Announcing the Production Funds Recipient for THROUGH HER LENS!

We've just concluded the second annual THROUGH HER LENS: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program, and are thrilled to announce the project and recipient who will receive an $80,000 production grant for her original short film!

Feathers by A.V. Rockwell was selected by the jury to receive the production grant, along with production support from Pulse Films and Tribeca Studios and continued mentorship by Tribeca Film Institute. Additionally, the four other writer/directors in the program, Joey Ally, Catherine Eaton, Ani Simon-Kennedy, and Sonejuhi Sinha each received a $5,000 development grant to support continued work on their respective films to bring them closer to production.

The five filmmakers just went through an intensive three-day workshop, including six master classes with renowned artists in casting, producing, directing, editing, composing, and costume design. Then the five filmmaker pairs pitched their projects to a jury comprised of: producer Anne Carey (20th Century Women, The Diary of a Teenage Girl), actor Dakota Fanning (American Pastoral, Night Moves), writer/director Tamara Jenkins (The Savages, Slums of Beverly Hills), writer/director/producer So Yong Kim (Lovesong, Treeless Mountain), and actor/director Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein, Friends With Kids). 

The jury said: “It was a great privilege to read and watch the work of these five filmmaking teams. We selected the filmmaker who we felt had a singular voice and are excited to support her development as an artist.”

A.V. Rockwell commented, "Getting into THROUGH HER LENS was already an honor. I'm very grateful that the jury has given me the opportunity to see Feathers come to life."

Feathers, written by Rockwell, is about Eli, a volatile inner-city youth, who creates havoc in his attempts to re-escape from the mysterious and crumbling juvenile detention center known as “The Mill.” When the repercussions become more dire than he can handle, Eli gains purpose and introspection on his troubled life.

The announcement wraps up a powerful program, presented by Tribeca and CHANEL, in collaboration with Pulse Films, and facilitated by Tribeca Film Institute® (TFI).

Be sure to stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to follow updates on these five filmmakers as they continue to make films and carve out their creative careers.