Out this Friday, Incredibles 2 is the 20th feature film released in the 23-year history of Pixar. The animation studio has made headlines in recent months with the exit of co-founder John Lasseter and the team behind Toy Story 4 stepping down due to perceived mistreatment of women and people of color.
Author: Georgiana E. Presecky
‘We are a mighty tribe’: Female directors make up ‘Half the Picture’
Amy Adrion’s Half the Picture is an informative, eye-opening documentary about the startling gender imbalance that exists among film and television directors.
To the pants: 'Sisterhood' celebrates 13th anniversary
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was released June 1, 2005, but its message of friendship still means something to the generation who grew up with it. Based on Ann Brashares’ series of novels and co-written by Delia Ephron and Elizabeth Chandler, the film follows four best friends spending their first summer apart and exchanging…
Onscreen Queens: Gender disparity in royal biopics
Prince Harry’s May 19 royal wedding to American actress and activist Meghan Markle is dominating mainstream media and giving royal enthusiasts an excuse to revisit their favorite English stories in preparation for the big day. Though Netflix’s excellent first two seasons of The Crown would be a great place to start, there have been a…
'Troll Inc.' sheds light on malicious Internet users
Director George Russell’s Troll Inc. is available on VOD May 22, putting the focus on Internet trolls who have become commonplace in today’s “fake news”-fueled media market. The foundation of the documentary is an extended interview with Andrew “Weev” Auernheimer, a well-known hacker who was charged with multiple computer crime felonies and is known for…
Marvel in search of more female directors
Avengers: Infinity War is out today, the first meeting of dozens of characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This includes Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, who has appeared in six MCU films since Iron Man 2 in 2010. All six were directed by men, from Jon Favreau to Joss Whedon to Infinity War directors Anthony and…
Five Netflix originals created by women set for April
Five new films distributed exclusively by Netflix will be available for streaming in April. Olivia Newman’s First Match dropped on the streaming platform March 30 after its initial premiere at Austin’s South by Southwest. Based on Newman’s original short film, the story follows Mo, the only girl on her high school wrestling team who uses the…
Iannucci authors travel guide for film fans
FF2 Media Senior Contributor Lisa Iannucci recently authored the book On Location: A Film and TV Lover’s Travel Guide, published by Globe Pequot Press.
BAFTAs barely acknowledge female filmmakers
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced its BAFTA winners February 18 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with very little recognition for female nominees in major categories. I Am Not a Witch writer-director Rungango Nyani (above, with producer Emily Morgan) is the only woman winner recognized outside of the acting categories,…
'Love, Simon' is a breath of fresh YA air
Love, Simon is coming out March 16, and it’s everything the young adult film genre needs and more.
Greta Gerwig nominated for best director Oscar
Lady Bird writer-director Greta Gerwig is the first female nominee in the best director category at the Academy Awards since Kathryn Bigelow in 2010.
Women win big at 49th NAACP Image Awards
The 49th NAACP Image Awards were held in Pasadena last night, recognizing people of color making strides in film, music, literature and television.
AWFJ honors women in film with ‘female focus’ category
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ), made up of professional female film critics, announced winners in three categories at their annual EDA Awards last week.
Contributing Editor Georgiana E. Presecky
As FF2 Media’s Contributing Editor (and Social Media Manager), I post daily on Twitter (@FF2_Media) and Facebook, not only to promote our reviews, interviews and feature stories, but also to connect with our audience and the filmmakers we support. Expanding our audience and finding people who are just as passionate about supporting women in film…
Comic actress Rose Marie dies at 94
FF2 Media mourns the loss of comic actress Rose Marie, who died yesterday at the age of 94. “The longest active career in the entertainment industry” was celebrated with the November release of the documentary on her life, Christina Tucker and Jason Wise’s Wait For Your Laugh. The Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner…
National Film Registry releases preservation selections for 2017
The Library of Congress’ National Film Registry announced Wednesday the 25 films selected for historic preservation this year.
Happy 'Halloween': Remembering screenwriter Debra Hill
John Carpenter’s Halloween will celebrate its 40th anniversary next October, co-written with his longtime producing partner Debra Hill, who died in 2005 at the age of 54.
Chicago International Film Festival to highlight 36 female directors
The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) is Oct. 12-26, featuring 36 films directed by women. The two-week festival will screen 140 films at the AMC River East downtown during the two-week festival, 25 percent of which have women at the helm. Cinema/Chicago is the presenting organization of CIFF, “A year round non-profit arts and…
Novick and Burns revisit history in documentary series 'The Vietnam War'
Lynn Novick has once again teamed up with documentarian Ken Burns to co-direct the upcoming PBS series The Vietnam War. “Ken turned to me and said ‘OK, I think we can really try to do Vietnam now,’ and I said, ‘I’m in. I’ve been in since day one, I’ve always wanted to do this story,’”…
‘Logan Lucky’ sparks pseudonym speculation
Director Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky is slated for release Friday, August 18, and it’s already receiving rave reviews with a 92 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Monday afternoon. Starring Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as brothers ripping off NASCAR, the feature boasts a star-studded cast and will undoubtedly draw fans of Soderbergh’s…
12 films by women you can stream on Netflix right now
Netflix adds to its wide selection of content each month, and its summer releases boast a significant number of films written or directed by women. From those who are unable to attend screenings of independent films in their cities due to distribution limitations to others who simply prefer streaming to the theater-going experience, exposure to…
Princes look back in HBO documentary 'Diana, Our Mother'
From director Ashley Gething, the HBO Documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy remembers the Princess of Wales in a different way - from the perspective of her two sons, Princes William and Harry. The well-known figures speak openly about their mother throughout the 65 minutes, which first aired July 24 on HBO. Most viewers…
Penny Marshall's 'A League of Their Own' celebrates 25th anniversary
On a recent trip to the Carson Pirie Scott department store, I came across a display of (ridiculously expensive) baseball-themed purses. The designer bags were emblazoned with the logos of Major League Baseball teams, and a sign above the rack where they hung read, “Yes, girls love sports, too!” I was appalled at the fact that…
Women filmmakers shine at Siskel Center's 2017 Chicago European Union Film Festival
Hosted by the Gene Siskel Film Center, the month-long Chicago European Union Film Festival (CEUFF) featured 15 films directed by women (15 out of 62 = ~ 25% = a record high for this event). FF2 Media has compiled “Best of the Fest” lists from three Chicago team members, recommending films ranging from food documentaries…
I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: Celebrating SWAN Day
I do my best to celebrate International SWAN Day every day of the week, supporting the work of women artists who have made a difference in my life. Sunday nights are defined by Lena Dunham’s Girls, in which I sit patiently at the computer for the newest episode to hit HBO Now. Monday and Tuesday…
2016 memorable for animated storytelling
Reflections by Social Media Manager Georgiana E. Presecky Despite the variety of animated features released in 2016, Disney still reigns supreme with Oscar-nominated films Zootopia and Moana. What is it about that familiar “When You Wish Upon a Star” opening that has captivated the minds and hearts of children and adults for 80 years, since…
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, The Edge of Seventeen is being called an “instant teen classic,” compared to the likes of Clueless, Mean Girls and Juno. What was promoted as a comedic, heartwarming depiction of teen angst feels more like a missed opportunity. The relatable message of The Edge of Seventeen unfortunately gets…