TRIBECA AND CHANEL ANNOUNCE RECIPIENT OF 2017 PRODUCTION FUNDS FROM THROUGH HER LENS: THE TRIBECA CHANEL WOMEN'S FILMMAKER PROGRAM October 19th, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Images from cocktail reception: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c1c7g6ynv3v5qu3/AAB8G9FqxAiAiprz5Woxd_8Na?dl=0
Headshots: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tfpkonc00e7ffl7/AACidA8Z_LmY_azQvAHW5zEIa?dl=0
TRIBECA AND CHANEL ANNOUNCE RECIPIENT OF PRODUCTION FUNDS FROM THROUGH HER LENS: THE TRIBECA CHANEL WOMEN'S FILMMAKER PROGRAM
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RACHEL WEISZ, MIRA NAIR, AND PAULA WEINSTEIN AWARD SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT FROM NIKYATU JUSU AND R. SHANEA WILLIAMS FULL PRODUCTION FUNDS ALONG WITH SUPPORT FROM TRIBECA STUDIOS
NEW YORK, NY- October 19, 2017-Tribeca Enterprises and CHANEL concluded the third annual THROUGH HER LENS: The Tribeca Chanel Womens Filmmaker Program, announcing the recipient who will receive full production funding for her original short film at a cocktail reception this evening in Tribeca. Nikyatu Jusu and R. Shanea Williams were selected by the jury to receive the production grant, along with production support from Tribeca Studios. In addition, the other four writer/directors in the program each received a development grant to support continued work on their respective films to bring them closer to production. A total of $100,000 in filmmaker grants was awarded amongst the five projects.
Following an intensive, three-day workshop, the filmmakers from the five projects selected pitched their projects to a jury comprised of: director/producer Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, Queen of Katwe), producer Paula Weinstein (Grace and Frankie, The Perfect Storm, Recount), and actor/producer Rachel Weisz (Disobedience, The Lobster, The Constant Gardner, My Cousin Rachel).
At Tribeca we are always looking for ways to empower and support women in our industry. Its not enough to talk about what needs to be done. We need to actually do it, said Paula Weinstein, EVP of Tribeca Enterprises. We have had an inspiring three days with these remarkable women working
to hone their projects and pitches. We congratulate director/writer Nikyatu Jusu and her co-writer R. Shanea Williams and thank all the filmmakers and women in the industry who came together to support THROUGH HER LENS: The Tribeca Chanel Womens Filmmaker Program.
The caliber of all five scripts was hugely impressive as was each presentation. We feel certain that each will be made as the confidence and vision of the filmmakers was apparent and inspiring. We look forward to this full female creative assault to come on the industry, said Mira Nair and Rachel Weisz. We selected a project that turned a familiar genre on its head in a unique way, filling it with emotion, drama and mystery.
Suicide by Sunlight, written by Nikyatu Jusu and R. Shanea Williams, is about Valentina, a day-walking Black vampire protected from the sun by her melanin, who finds it difficult to suppress her bloodlust when a new woman is brought around her estranged twin daughters.
We are so thankful that Tribeca and CHANEL are supporting urgent and much needed voices, said Nikyatu Jusu and R. Shanea Williams. We are excited to explore the intersectionality of social issues and genre through the lens of black vampires daywalking in NYC.
The announcement wraps up a powerful program, presented by Tribeca and CHANEL, in collaboration with Pulse Films, and facilitated by Tribeca Film Institute (TFI), which offered the participants project support, one-on-one mentorship, peer-to-peer sessions, and master classes on directing, costume design, composing, producing, and the actor/director relationship. The five women writers/directors selected for the program were:
Marianne Amelinckx with Vuela and producer Claudia Lepage
Nicole Emanuele with Wingmen
Myna Joseph with No Fault with producer Amy Lo
Nikyatu Jusu with Suicide by Sunlight with co-writer R. Shanea Williams
Anna Zlokovic with Girl Wants Magic with producer Heather Grehan
The leadership committee for the program, in addition to the jury, included the following:
MASTER CLASS ADVISORS: writer/director Amma Asante MBE (Belle, A United Kingdom, Where Hands Touch), actor Dakota Fanning (The Alienist, Brimstone, The Runaways), producer Donna Gigliotti (Hidden Figures, Silver Linings Playbook, Shakespeare in Love), composer Laura Karpman (Paris Can Wait, Underground), producer Riva Marker (Stronger, Beasts of No Nation), and costume designer Sandy Powell (Wonderstruck, Carol, The Aviator).
MENTORS: producer Caroline Baron (Mozart in the Jungle, Capote, Monsoon Wedding), writer/executive producer Ilene Chaiken (The L Word, Empire, The Handmaids Tale), writer Leslie Dixon (Mrs. Doubtfire, Limitless, Hairspray), casting director Ellen Lewis (Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Irishman), actor Elizabeth Olsen (Wind River, Ingrid Goes West, Avengers: Infinity War), and producer Celine Rattray (The Kids Are All Right, American Honey).
WRITING MENTORS: producer Effie T. Brown (FOXs Star, Dear White People, Project Greenlight), producer Lucy Fisher (The Great Gatsby, Memoirs of a Geisha, the Divergent Series), president of TriStar Hannah Minghella (Trainspotting 2, Baby Driver), and director/writer/producer Robin Swicord (The Jane Austen Book Club, Memoirs of a Geisha, Little Women).
Since its inception, Tribeca has actively cultivated independent voices in storytelling and has been at the forefront of supporting women filmmakers, especially through awards such as the Nora Ephron Prize. This past year, CHANEL became the presenting partner of the award, expanding its initiatives to support female filmmakers. Awarded during the annual Tribeca Film Festival, the prize was created in 2013 to honor exceptional female filmmakers who embody the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker. Women who have received the award include: Mee
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TRIBECA AND CHANEL ANNOUNCE RECIPIENT OF 2017 PRODUCTION FUNDS FROM THROUGH HER LENS: THE TRIBECA CHANEL WOMEN'S FILMMAKER PROGRAM October 19th, 2017 
