious oversight, using rare archival materials, interviews, personal letters, and audio recordings to reveal a passionate, obsessive artist. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Amy Scott.
On My Skin – Written by Lisa Nur Sultan and Alessio Cremonini (Available on Netflix September 12)
The incredible true story behind the most controversial Italian court cases in recent years. Stefano Cucchi (Alessandro Borghi) was arrested for a minor crime and mysteriously found dead during his detention. In one week’s time, a family is changed forever. (Press materials)
TV PREMIERES
“The Miniaturist”: BBC
The Miniaturist (Premieres September 9 on PBS)
In 1686, 18-year-old Nella Oortman (Anya Taylor-Joy) arrives in Amsterdam to meet her wealthy merchant husband, Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell), but is instead met by his sister Marin (Romola Garai). When Johannes appears, he presents her with a wedding gift: a cabinet that is a miniature replica of their home, to be furnished by an elusive Miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror what is happening within the house in unexpected ways and seem to be predicting and unraveling the future with unsettling precision. As Nella begins to uncover its secrets and those of the Brandt household she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the Miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall? (Press materials)
You – Created by Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti (Premieres September 9 on Lifetime)
“You”
Starring Penn Badgley, “You” is a 21st century love story that asks, “What would you do for love?” When a brilliant bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Using the internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate of details and get close to her, a charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as he quietly and strategically removes every obstacle — and person — in his way. Based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel of the same name. (Press materials)
Swiped: Hooking Up in the Digital Age (Documentary) – Directed by Nancy Jo Sales (Premieres September 10 on HBO)
With more than 40 million Americans currently engaging in online and app dating, this $2.5-billion industry is rapidly changing the rules of dating, while expanding access to potential mates for everything from “hookups” to long-term relationships. This eye-opening look at the evolving nature of sex and dating in the digital age offers candid insights from 20-somethings and experts in the field. (Press materials)
The Oslo Diaries (Documentary) – Directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan (Premieres September 13 on HBO)
“The Oslo Diaries”: Ohayon Avi
In 1992, with Israeli-Palestinian relations at an all-time low and any communication between the two sides punishable by jail time, a small group of Israelis and Palestinians gathered secretly in Oslo for a series of meetings that came to be known as The Oslo Accords and dramatically changed the political landscape of the Middle East. Articulated through readings of the participants’ diaries from the time and airing on the 25th anniversary of the Accords, this geopolitical story features never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive interviews with key players, including the last on-camera conversation with former Israeli president Shimon Peres. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Mor Loushy.
VOD/STREAMING RELEASES
“Nancy”
The Guardians – Marie-Julie Maille, Xavier Beauvois, and Frédérique Moreau (VOD, September 11)
Nancy – Written and Directed by Christina Choe (VOD, September 11)
Ocean’s 8 – Written by Olivia Milch and Gary Ross (VOD, September 11)
Paper Year – Written and Directed by Rebecca Addelman (VOD, September 11)
Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist (Documentary) – Directed by Lorna Tucker (DVD, September 11)
PICKS OF THE WEEK FROM WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD
Tyson in “How to Get Away with Murder”: ABC/Mitchell Haaseth
Cicely Tyson to Receive Honorary Oscar, Kathleen Kennedy the Thalberg Award
New WarnerMedia Policy Makes Significant Commitment to Inclusion on Both Sides of Camera
TV Preview: Series By and About Women Premiering This Fall
Quote of the Day: Felicity Jones on Wanting to Play a Female Genius
Director Jacques Audiard Speaks Out About Gender Inequality at Fests
TIFF 2018 Preview: Women Directors Tackle War, Police Dramas, LGBTQ Love, & More
BIFA Holding Mandatory Unconscious Bias Training Ahead of 2018 Awards
Quote of the Day: Viola Davis Explains How Her “Widows” Hair Makes a Statement
September 2018 Film Preview
DGA Report: Women and POC First-Time TV Directors Made Gains in 2017-18 Season
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
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