Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program Returns for Eleventh Edition

Esteemed 2026 Jury Features Meg Ryan, Halle Berry, Regina King, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and Ella Rubin

Mentors Include Celine Song, Aleshea Harris, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Fala Chen, and Gina Prince-Bythewood

Conversation Leaders: H.E.R., Laura Karpman, Miyako Bellizzi, Patty Jenkins, Cassandra Kulukundis, and Riva Marker

Tribeca Enterprises and CHANEL announce the eleventh edition of THROUGH HER LENS: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program, taking place September 22–24 in New York City. Each year, the artist development initiative convenes emerging filmmakers, a distinguished jury, and leading industry voices for three days of workshops, conversations, and mentorship designed to amplify the voices of women and non-binary artists.

Founded in 2015 by Tribeca and CHANEL, THROUGH HER LENS empowers U.S.-based women and non-binary filmmakers with funding, creative support, and hands-on development opportunities. Over three days, participants take part in intimate mentor-led sessions spanning script development, directing, music composition, and costume design, while refining their projects before delivering a live pitch to an expert jury. One team is awarded full financing to produce their short film with support from Tribeca Studios, while four additional teams receive development grants.

Established in 2023, the program’s Advisory Committee helps guide its evolution by bringing on new collaborators and supporting participating filmmakers. Members include Tribeca Enterprises Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Board Jane Rosenthal, Lucy Liu, Tessa Thompson, Olivia Wilde, Jane Fonda, Patty Jenkins, Laura Karpman, A.V. Rockwell, Kerry Washington, and Teyana Taylor.

Over the past eleven years, THROUGH HER LENS has made a significant impact on the industry. 50 short films have been developed through the workshop, with ten fully-funded winning films. Films have premiered at major festivals like Sundance and TIFF and have secured distribution through platforms such as Max, Searchlight, and Criterion. Alumni of the program have gone on to direct critically acclaimed projects, including A.V. Rockwell’s A THOUSAND AND ONE, Numa Perrier’s THE PERFECT FIND, Nikyatu Jusu’s NANNY, and Hannah Peterson’s VIA NEGATIVA.

2026 Industry Leaders:

Jurors:

Golden Globe®–nominated actress Meg Ryan ( WHEN HARRY MET SALLY; SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE; YOU’VE GOT MAIL ); Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and Emmy Award–winning actress Halle Berry ( MONSTER’S BALL; INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE ); Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and Emmy Award–winning actress Regina King ( IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK; WATCHMEN; AMERICAN CRIME ); Academy Award®-winning and Emmy Award–nominated cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw ( SINNERS; THE LAST SHOWGIRL ); actress Ella Rubin ( STERLING POINT; ANORA )

Mentors:

Academy Award® and Golden Globe®-nominated writer and director Celine Song ( PAST LIVES; MATERIALISTS ); writer and director Aleshea Harris ( IS GOD IS ); Emmy Award-winning producer Ellen Goldsmith-Vein ( THE MAZE RUNNER; PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS ); actress Fala Chen ( BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER; SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS ) ; Emmy Award–nominated writer and director Gina Prince-Bythewood ( THE WOMAN KING; LOVE & BASKETBALL )

Conversation Leaders:

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and actress H.E.R. ( THE COLOR PURPLE; JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH ); Academy Award®–nominated and Emmy Award–winning composer Laura Karpman ( AMERICAN FICTION ; CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD ); Academy Award®-nominated costume designer Miyako Bellizzi ( MARTY SUPREME; THE HISTORY OF SOUND ); Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Patty Jenkins ( WONDER WOMAN ; MONSTER ); Academy Award®-winning casting director Cassandra Kulukundis ( ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER; THE BRUTALIST ); producer Riva Marker ( IS GOD IS; BEASTS OF NO NATION; REALITY )

Through Her Lens Advisory Committee:

Academy Award® and Emmy Award-nominated and PGA Award-winning producer and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Board of Tribeca Enterprises Jane Rosenthal ( THE IRISHMAN, WHEN THEY SEE US; BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY) ; Academy Award®–winning actor and activist Jane Fonda ( KLUTE; ON GOLDEN POND ; BOOK CLUB ); Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Patty Jenkins ( WONDER WOMAN ; MONSTER ); Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy Award–winning composer Laura Karpman ( AMERICAN FICTION ; CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD ); Emmy Award–nominated and Screen Actors Guild Award®–winning actress, advocate, director, and producer Lucy Liu ( KILL BILL ; CHARLIE’S ANGELS ; ROSEMEAD ); director, writer, and producer A.V. Rockwell ( A THOUSAND AND ONE ); actress and producer Tessa Thompson ( CREED ; PASSING ; WESTWORLD ); Emmy Award–winning actress, producer, and activist Kerry Washington ( SCANDAL ; LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE ; UNPRISONED ); director, actress, producer, and activist Olivia Wilde ( DON’T WORRY DARLING ; BOOKSMART ); Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter and Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actress Teyana Taylor ( ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER; THE RIP )

2026 Selected Projects and Filmmakers:

BREAK

Jasmine J. Johnson (Director; Writer); Katy Wicker (Producer)

After her brutal wipeout goes viral, a young Black surfer is pushed to the breaking point as her hunger for public validation threatens the connection to the water that once made her feel free.

CAMOUFLAGE

Jinsui Song (Director; Writer); Shen Wei (Producer)

In 2007 Shenzhen, China during mandatory military training, an androgynous 11-year-old girl conducts her own secret experiment after being mistakenly placed in the boys’ unit.

COLD EMBRACE

Victoria Trow (Director; Writer); Sabina Friedman-Seitz (Producer)

When Ella is prescribed an emotional support python as a part of an experimental new therapy program, she discovers the animal’s primal instincts can treat more than just her anxiety.

COWARDS

Gem Little (Director; Writer); Kseniya Yorsh (Producer)

Eleven years old and transient, Diamond has been raised on the only tools her family knows, but over the course of a summer day in 1999 Chicago, a rift with her best friend tests everything she’s been taught about toughness.

GRIPPY SOCKS

Carlen May-Mann (Director; Writer); Cacá Montagnana (Producer)

After checking herself into the emergency room for suicidal ideation, Kate spends thirty-six bizarre and mundane hours in limbo until a surreal encounter makes her question whether she truly wants to die.

The world of film—from its boldest directors to its most compelling actors—has been deeply intertwined with the history of CHANEL since the House’s inception. Founder Gabrielle Chanel collaborated with leading filmmakers of her time, drawing inspiration from and supporting fellow creatives. Her legacy of championing women in the arts lives on through the brand’s ongoing commitment to uplifting female voices in film, exemplified by initiatives like THROUGH HER LENS and other longstanding industry partnerships. The partnership between CHANEL and Tribeca, which commenced in 2005, has been continually enriched over the past 20 years to help nourish women filmmakers with supportive programming year-round.

Tribeca Enterprises has long championed independent storytelling, with a strong focus on elevating the voices of women and non-binary filmmakers. THROUGH HER LENS: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program—a cornerstone of Tribeca’s dedication to nurturing new artistic voices—continues to provide resources, mentorship, and funding to empower the next generation of storytellers.

@Tribeca

#ThroughHerLens

#CHANELinCinema

About Tribeca Enterprises:

Tribeca Enterprises is a multi-platform media and entertainment company that owns and operates the Tribeca Festival, content division Tribeca Studios, film distribution label Tribeca Films, and production company m ss ng p eces. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Founded in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca Enterprises brings artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.

About CHANEL:

Chanel Limited is a private company and parent of the Chanel group, a world leader in creating, developing, manufacturing and distributing luxury products. Founded by Gabrielle Chanel at the beginning of the last century, Chanel offers a broad range of high-end creations, including Ready-to-Wear, Leather Goods, Fashion Accessories, Eyewear, Fragrances, Makeup, Skincare, Jewellery and Watches. Chanel is also renowned for its Haute Couture collections, presented twice yearly in Paris, and for having acquired a large number of specialised suppliers, collectively known as the Métiers d’art. Chanel is dedicated to ultimate luxury and to the highest level of craftsmanship. It is a brand whose core values remain historically grounded on exceptional creation. As such, Chanel promotes culture, art, creativity and “savoir-faire” throughout the world, and invests significantly in people, R&D, sustainable development and innovation. At the end of 2025, Chanel employed 38,000 people worldwide.