Halle Berry, Regina King, and Meg Ryan will serve as jurors for the Tribeca Chanel Through Her Lens Filmmaker Program, supporting emerging women filmmakers.
Halle Berry, Regina King, and Meg Ryan have been announced as jurors for the 11th edition of the Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program, which supports emerging women and non-binary filmmakers. The announcement was made on September 17, 2026, by Variety.
Through Her Lens is an annual artist-development program created by Tribeca Enterprises and Chanel, designed to provide resources and mentorship for filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds. This year’s program will take place from September 22 to 24 in New York City, featuring five filmmaking teams engaging in workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and industry discussions.
The jury's role will culminate in a live pitch event where one team will receive full financing for their short film, while the remaining teams will be awarded development grants. Alongside Berry, King, and Ryan, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw and actress Ella Rubin will complete the jury panel.
This year’s participants include diverse storytelling, with projects such as Break, which follows a young Black surfer navigating the repercussions of a viral wipeout, and Camouflage, set during mandatory military training in Shenzhen in 2007. Other noteworthy projects include Cold Embrace, centering on a woman with an emotional-support python, and Grippy Socks, which portrays a woman during a 36-hour emergency room experience. These unique narratives aim to amplify voices and stories that have traditionally been underrepresented in cinema.
The program not only highlights the jurors’ expertise but also brings in esteemed mentors for participants. Notable figures such as filmmaker Celine Song, playwright Aleshea Harris, and The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood will lead workshops, contributing to a robust learning environment that emphasizes mentorship and creative leadership.
Since its inception in 2015, the Through Her Lens program has been instrumental in developing 50 short films, with many previous winners achieving recognition at prestigious film festivals like Sundance and TIFF. Alumni filmmakers have transitioned into feature films, creating a community of empowered artists. The program has received accolades for its commitment to fostering future talent and championing diversity in storytelling.
The engagement of prominent figures like Halle Berry, Regina King, and Meg Ryan in this year's Through Her Lens program is a powerful endorsement of the initiative's mission to uplift emerging filmmakers. As the event approaches, its outcomes will be closely watched, providing insights into the evolving landscape of independent filmmaking.
This year’s program underscores the ongoing relationship between Chanel and Tribeca, reinforcing their shared commitment to artistic innovation and empowering women in film.
For further insight into upcoming projects in the film industry, check out our articles on the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and other events.
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