Peabody award-winning director Judith Helfand’s documentary Cooked: Survival by Zip Code is now screening for a two week-run at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago through July 25. Detailing the city’s deadliest summer heat wave in 1995, Cooked delves into the politics of the disaster - the…
Author: Brigid K. Presecky
Ann Sarnoff, ‘Ophelia’ lead female filmmaker moments of the week
Warner Bros. has tapped BBC Studios Americas president Ann Sarnoff as its new CEO, the first time a woman has held the post in the studio’s 100-year history. She’s set to join the studio later this summer. Read more at Variety. FF2 Media’s Pamela Powell interviewed Director Claire McCarthy on what Daisy Ridley brought to…
Inaugural Rom Com Fest begins in LA
Celebrate all your favorite romantic comedies this weekend (tickets and badges are still available) at the inaugural Rom Com Fest, running from June 20-23 in Los Angeles. The lineup of films include anniversaries for beloved favorites from female filmmakers like Karen McCullah & Kirsten Smith’s 10 Things I Hate About You and Abby Kohn &…
'Little Woods' and other films that get sisterhood right
While fiction has often portrayed sisterhood as a tumultuous relationship, Nia DaCosta’s new film Little Woods manages to portray the familial bond without stereotypical tropes of competition, resentment or envy. Tessa Thompson and Lily James star in the poignant story of two half-sisters, struggling together through life’s challenges of poverty, grief and single parenthood. Like…
Metz and Grace make 'Breakthrough' a universal uplift
Director Roxann Dawson’s Breakthrough recreates the miraculous true story of a Missouri boy’s traumatic accident and the unfailing faith of his devoted mother. With This Is Us star Chrissy Metz leading a strong cast, the film is a tactful reimagining of what could have easily been turned into Christian-skewed camp. (BKP: 4/5) Review by Vice…
Chicago European Union Film Festival to screen 22 films by women directors
The Gene Siskel Film Center will present the 22nd Annual Chicago European Union Film Festival from March 8 through April 4, with 22 films directed by women (more than one-third of the films screened). The festival will present 60 premieres from 28 European Union nations, making it the largest EU cinema showcase in North America.…
#MakeOscarGold campaign breaks down male bias
Although the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has faced backlash of their mostly-male, mostly-white nominees, generating hashtag campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite and #OscarsSoBlue, FF2 Media continues championing #MakeOscarGold: merit-based award nominations.
DGA nominates zero women for feature film directing
The Directors Guild of America announced nominees for its annual awards, to be held February 2. Five directors (five men and zero women) are nominated.
Penny Marshall: A pioneer for women in film
Penny Marshall was a pioneer for women filmmakers. The actress, director and producer died December 17, leaving behind a lifetime of memorable work.
Women directors shut out of early award nominations
Despite the supposed advances for women in the entertainment industry fueled by the #MeToo movement of 2017, the first round of awards cycle nominations show little progress for acknowledging female directors.
Netflix adds films by women to November roster
While you’re getting your Thanksgiving pants ready for the holiday season, be sure to check out these films (written and directed by women) streaming on Netflix this November.
‘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…
Vice President and Managing Editor Brigid K. Presecky
Now serving as Managing Editor, I have witnessed the company’s growth - as well as my own - over the last 10 years. It is a privilege to edit and oversee the daily contributions from our diverse writers. I am proud to be a part of the journey from a small team in Chicago to worldwide…
Film critics associations remain a boys club
Women remain the minority members of film critics associations in every state and region throughout the United States. Although women make up half the country’s population (50.8 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau), they represent approximately 22 percent of film critics associations.
Women continue to fight for equality in communications field, film criticism
A new study by the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication at Florida International University found that men continue to dominate top management positions while women remain in the middle, likely to have less longevity in the field. Interruption in their full-time work, too, is increased for women as they…
The Divine Secrets of Equality: Female Film Critics
Sixteen years ago, on June 2, 2002, The New York Times Editor Dana Kennedy published an article titled, “An Impatient Sisterhood.” Addressing Hollywood’s systemic exclusion of female film directors, the article highlighted the work of director Callie Khouri, an Academy Award winner for Thelma and Louise who was turned down repeatedly for 10 years before…
Women dominate specialty box office
With Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s documentary RBG in the top 10 (and playing in only 180 theaters nationwide), films directed by women are thriving at the specialty box office.
Women take back the mic in new hashtag campaign
In honor of Michelle Wolf's comments at the White House Correspondents Dinner, FF2 Media is launching the new hashtag #WomenTakeBackTheMic
Women directors win top honors at Tribeca
The 17th Annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, announced the jury award winners - many of which were women including first-time directors.
'I Tita, A Life of Tango' director screens film at Chicago Latino Film Festival
At the 34th Chicago Latino Film Festival, writer/director María Teresa Costantini will screen her film I Tita, A Life of Tango (YO SOY ASÍ, TITA DE BUENOS AIRES) on April 8 at 8:00 p.m. at AMC River East 21.
Feeling Pretty: Re-examining the movie makeover
The plain-girl-turned-bell-of-the-ball plotline is common, creating a profitable well of storytelling for filmmakers. When a female protagonist morphs from not-to-hot, she is doing it for one of two reasons: for a man or for herself.
Music industry director Hannah Lux Davis champions women behind the lens
Included in this year’s SWAN Day spotlight is director Hannah Lux Davis, known for directing Simply Complicated following famed singer/actress Demi Lovato.
All-female team behind ‘Fever and the Fret’ gets creative with limitations
Writer-director Cath Gulick is set for the world premiere debut of her narrative film The Fever and the Fret starring Ivory Aquino and Adelina Amosco.
Paul Feig champions female voices in film with ‘Powderkeg’ digital company
Film producer Paul Feig (Spy, The Heat, Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters) will continue to do his part of representing new voices through a digital content company called Powderkeg to be run by Laura Fischer.
How women nominees fared at the 90th Academy Awards
Although there was talk and hype of “Time’s Up” and female equality in film, this year’s winners were a washout, with each female winner working as a co-writer with their male counterpart. Even the female actress winners won for roles in films that were written and/or directed by men. Here’s hoping next year’s Oscars will…
Supporting Women Filmmakers: A Guide to Valentine’s Day
You can still support female filmmakers by watching your favorite romantic comedies and dramas of past and present. If they’re not your favorite now, they will be!
WomenArts partners with Statera Foundation for SWAN Day
The Statera Foundation is joining forces with WomenArts to organize the 11th Annual International SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now Day) celebrated on March 31, 2018.
Pam Powell talks women filmmakers at Sundance: 'We are making progress'
With an increase of women in the directors chair (timely, given the #MeToo Movement) Powell notes that conversation regarding opportunities for women were discussed immediately by Sundance founder Robert Redford.
Recognize your favorite film? #SheDirectedThat
Since the first Academy Awards in 1929, only four women have been nominated for the best director Oscar. Tweet us @FF2_Media to let us know what your favorite female-directed movies are with the hash tag #SheDirectedThat.
2017 Report: Percentage of women filmmakers stagnant for 20 years
Lauzen’s annual Celluloid Ceiling report reveals statistics that have virtually remained unchanged for 20 years.