Our Mission

In its 95 year history, only three women have won “Best Director” at the Academy Awards (otherwise known as “The Oscars”), with only seven women even receiving a nomination for this highly coveted award. Breaking Through The Lens promotes a more equitable industry by operating charitable and educational programs to support filmmakers of underrepresented gender.*

The initiative operated through a fiscal sponsor from 2018 until August 2022, when we established as a non-profit organization in the US. Our first year, we received applications from 54 countries, evidence of the truly global reach and appetite for a program such as this.

Our work is spread across three key pillars:

1) Vocational Training:
We provide education and training in areas such as film financing, post-production, as well as preparing presentation materials and financial plans, how to successfully “pitch” a film project, and more. These seminars take place virtually and around industry markets in an effort to reach the largest audience.

2) Directorial Mentorship:
Each year, our Jury selects five Directors of marginalized gender with a feature film or documentary in late-stage development to take part in our core program. Selected filmmakers are provided an opportunity to showcase their film to industry executives at marquee events such the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, and Berlin.

3) Action Grants:
This May 2023, at the Cannes Film Festival, we intend to launch our first Action Grant to help marginalized filmmakers take action in a specific area of development, propeling their project towards production.

There is a shift in the industry occurring, a moment that must be seized, and it will be deeds not words that bring about this change. Join us as ‘Breaking Through The Lens’ leads the way.

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* The term “marginalized gender” includes cisgender women, transgender women, transgender men, non-binary people, and anyone who feels marginalized due to their gender identity.

APPLICATIONS FOR OUR NEXT CYCLE WILL OPEN SEPTEMBER 2023.

— Testimonials —

“To be supported by a pack of fierce women is a dream. You have helped get this project over the line.”
-Tina Gharavi, Writer/Director, BTTL 2019 (she/her)

“Every single company came at us with wild enthusiasm and it was exciting and gratifying to know that the project is resounding with so many smart folks.”
- Rachel Feldamn, Writer/Director, BTTL 2020 (she/her)

“Breaking Through The Lens is a beacon of access for all the other non-binary folks out there, wondering if a program is welcoming of them. Wondering if they belong.”
- Lora Campbell, Writer/Director, BTTL 2020 (they/them)

“We’ve made so many brilliant new contacts through BTTL, it’s catapulted The Tides forward on its journey to production.”
- Isla Ure, Writer/Director, BTTL 2021 (she/her)