The Writers Guild Foundation invites you to a special screening of Hedda presented by Amazon MGM Studios followed by a conversation and Q&A with writer and director Nia DaCosta at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.
A provocative reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, Hedda follows enigmatic newlywed Hedda (Tessa Thompson), who is outwardly composed but hiding a simmering discontent that threatens to explode when the brilliant and charismatic Eileen Lovberg (Nina Hoss) reenters her life. Over the course of a raucous party, the high and low of society endure the consequences of this dangerous and unknowable woman yearning for a past love. What ensues is a ruthless game of manipulation, where lust, jealousy, and betrayal collide. Written and directed by Nia DaCosta, Hedda is a daring exploration of power, desire, and a woman’s refusal to be confined.
Doors open at 6:30PM. Screening starts at 7PM. A conversation and Q&A with Nia DaCosta immediately follows.
RSVP for free or with a suggested donation. Your donation makes future programs possible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at events@wgfoundation.org.
Presenting Sponsor
About the Panelist
Photo Credit: Meg Young
Nia DaCosta is one of the freshest and most in-demand voices in Hollywood having written and directed projects for stage, film and television.
Currently, DaCosta is in post-production on 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE, starring Cillian Murphy, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes, among many others. The film is the fourth installment of the 28 YEARS LATER series and was written by Alex Garland.
Up next, Nia will direct HEDDA, a reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s famous play “Hedda Gabler”, for MGM’s Orion Pictures and Plan B. The film, which Nia also wrote and will produce, stars Tessa Thompson as the title character.
Most recently, Nia directed and co-wrote the highly anticipated CAPTAIN MARVEL sequel, THE MARVELS, making her the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Studios picture and the youngest person to direct a film for the studio. The superhero film, starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, was released in theaters on November 10, 2023. In 2021, Nia directed and co-wrote the Universal Studios feature film CANDYMAN. Produced by Oscar-winner Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, the film is a contemporary spiritual sequel of the 1992 cult horror classic of the same name, dealing with the power—and perils—of storytelling, while highlighting timely issues of gentrification, racial profiling and race-based violence. CANDYMAN, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, and Colman Domingo, was released on August 27, 2021 and debuted at #1 at the box office, receiving overwhelming critical acclaim.
Her debut feature, LITTLE WOODS, was developed through the Sundance Institute and starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James. The film dealt with real-world topics including access to health care, poverty and criminal justice through the story of two estranged sisters who must work outside the law to better their lives. It premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by Neon in 2019, earning a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In television, she previously directed two episodes of the third season of the Netflix revival, TOP BOY. Nia also worked as a writer for the HBO series INDUSTRY with U.K.'s Bad Wolf. Nia received a BFA in Film and Television from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and a MA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
She currently resides in London.