Through Her Lens
A Tribeca and CHANEL partnership supporting emerging women filmmakers with up to $120,000 in grants, a three-day mentorship program, and project development support.
Overview
Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women's Filmmaker Program is a multifaceted three-day program that champions emerging and independent women writers and directors. A partnership between the Tribeca Festival and CHANEL, the program provides funding, project support, and dedicated mentorship to a cohort of five emerging women filmmakers selected each year.
The program awards a total of $120,000 or more in grants across its cohort. The selected participant who wins the top prize receives $120,000 to produce their short film along with specialised guidance and mentorship from Tribeca. The four additional participants each receive a $10,000 development prize to advance their projects.
What the Program Provides
The three-day program is intensive and multifaceted. Selected participants receive:
- Access to master classes with established women filmmakers and industry leaders
- Dedicated mentorship on their specific project from Tribeca's team and a broader leadership committee
- Project development support throughout and beyond the three-day event
- Cash grants ranging from $10,000 development prizes to the $120,000 production award
The program's leadership committee has historically included prominent women in film and the arts who contribute mentorship and industry perspective to the cohort. The combination of financial support, craft education, and professional networking makes this a genuinely comprehensive program rather than simply a grant competition.
Eligibility
Through Her Lens is designed for emerging women writers and directors. Projects should be short films at the development stage -- the production award funds a short film rather than a feature. Both narrative and documentary short film formats are considered depending on the year's focus.
Women filmmakers at the early stages of their careers who have a strong short film project and want both financial support and immersive industry mentorship should apply.
Who Should Apply
Emerging women directors and writers with a short film project at the development stage who want a program that combines financial support with intensive mentorship and professional development. The live, immersive nature of the three-day program makes it most valuable for filmmakers who can commit fully to that experience alongside the grant support.
See Also
For short film production planning, use the Shot List Generator and the Production Schedule Calculator. For understanding how short film grants connect to a longer career development strategy, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack.
