ONTD Original: 17 Films Directed by Women To Watch in 2018
Here are 8 films with known release dates, five with unknown dates, and four movies you should be able to find now - all directed by women and from this year. All release dates are US unless otherwise noted, and are from IMDB.com. So if my information is wrong, it's not my fault :)
APRIL
“Blockers”, directed by Kay Cannon
Three parents try to stop their daughters from having sex on Prom night.
Starring: Kathryn Newton, John Cena, Leslie Mann
Release Date: 6 April 2018
“You Were Never Really Here," Directed by Lynne Ramsay
A traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Dante Pereira-Olson, Larry Canady
Release Date: 6 April 2018
“The Rider,” directed by Chloe Zhao
After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.
Starring: Brady Jandreau, Tim Jandreau, Lilly Jandreau
Release Date: 13 April 2018
JUNE
"Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist," Directed by Lorna Tucker
The first film to encompass the remarkable story of one of the true icons of our time, as she fights to maintain her brand's integrity, her principles - and her legacy.
Release Date: 15 June 2018
"Valley Girl,” Directed by Rachel Goldenberg
Set to a new wave '80s soundtrack, a pair of young lovers from different backgrounds defy their parents and friends to stay together. A musical adaptation of the 1983 film.
Starring: Mae Whitman, Peyton List, Chloe Bennet
Release Date: 29 June 2018
AUGUST
"The Darkest Minds,” directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
After a disease kills 98% of America's children, the surviving 2% develop superpowers and are placed in internment camps. A 16-year-old girl escapes her camp and joins a group of other teens on the run from the government.
Starring: Mandy Moore, Amandla Stenberg
Release Date: 3 August 2018
OCTOBER
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” - Directed by Marielle Heller
When bestselling celebrity biographer, Lee Israel, is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend, Jack.
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Anna Deavere Smith, Alice Kremelberg
Release Date: 19 October 2018
NOVEMBER
“Mary, Queen of Scots,” directed by Josie Rourke
Mary Stuart's attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, finds her condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution.
Starring: Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, David Tennant
Release Date: 2 November 2018
RELEASE DATES UNKNOWN
“Fast Color,” directed by Julia Hart
A woman is forced to go on the run when her superhuman abilities are discovered. Years after having abandoned her family, the only place she has left to hide is home.
Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Strathairn, Lorraine Toussaint
Release date: was shown at SXSW film festival on March 10
"I Am Not a Witch," directed by Rungano Nyoni
Following a banal incident in her local village, 8-year old girl Shula is accused of witchcraft. After a short trial she is found guilty, taken into state custody and exiled to a witch camp in the middle of a desert.
Starring: Benfors 'Wee Do, Boyd Banda, Kalundu Banda
“The Nightingale,” directed by Jennifer Kent
1820s Tasmania. A young Irish convict woman seeking revenge for the murder of her family, takes an Aboriginal male tracker with her through the interior and gets much more than she bargained for.
Starring: Sam Claflin, Aisling Franciosi, Damon Herriman
“Out of Blue,” directed by Carol Morley
When Detective Mike Hoolihan is called to investigate the shooting of leading astrophysicist and black hole expert, Jennifer Rockwell, she is affected in ways she struggles to comprehend.
Starring: Toby Jones, James Caan, Patricia Clarkson
Release Date: 2018 (UK)
“Vita & Virginia,” directed by Chanya Button
It's the fascinating true story about the love affair between socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf.
Starring: Elizabeth Debicki, Gemma Arterton, Isabella Rossellini
Release Date: 2018 (UK)
MOVIES YOU CAN FIND NOW (at least you should be able to)
"Goldbuster," directed by Sandra Ng
A quirky internet star, a pair of retired gangsters, and the black sheep of a prolific family of herbalists are a few of the oddball tenants that call the dilapidated apartments of Humble Grove home. Fearful of being locked out by a ruthless property developer with his eye on the building, they've stayed inside for years. So, when supernatural incidents befall them all on one night, instead of running, they turn to flamboyant ghost hunter Golden Ling to perform a most unusual exorcism.
Starring: Sandra Kwan Yue Ng, Francis Ng, Yi Zhang
Release Date: 5 January 2018
"The Strange Ones," co-directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Mysterious events surround two travelers as they make their way across a remote American landscape. On the surface all seems normal, but what appears to be a simple vacation soon gives way to a dark and complex web of secrets.
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, James Freedson-Jackson, Emily Althaus
Release Date: 5 January 2018
"This Is Home," directed by Alexandra Shiva
Four Syrian families struggling to find their way in America.
Release Date: 20 January 2018
"Oh Lucy!," directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi
A lonely woman living in Tokyo decides to take an English class where she discovers her alter ego, Lucy.
Starring: Shinobu Terajima, Josh Hartnett, Kaho Minami
Release Date: 2 March 2018 (limited)
SOURCES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
What woman-directed films you're looking forward to this year, ONTD? What have you seen so far?
APRIL
“Blockers”, directed by Kay Cannon
Three parents try to stop their daughters from having sex on Prom night.
Starring: Kathryn Newton, John Cena, Leslie Mann
Release Date: 6 April 2018
“You Were Never Really Here," Directed by Lynne Ramsay
A traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Dante Pereira-Olson, Larry Canady
Release Date: 6 April 2018
“The Rider,” directed by Chloe Zhao
After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.
Starring: Brady Jandreau, Tim Jandreau, Lilly Jandreau
Release Date: 13 April 2018
JUNE
"Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist," Directed by Lorna Tucker
The first film to encompass the remarkable story of one of the true icons of our time, as she fights to maintain her brand's integrity, her principles - and her legacy.
Release Date: 15 June 2018
"Valley Girl,” Directed by Rachel Goldenberg
Set to a new wave '80s soundtrack, a pair of young lovers from different backgrounds defy their parents and friends to stay together. A musical adaptation of the 1983 film.
Starring: Mae Whitman, Peyton List, Chloe Bennet
Release Date: 29 June 2018
AUGUST
"The Darkest Minds,” directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
After a disease kills 98% of America's children, the surviving 2% develop superpowers and are placed in internment camps. A 16-year-old girl escapes her camp and joins a group of other teens on the run from the government.
Starring: Mandy Moore, Amandla Stenberg
Release Date: 3 August 2018
OCTOBER
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” - Directed by Marielle Heller
When bestselling celebrity biographer, Lee Israel, is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend, Jack.
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Anna Deavere Smith, Alice Kremelberg
Release Date: 19 October 2018
NOVEMBER
“Mary, Queen of Scots,” directed by Josie Rourke
Mary Stuart's attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, finds her condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution.
Starring: Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, David Tennant
Release Date: 2 November 2018
RELEASE DATES UNKNOWN
“Fast Color,” directed by Julia Hart
A woman is forced to go on the run when her superhuman abilities are discovered. Years after having abandoned her family, the only place she has left to hide is home.
Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Strathairn, Lorraine Toussaint
Release date: was shown at SXSW film festival on March 10
"I Am Not a Witch," directed by Rungano Nyoni
Following a banal incident in her local village, 8-year old girl Shula is accused of witchcraft. After a short trial she is found guilty, taken into state custody and exiled to a witch camp in the middle of a desert.
Starring: Benfors 'Wee Do, Boyd Banda, Kalundu Banda
“The Nightingale,” directed by Jennifer Kent
1820s Tasmania. A young Irish convict woman seeking revenge for the murder of her family, takes an Aboriginal male tracker with her through the interior and gets much more than she bargained for.
Starring: Sam Claflin, Aisling Franciosi, Damon Herriman
“Out of Blue,” directed by Carol Morley
When Detective Mike Hoolihan is called to investigate the shooting of leading astrophysicist and black hole expert, Jennifer Rockwell, she is affected in ways she struggles to comprehend.
Starring: Toby Jones, James Caan, Patricia Clarkson
Release Date: 2018 (UK)
“Vita & Virginia,” directed by Chanya Button
It's the fascinating true story about the love affair between socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf.
Starring: Elizabeth Debicki, Gemma Arterton, Isabella Rossellini
Release Date: 2018 (UK)
MOVIES YOU CAN FIND NOW (at least you should be able to)
"Goldbuster," directed by Sandra Ng
A quirky internet star, a pair of retired gangsters, and the black sheep of a prolific family of herbalists are a few of the oddball tenants that call the dilapidated apartments of Humble Grove home. Fearful of being locked out by a ruthless property developer with his eye on the building, they've stayed inside for years. So, when supernatural incidents befall them all on one night, instead of running, they turn to flamboyant ghost hunter Golden Ling to perform a most unusual exorcism.
Starring: Sandra Kwan Yue Ng, Francis Ng, Yi Zhang
Release Date: 5 January 2018
"The Strange Ones," co-directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Mysterious events surround two travelers as they make their way across a remote American landscape. On the surface all seems normal, but what appears to be a simple vacation soon gives way to a dark and complex web of secrets.
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, James Freedson-Jackson, Emily Althaus
Release Date: 5 January 2018
"This Is Home," directed by Alexandra Shiva
Four Syrian families struggling to find their way in America.
Release Date: 20 January 2018
"Oh Lucy!," directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi
A lonely woman living in Tokyo decides to take an English class where she discovers her alter ego, Lucy.
Starring: Shinobu Terajima, Josh Hartnett, Kaho Minami
Release Date: 2 March 2018 (limited)
SOURCES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
What woman-directed films you're looking forward to this year, ONTD? What have you seen so far?