Love, Gilda, directed by Lisa D’Apolito, is now available to stream instantly on several digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon, and Comcast. The film depicts the life of one of the most iconic and influential comedians to grace the television airways since Lucille Ball.
Category: Features
Director Polly Draper writes, casts sons in 'Stella's Last Weekend'
Nat and Alex Wolff, who’ve continued to work in Hollywood with prominent roles in films like Paper Towns and Patriot's Day, respectively. But Draper brought them back together with her latest project, the film Stella’s Last Weekend (out October 12) about two brothers who realized they’ve both fallen for the same girl.
Women directors screen compelling stories at CIFF
The 54th annual Chicago International Film Festival began October 10 and will run through October 21 at the AMC River East Theater. There are 5,596 films from 135 countries - 38 of those films are directed by women.
Historic SWAN Day brings women and organizers together at Statera Conference
For the first time, the SWAN torch was passed on to Statera Arts who will continue the movement under their umbrella. Many of the original SWAN organizers were there to witness this historical event - Christine Young from University of San Francisco, Sophie Doolan from Kenya, Jennifer Hill from Connecticut, Vanessa Gondron from Prague, and…
Future bright for International ‘Support Women Artists Now’ Day
The historic International SWAN Day gathering took place in Milwaukee at the Statera Arts Conference (Oct. 4-7) where women from all over the world met to discuss the future of SWAN Day and witness “the swan” being passed on to Statera Arts (read more here).
‘Support Women Artists Now’ Day charges toward March ‘19
International SWAN Day. What is it? International Support Women Artists Now Day, a holiday celebrating the vast work of female writers, directors and creatives around the world. Held on the last Saturday of March, women (and men) gather to support the work of their favorite female artist - past or present - in any event…
Historic International SWAN Day gathering to be held at Statera Conference
WomenArts will sponsor a gathering of SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now Day) organizers as part of the Statera Foundation’s Third National Conference for women in theatre on Thursday, October 4 in Milwaukee. As part of the three-day conference, the historic gathering will transition SWAN Day from WomenArts to the Statera Foundation.
Lack of female film critics inspiration behind International SWAN Day
The creative force behind that movement was Jan Lisa Huttner whose goal was to increase the power for women in movies and theater, and help them get their voices heard.
Woodstock Film Festival to spotlight women in film
“The 2018 Woodstock Film Festival is poised to be one of the most fiercely independent and empowering, with nearly half of the filmmakers being female,” Woodstock Film Festival Co-Founder and Executive Director Meira Blaustein said, “.. so many of the works telling meaningful stories by both emerging and accomplished filmmakers.”
HIFF champions women filmmakers, honors ‘E.T.’ writer Melissa Mathison
It’s not too late to head out to the Hamptons this week for the 26th annual Hamptons International Film Festival. The four-day festival takes place from October 4 to the 8, with Alec Baldwin and Randy Mastro serving as co-chairmen.
Few women directors featured at New York Film Festival
Unfortunately, if you’re looking to watch feature films by women filmmakers at the NYFF, you must know that the scale is tipped in the men’s favor. That doesn’t mean that associate director of programming, Florence Almozini, isn’t trying to bring more female representation to the festival. As she describes in my interview, it’s not exactly…
Silenced in reality, sexual assault survivors tell their stories on screen
How our culture accepts these stories matters. The people making these stories matter. The more women that push through the door to tell their stories by writing, directing and producing films, the more their messages will be spread throughout the country and into the minds of people who live, grow and vote in America. Read…
Eva Vives shares own real-life survivor story in fictional 'All About Nina'
In the 15 years between her first feature and new film, All About Nina, Eva has added director to her resume on two short films. But for a debut feature, Vives comes out swinging.
'Spartacus Moments" and Why They Matter
On the heels of the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination hearings, the powerhouse of media messages continue their divisive output of opinions, scrutiny and attitude towards sexual assault victims.
Becca Gleason looks back to 'Summer 03' in new teen comedy
While summer is officially over, films are still enjoying the warmth of the sun, including writer-director Becca Gleason’s teen comedy Summer '03. The film, starring Joey King, is set during the week 16-year-old Jamie loses her grandmother Dotty (June Squib)…but only after Dotty reveals some truths to her family on her deathbed.
Thai director tells her story as ‘Sad Beauty’ makes Midwest premiere
Thai actress-turned-filmmaker Bongkod Bencharongkul debuts her first feature film, Sad Beauty, in Chicago on Wednesday, September 26 at AMC River East. Included in this year’s New York Asian Film Festival, held at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City in July, is now making its way to the Midwest. Click HERE to…
‘Pick of the Litter’ team talks journey of making guide dog documentary
The documentarian team of Dana Nachman and Don Hardy have collaborated for their fourth time with Pick of the Litter to give viewers an inside look at how a litter of pups vie for the opportunity to become a guide dog for the blind.
Chicago International Film Festival increases list of female directors
With more than 6,000 film entries, 36 out of 123 chosen feature films are directed by women, just under 30 percent. In the shorts category, it’s an equal representation of 50 percent.
Reed Morano talks twisty apocalypse drama 'I Think We're Alone Now'
Along with two upcoming films, she has I Think We’re Alone Now in theaters now, a relationship drama set just after the apocalypse, starring Elle Fanning and fellow Emmy winner Peter Dinklage.
‘That Time of Year’ director talks frustrating family bonds
Despite happening in September, a multitude of films this year were set during and around Christmas at the Toronto International Film Festival. After all, many can relate to the high pressure that comes with the holidays, especially holidays you celebrate with your family. That sense of frustration and love is key to Paprika Steen’s new…
‘Float Like a Butterfly’ director: "There's no such thing as a natural-born misogynist"
At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the Prize of the International Federation of Film Critics was awarded to Carmel Winters for Float Like a Butterfly, who attended the festival with her stars, Hazel Doupe (Francis) and Dara Devaney (Michael).
“If she can see it she can be it”: A personal look at #ShareHerJourney rally
Geena Davis, the founder of Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media, is one of the first speakers at #ShareHerJourney.
Marley Clements and Laura DuBois sound a political alarm in 'Active Measures'
What makes The Year of Spectacular Men so special is the fact that the film stars a real-life Hollywood family, Madelyn “Maddie” Deutch, Zoey Deutch and their mother Lea Thompson, all of whom took major roles behind the camera for the first time.
Sam Taylor-Johnson returns to indie world to make dream project a reality
Back to her indie-roots, with her husband Aaron Taylor-Johnson (the star of her first feature Nowhere Boy) alongside her once again to star and co-writer, they adapted James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces into a new film which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
'Out of the Blue' star Patricia Clarkson at TIFF: "We need more female critics"
This understanding of the direct connection is part of the reason director Carol Morley was compelled to make her own version of Martin Amis' 1997 novel "Mystery Train." Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, Out of the Blue stars Patricia Clarkson as Detective Mike Hoolihan.
Women behind horror-western 'The Wind' hope to subvert familiar genres
The only human beings for miles, the two women develop a close but contentious relationship, made all the worse by the fear that something supernatural is among them. I spoke with the film’s writer, director, and leading actress Gerald about creating historical accuracy in genre and joining what has traditionally been a boys club.
Amma Asante on making controversial ‘Where Hands Touch’
Since being announced as Amma Asante’s follow-up to A United Kingdom, the British director best known for her 2013 film Belle has been fighting the immediate controversy for her new film, Where Hands Touch.
‘The Land of Steady Habits’ looks at male psyche with critical, empathetic eye
Adapting Ted Thompson’s novel The Land of Steady Habits, Holofcener focused her dramatic-comedy on a male protagonist.The film stars character-actor Ben Mendelsohn, taking a break from villainous roles, as newly retired Anders Hill,
‘I Am Not a Witch’ a fairytale spin on human rights issues
Exploited and imprisoned for life, Nyoni was particularly interested in the practice in Zambia, a traditionally matriarchal society. While dealing with a heavy human rights issue, Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch using aspects of fairytales and satire to tell the story of a child accused and brought into one of these communities.
Modern fairytale ‘Lost Child’ a personal journey for Ramaa Mosley
A dark, modern fairytale, the film is also remarkably personal for Mosley, dealing with the aftermath of family trauma and the loss of her brother.