Author: Valerie Kalfrin

Documentaries, End of the Year Recap, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Reviews, Women in Film, World Cinema

Personal Best: ITOL’s Favorite Films of 2022

A year’s end inspires memories, contemplation, aspirations—and for critics, talk about which films we loved and which ones we missed. As 2022 winds down, the ITOL team raises a toast to our personal favorites, from a mother’s fight for justice and a father-daughter sojourn to fierce pursuits of agency, pleasure, identity, and power. The films below (more than 50, with links to our writers’ reviews … Continue reading Personal Best: ITOL’s Favorite Films of 2022

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Film Festivals, LGBTQ Cinema, Streaming

The Lineup: Films We’re Eyeing in October

By Tom Moore and Joan Ammen October brims with two big things for film: horror movies and major film festival appearances. This October is no different, with new female-directed horror films set to hit streaming services, theaters, and festivals (including one being released after first appearing at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival). There are also some noteworthy film festival debuts with new films from prominent … Continue reading The Lineup: Films We’re Eyeing in October

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A black woman in her fifties stands on a battlefield at night in African dress. She wears a sword at her waist and a fierce look.
Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, LGBTQ Cinema, Streaming

The Lineup: Films We’re Eyeing in September

By Valerie Kalfrin and Tom Moore This month, In Their Own League launches a new feature, “The Lineup,” a listing of films released this month featuring underrepresented stories, women directors, and where you can view them. Click through to find the trailers, courtesy of IMDB.com. – Joan Amenn, Editor in Chief As we head into a jam-packed fall movie season filled with plenty of big … Continue reading The Lineup: Films We’re Eyeing in September

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A white woman in her thirties stands in a warehouse with a blurred background. Her brown hair is pulled back. She wears a gray tank top and has a brown shoulder bag.
Female Characters, Film Reviews, Reviews, Women in Film

Review: “Emily the Criminal”

Year: 2022 Runtime: 97 minutes Director: John Patton Ford Writer: John Patton Ford Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Jonathan Avigdori, Gina Gershon, Bernardo Badillo, and Megalyn Echikunwoke By Valerie Kalfrin Unflinching and unapologetic, the taut crime drama “Emily the Criminal” shows a woman on the wrong side of the law who digs herself in further through desperation, frustration, and especially anger. Aubrey Plaza (“Black Bear,” … Continue reading Review: “Emily the Criminal”

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A white woman in her thirties with shoulder-length blonde hair stands at home plate. She holds a baseball bat, wears a uniform and blue ballcap, and has a determined look.
Activism, Female Characters, Feminism, Women in Film, Women in Television

“Maybe I can take up this space in the world”: Geena Davis on “A League of Their Own” and helping others be seen

Feminist pop culture icon and activist Geena Davis reflects on how “A League of Their Own” and other roles gave her confidence and purpose. Continue reading “Maybe I can take up this space in the world”: Geena Davis on “A League of Their Own” and helping others be seen

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