September 3rd, 2025 (Press Assets Available Here; Video Here)THROUGH HER LENS: THE TRIBECA CHANEL WOMEN'S FILMMAKER PROGRAM CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF SHAPING THE FUTURE OF FILM
Annual Three-Day Workshop Empowers Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers with Industry Mentorship, Funding, and Career-Launching Opportunities
Tribeca and CHANEL Announce 2025 Jury Featuring Kaitlyn Dever, Meghann Fahy, Allison Janney, Payal Kapadia, Issa Rae, and Jenny Slate
Esteemed Mentors Include Riva Marker, Sarah Paulson, Frida Perez, Constance Tsang, and Odessa Young
Conversation Leaders: Pamela Abdy, Colleen Atwood, Laura Karpman, Lucy Liu, and A.V. Rockwell
Lucy Liu, Tessa Thompson, and Olivia Wilde Join Prestigious Advisory Committee
NEW YORK, NY (September 3, 2025) - Tribeca and CHANEL announce the 10th edition of THROUGH HER LENS: The Tribeca CHANEL Women's Filmmaker Program, taking place September 16-18 in New York City. Now celebrating a milestone year, the signature artist development initiative marks a decade of cultivating a creative community that has expanded opportunity, opened doors, and empowered women filmmakers to shape the future of the industry.
Launched in 2015, THROUGH HER LENS champions U.S.-based women and non-binary filmmakers by providing funding, creative support, and hands-on development opportunities. Each year, the initiative brings together emerging filmmakers, a distinguished jury, and leading industry voices for three days of workshops, conversations, mentorship, and community-building. Participants take part in intimate mentor-led sessions spanning script development, directing, music composition, and costume design, and then refine 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.
The program's Advisory Committee, established in 2023, shapes its future by bringing on new collaborators and supporting participating filmmakers. This year, the committee welcomes three new members-Lucy Liu, Tessa Thompson, and Olivia Wilde-who join returning members Jane Fonda, Patty Jenkins, Laura Karpman, A.V. Rockwell, and Kerry Washington.
Through Her Lens isn't just a program - it's a community Tribeca and CHANEL have built with purpose, said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises. Throughout these ten years, we've created a space where women filmmakers champion each other's work, alumni open doors for one another, and belonging to this network truly means something in our industry. In partnership with CHANEL, we've been steadfast in our commitment to amplify voices that have always been here but too often go unheard. Through Her Lens is about consistency, perseverance, and meaningful change - the kind that shifts the very fabric of our culture at a moment when it's needed most.
Over the past decade, THROUGH HER LENS has made a significant impact on the industry. 45 short films have been developed through the workshop, with nine 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. Eight of the nine winning filmmakers are women of color, and over 70 percent of all participants are women or non-binary people of color. 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, and Nikyatu Jusu's NANNY.
2025 Industry Leaders:
JURORS:
Emmy -nominated actress Kaitlyn Dever (THE LAST OF US; DOPESICK; UNBELIEVABLE); Emmy-nominated actress Meghann Fahy (THE WHITE LOTUS; THE BOLD TYPE); Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning actress Allison Janney (I, TONYA; MOM; THE WEST WING); filmmaker and Cannes Grand Prix winner Payal Kapadia (A NIGHT OF KNOWING NOTHING; ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT); Emmy-nominated actress, writer, and producer Issa Rae (INSECURE; RAP SH!T; BARBIE); Emmy-nominated actress and comedian Jenny Slate (OBVIOUS CHILD; EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE).
MENTORS:
Producer Riva Marker (REALITY; BEASTS OF NO NATION); Emmy and Golden Globe -winning actress and producer Sarah Paulson (AMERICAN HORROR STORY; RATCHED; CAROL); producer Frida Perez (THE STUDIO; AN AMERICAN PICKLE; GOOD BOYS); filmmaker Constance Tsang (BLUE SUN PALACE); actress Odessa Young (THE STAIRCASE; SHIRLEY; MOTHERING SUNDAY).
CONVERSATION LEADERS:
Film executive Pamela Abdy (AIR; HOUSE OF GUCCI; JOKER); Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (FANTASTIC BEASTS; CHICAGO; MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA); Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpman (AMERICAN FICTION; CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD); Emmy-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).
THROUGH HER LENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Academy Award-winning actor and activist Jane Fonda (KLUTE; ON GOLDEN POND; BOOK CLUB); Emmy-nominated filmmaker Patty Jenkins (WONDER WOMAN; MONSTER); Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpman (AMERICAN FICTION; CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD); Emmy-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-winning actress, producer, and activist Kerry Washington (SCANDAL; LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE; UNPRISONED); director, actress, producer, and activist Olivia Wilde (DON'T WORRY DARLING; BOOKSMART).
2025 Selected Projects and Filmmakers:
BUDDY B
