For the past couple of years I’ve compiled an annual list of movies that are directed or written by women. This year is hard to predict, but here’s a preliminary list to get 2021 off to a good start. I’ll be updating every few weeks. Judging from how much the dates have changed in just the past few weeks I’m guessing these will move around a lot over the course of the year.
Updated: 9/21/21
JANUARY
Shadow in the Cloud Director: Roseanne Liang (Jan 1)
Pieces of a Woman Writer: Kata Weber (Netflix: Jan 7)
Herself Director: Phyllida Lloyd, Writers: Malcolm Campbell and Clare Dunne (Amazon Prime: Jan 8)
Double Dad Director: Cris D’Amato (Netflix: Jan 15)
Love Sarah Director: Eliza Schroeder (Jan 15)
One Night in Miami Director: Regina King (Amazon Prime: Jan 15 )
Identifying Features Director: Fernanda Valdez, Writer: Valdez & Astrid Rondero (Jan 22)
Our Friend Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Jan 22)
Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time Director: Lili Horvát (Jan 22)
Spoor Director: Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik (Jan 22)
The Go-Go’s Director: Alison Ellwood (Jan 24)
Beginning Writer & Director: Dea Kulumbegashvili (Jan 29)
The Dig Writer: Moira Buffini (Netflix: Jan 29)
Palmer Writer: Cheryl Guerriero (Jan 29)
FEBRUARY
Dear Comrades Co-writer: Elena Kiseleva (w/ director Andrey Konchalovskiy (Hulu: Feb 5)
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Writers: Annie Mumolo, Kristin Wiig (Feb 12)
Breaking News in Yuba County Writer: Amanda Idoko (Feb 12)
I Blame Society Writer & Director Gillian Wallace Horvat (Feb 12)
RUTH: Justice Ginsberg in her own Words Director: Freida Lee Mock (Feb 12)
Saint Maud Writer & Director: Rose Glass (Feb 12)
To All the Boys, Always and Forever Writers: Jenny Han & Katie Lovejoy (Netflix: Feb 12)
The World to Come Director: Mona Fastvold (Feb 12)
Food Club Director: Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg, Writer: Anne-Marie Olesen (Feb 19)
Nomadland Director: Chloé Zhao, based on the book by Jessica Bruder (Hulu: Feb 19)
Test Pattern Writer & Director: Shatara Michelle Ford (Feb 19)
My Zoe Writer & Director: Julie Delpy (Feb 26)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday Writer: Suzan Lori-Parks (Hulu: Feb 26)
MARCH
Sophie Jones Writer & Director: Jessie Barr (Mar 3)
Moxie Director: Amy Poehler, Writer: Tamara Chestnut, Jennifer Mathieu (Netflix: Mar 3)
Land Director: Robin Wright (VOD Mar 5)
My Salinger Year Writer & Director Philippe Falardeau, based on Joanna Smith Rakoff’s novel (Mar 5)
Raya and the Last Dragon Writer: Adele Lim (Disney+ Mar 5)
Cherry Writers: Angela Russo-Otstot & Jessica Goldberg (Apple+ Mar 12)
APRIL
Hysterical Director: Andrea Blaugrand Neins (Apr 2)
Madame Claude Writer & Director: Sylvie Verheyde (Apr 2)
Shiva Baby Writer & Director: Emma Seligman (Apr 2)
Sugar Daddy Director: Wendy Morgan Writer: Kelly McCormack (Apr 6)
Slalom Writer & Director: Charlene Favier (Apr 9)
My Wonderful Wanda Writer & Director Bettina Oberli (Apr 23)
Together Together Writer & Director: Nikole Beckwith (Apr 23)
Things Heard & Seen Writers & Directors: Shari Springer Bergman & Robert Puccini (Netflix: Apr 29)
Golden Arm Director: Maureen Bharoocha, Writers: Ann Marie Alison, Jenna Milly (Apr 30)
MAY
Mainstream Writer & Director: Gia Coppola (May 7)
Paper Spiders Writer: Natalie Shampanier (May 7)
Dance of the 41 Writer: Monika Revilla (May 12)
Oxygen Writer: Christine LeBlance (Netflix: May 12)
The Perfect Candidate Writer & Director: Haifa Al-Monsour (May 14)
What Lies West Writer & Director: Jessica Ellis (VOD May 21)
Baggio: The Divine Ponytail Director: Letizia Lamarire (May 26)
Cruella Writers: Dana Fox, Kelly Marcel and Aline Brosh McKenna (May 28)
Plan B Director: Natalie Morales (May 28)
JUNE
Port Authority Writer & Director: Danielle Lessovitz (June 1)
Dancing Queens Writer & Director: Helena Bergstrom (Netflix: June 3)
Tragic Jungle Director: Yulene Olaizola (Netflix: June 9)
India Sweets and Spices Writer & Director Geeta Malik (TFF: June 10)
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres Director: Suzanne Kai (TFF: June 10)
As of Yet Written & Directed: Chanel James and Taylor Garron (TFF: June 11)
Holler Writer & Director: Nicole Riegel (June 11)
In The Heights Writer: Quiara Alegría Hudes (June 11)
Mark, Mary & Some Other People Writer & Director Hannah Marks. (TFF: June 11)
Skater Girl Writer & Director: Manjari Makijany (Netflix: June 11)
Roaring 20’s Director: Elisabeth Vogler (TFF: June 12)
No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics Director: Vivian Kleiman (TFF: June 13)
The Novice Director: Lauren Hadaway (TFF: June 13)
Perfume de Gardenias Writer & Director Macha Colón (TFF: June 13)
Simple as Water Director: Megan Mylan (TFF: June 20)
The Ballad of a White Cow Directors: Behtash Sanaeeha & Maryam Moghaddam (TFF: June 21)
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For it Director: Mariem Pérez Riera (June 21)
Good on Paper Director: Kimmy Gatewood, Writer: Iliza Schlesinger (Netflix: June 23)
Murder by the Coast Writer & Director: Tània Balló (Netflix: June 23)
Sisters on Track Directors: Tone Grøttjord-Glenne & Corinne van der Borch (Netflix: June 24)
Asia Writer & Director: Ruthy Pribar (June 25)
False Positive Co-writer: Ilana Glazer (Hulu: June 25)
I Carry You With Me Director: Heidi Ewing (June 26)
Wonder Boy Writer & Director: Anissa Bonnefont (Netflix: June 26)
Zola Writer & Director: Janicza Bravo (June 30)
JULY
Werewolves Within Writer: Mishna Wolff (July 2)
Black Widow Director: Cate Shortland (July 9)
The Evening Hour Writer: Elizabeth Palmore (July 13)
Ailey Director: Jamila Wignot (July 16)
How It Ends Directors: Zoe Lister Jones and Daryl Wein (July 20)
Charlatan Director: Agnieszka Holland (July 23)
Jolt Director Tanya Wexler (July 23)
The Last Letter From Your Lover Director: Augustine Frizzell (July 23)
Enemies of the State Director: Sonia Kennebeck (July 30)
Fully Realized Humans Writers: Joshua Leonard and Jess Weixler (July 30)
Lorelei Writer & Director: Sabrina Doyle (July 30)
Never Gonna Snow Again Directors: Malgorzata Szumowska & Michal Englert (July 30)
AUGUST
Hotel Transylvania 4 Directors: Derek Drymon, Jennifer Kluska (Aug 6)
The Macaluso Sisters Writer & Director: Emma Dante (Aug 6)
CODA Writer & Director: Sian Heder (Apple + Aug 13)
Respect Director: Liesl Tommy, Writer: Tracey Scott Wilson (Aug 13)
Habit Director: Janelle Shirtcliff Writers: Libby Mintz and Janelle Shirtcliff (Aug 20)
Ma Belle, My Beauty Writer & Director: Marion Hill (Aug 20)
Rare Beasts Writer & Director: Billie Piper (Aug 20)
Reminiscence Writer & Director: Lisa Joy (HBO Max: Aug 20)
Candyman Director: Nia DaCosta (Aug 27)
SEPTEMBER
Cinderella Writer & Director Kay Cannon (Sept 3)
Faya Dayi Director: Jessica Beshir (Sept 3)
Worth Director: Sara Colangelo (Netflix: Sept 3)
Language Lessons Director: Natalie Morales (Sept 10)
The Mad Women’s Ball Director: Mélanie Laurent (Sept 17)
The Nowhere Inn Writers: Carrie Brownstein and Annie Clari (Sept 17)
Birds of Paradise Director: Sarah Adina Smith (Sept 24)
I’m Your Man Director: Maria Schrader (Sept 24)
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Directors: Kristina Lindstrom & Kristian Petri (Sept 24)
OCTOBER
Maternal Writer & Director: Maura Delpero (Oct 1)
Mayday Writer & Director: Karen Cinorre (Oct 1)
Titane Writer & Director: Julia Ducournau (Oct 1)
Fruits of Labor Director: Emily Cohen Ibañez (PBS Docs: Oct 4)
Ascension Director: Jessica Kingson (Oct 8)
Jacinta Director: Jessica Earnshaw (Oct 8)
El Planeta Writer & Director: Amalia Ulman (Oct 8)
Fever Dream Writer & Director: Claudia Llosa (Netflix: Oct 13)
Bergman Island Writer & Director: Mia Hansen-Løve (Oct 15)
Freeland Directors: Mario Furloni and Kate McLean (Oct 15; VOD Nov 19)
Introducing, Selma Blair Director: Rachel Fleit (Oct 15)
The Last Duel Writers: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon & Nicole Holofcener (Oct 15)
Found Director: Amanda Lipitz (Netflix: Oct 20)
Introducing, Selma Blair Director: Rachel Fleit (Oct 21)
Becoming Costeau Director: Liz Garbus (Oct 22)
A Mouthful of Air Writer & Director: Amy Koppelman (Oct 29)
Last Night in Soho Writers: Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Edgar Wright (Oct 29)
The Souvenir: Part II Writer & Director: Joanna Hogg (Oct 29)
Petite Maman Writer and Director: Celine Sciamma (Fall 2021)
NOVEMBER
All Is Forgiven Writer & Director: Mia Hansen-Løve (Nov 5)
Eternals Director: Chloé Zhao (Nov 5)
Hive Writer & Director: Blerta Basholli (Nov 5)
Julia Directors: Julie Cohen and Betsy West (Nov 5)
Mark, Mary, and Some Other People Writer & Director Hannah Marks (In theaters & VOD: Nov 5)
Sunken Roads: Three Generations After D-Day Director: Charlotte Juergens (Nov 5)
Violet Writer & Director: Justine Bateman (Nov 5)
Passing Writer & Director: Rebecca Hall, based the novel by Nella Larsen (Netflix: Nov 10)
Mothering Sunday Director: Eva Husson, Writer: Alice Birch, based on Graham Swift’s novel (Nov 19)
Bruised Director: Halle Berry, Writer: Michelle Rosenfarb (Netflix: Nov 24)
Encanto Writers: Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith (Nov 24)
DECEMBER
Beauty Writer: Lena Waithe (Netflix: Dec 1)
The Power of the Dog Director: Jane Campion (Netflix: Dec 1)
Try Harder! Director: Debbie Lum (Dec 3)
Wolf Director: Nathalie Biancheri (Dec 3)
The Unforgivable Director: Nora Fingscheidt (Netflix: Dec 10)
The Novice Writer & Director: Lauren Hadaway (Dec 17)
The Lost Daughter Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal, based on the novel by Elena Ferrante (Netflix: Dec 31)
2022 (and beyond)
The 355 Writers: Simon Kinberg and Theresa Rebeck (Jan 14)
Marry Me Director: Kat Coiro (Feb 11)
Turning Red Writer & Director Domee Shi (Mar 11)
The Nightingale Director: Melanie Laurent (Dec 23)
Red, White and Water Director: Lila Neubegauer
Catherine, Called Birdy Director: Lena Dunham
Don’t Worry Darling Director: Oliva Wilde
Hatching Director: Hanna Bergholm (2022)
Here Before Writer & Director: Stacey Gregg
Sharp Stick Writer & Director: Lena Dunham
The Sky Is Everywhere Director: Josephine Decker, Writer: Jandy Nelson (Apple TV+)
The Survivor Writer: Justine Juel Gillmer
