Overview
Shatterbox is a short film anthology program that commissioned original short films from women directors. Launched in August 2016 by Refinery29 (the digital media company focused on young women), the program produced over 20 short films across four seasons. It was created in direct response to the persistent underrepresentation of women behind the camera in Hollywood and independent film, following USC Annenberg research showing no change in the number of women and minority directors in the industry from 2001 to 2016.
The program is currently dormant. No new seasons have been announced since Season 4, and there is no evidence of active commissioning as of 2026. Refinery29's parent company, Vice Media, went through bankruptcy proceedings in 2023, which likely contributed to the program's inactivity. The existing Shatterbox films remain available on Refinery29's website and TNT's digital platforms.
How the Program Worked
Shatterbox operated as a commission-based program, not an open application grant. The selection process involved:
- Talent sourcing: Refinery29 sourced filmmakers through partnerships with the Sundance Institute's Women at Sundance program, industry agents, and direct outreach. The initial Sundance partnership provided a pool of 70 possible filmmakers.
- Proposal submission: Interested filmmakers submitted proposals to Refinery29's scripted programming team.
- Development and vetting: The Refinery29 team (led by Chief Content Officer Amy Emmerich and Executive Producer Shannon Gibson, with producer Kate Bolger) vetted proposals over several months, working hands-on with selected filmmakers on story development.
- Production: Selected directors received production funding to make their short film, with Refinery29 serving as producer and distributor.
- Distribution: Completed films debuted on Refinery29's website and digital platforms, with additional distribution through TNT (Season 2 onward) and Comcast's Watchable streaming service.
Because Shatterbox was commission-based rather than an open grant, there was no public application form or deadline. Filmmakers were invited into the program through industry relationships and the Sundance Institute partnership.
What It Funded
Shatterbox provided full production funding for short narrative films commissioned from selected women directors. Each short went through development, production, and post-production with Refinery29's involvement. The production budget covered all stages of filmmaking.
The program explicitly aimed for genre diversity, rejecting the tendency to pigeonhole women directors into specific genres. Shatterbox films spanned sci-fi, comedy, drama, documentary, horror, and experimental forms. The program's thesis was that the shortage of women directors in mainstream film is a pipeline problem, and that commissioning short films provides a mechanism for women to demonstrate their feature potential.
Partnership History
Season 1 (2016-2017): Refinery29 + Sundance Institute
Launched at Sundance in January 2016, with the first films debuting in August 2016. 12 films were planned, with one new film released each month. The first project announced was Chloë Sevigny's directorial debut Kitty, which premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Season 2 (2017-2018): Refinery29 + TNT
TNT partnered with Refinery29 for Season 2, expanding distribution to TNT's linear, app, and on-demand platforms. The season launched at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. Season 2 directors included Yara Shahidi, Gillian Jacobs, Jessica Sanders, A.M. Lukas, Allana Harkin, Gilly Barnes, Ivy Agregan, and Janine Sherman Barrois. The partnership gave Shatterbox filmmakers potential opportunities to develop projects for TNT.
Seasons 3-4 (2019-2020): Refinery29 + Level Forward
Level Forward (the startup studio founded by Abigail Disney, focused on projects from underrepresented voices) partnered for Seasons 3 and 4. Chloë Sevigny returned for Season 3 with White Echo, which was selected to screen at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or. The partnership introduced a Gun Neutral pledge: for every prop gun in a Shatterbox film, a budget line item was created to fund organizations that destroy illegal firearms and support youth STEAM programs in areas affected by gun violence.
Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money
Shatterbox commissioned films from directors across a wide range of experience levels, from first-time directors to established names:
- Chloë Sevigny: Directed Kitty (Season 1, premiered Cannes 2016) and White Echo (Season 3, competed for Short Film Palme d'Or at Cannes 2019)
- Kristen Stewart: Directed Come Swim (Season 1, premiered Sundance 2017). Stewart's directorial debut.
- Gabourey Sidibe: Directed a short in Season 1. The actress made her directorial debut through the program.
- Yara Shahidi: Directed X (Season 2), a modern take on The Red Balloon following a young Black kid in Los Angeles
- Gillian Jacobs: Directed Curated (Season 2), starring Ahna O'Reilly and Danny Pudi
- Courtney Hoffman: Directed Good Time Girls (Season 1). Hoffman was subsequently slated to direct Steven Spielberg's Ruthless, making her one of the program's most commercially successful alumni
- Anu Valia: Directed Lucia, Before and After (Season 1, premiered Sundance 2017)
- Tiffany Shlain: Directed 50/50 Project (Season 1), a documentary exploring women in power
- Pamela Romanowsky: Directed Watching You, Watching Me (Season 1), the first film released in the anthology
- Meera Menon: Directed The Statement (Season 1), about a Cuban American conservative running for office
Track Record and Industry Impact
Three Shatterbox films were developed into features, including Good Time Girls by Courtney Hoffman, who was also slated to direct Steven Spielberg's upcoming film Ruthless. The program generated over 10 million views across all Refinery29 platforms, with Shatterbox films viewed 5.7 times more than average Refinery29 content.
Many Shatterbox alumni went on to direct episodes of major television series and feature films, validating the program's thesis that short film commissions can serve as a pipeline to larger directing opportunities.
Current Status
Shatterbox appears dormant. No new seasons or commission calls have been announced since Season 4 (approximately 2019-2020). Refinery29 was acquired by Vice Media in 2017, and Vice Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2023. Vice was subsequently acquired out of bankruptcy by Fortress Investment Group. The corporate instability likely contributed to the program's discontinuation, though no official announcement of closure has been made.
The existing Shatterbox films remain accessible on Refinery29's website. The Rotten Tomatoes listing and IMDb page remain active.
Alternatives for Women Directors Seeking Short Film Funding
Filmmakers who would have been a fit for Shatterbox should consider these active programs:
- Future of Film is Female Fund: Funding and support for women and gender-nonconforming filmmakers
- Etheria Film Festival: Festival and screening program focused on women genre filmmakers
- TNT's ongoing content development programs: TNT has continued investing in diverse director development outside of Shatterbox
- Sundance Institute Women at Sundance program: The program that originally partnered with Shatterbox continues to support women filmmakers independently
- Film Independent's Project Involve: Mentorship and short film production program for filmmakers from underrepresented communities
Who Would Have Applied
Women narrative directors at any career stage interested in the short film format who wanted both production support and immediate distribution to a large digital audience. Shatterbox was particularly valuable for directors building a narrative short credit to demonstrate storytelling range to feature film producers and television development executives. The program accepted both first-time directors and established filmmakers working in a new format, with the common requirement being a willingness to experiment within the short film form.
Typical Award Size Range
Shatterbox operated as a commission program, not a grant with published award amounts. The production budget per film was not publicly disclosed. Based on the program's output, each short film received full production funding covering development, shooting, and post-production.
Key characteristics of the funding:
- Funding type: Commission (not an open-application grant)
- Production budget: Not publicly disclosed, but covered all stages of filmmaking
- Distribution: Included as part of the commission (Refinery29 digital platforms, TNT, Comcast Watchable)
- No cash prize: Filmmakers received production funding and distribution, not a separate cash award
Because the program is dormant, these figures are historical. Filmmakers seeking comparable short film funding should consult the active alternatives listed below.
What Makes an Application Competitive
Shatterbox was commission-based rather than open-application, so "competitiveness" meant being selected through Refinery29's sourcing and vetting process. The program's selection criteria, based on how filmmakers were chosen and the types of projects funded, included:
- Demonstrated directing ability or transferable creative experience: Many Shatterbox directors were actors (Kristen Stewart, Chloë Sevigny, Gabourey Sidibe) or industry professionals transitioning to directing. The program valued a clear creative point of view, even without prior directing credits.
- Genre range and willingness to experiment: The program explicitly rejected pigeonholing women directors into drama alone. Films spanned sci-fi, horror, comedy, documentary, and experimental forms. A proposal that took a creative risk within the short film format was more likely to be selected.
- Story with a distinct visual or conceptual hook: Come Swim externalized heartbreak through surreal underwater imagery. Kitty transformed a girl into a kitten. Good Time Girls was a Western. The program favored projects with a strong, specific concept.
- Alignment with the program's mission: Shatterbox existed to address the underrepresentation of women directors. Filmmakers who could articulate how their short would demonstrate feature directing potential were stronger candidates.
- Industry relationships or Sundance partnership connection: The initial pool of 70 filmmakers came through the Sundance Institute's Women at Sundance program. Industry agents and direct outreach supplemented this. Being visible in the Sundance ecosystem or represented by an agent with Refinery29 connections was a practical pathway in.
Watch
See Also
For understanding how short film production connects to a feature film career, see Film Grants and the Development Pathway. For planning a short film production budget and timeline, use the Post Production Timeline Calculator. For related women filmmaker programs, see the Etheria Film Festival and Future of Film is Female Fund listings.
