The sun set on a perfect fall evening in New York City as emerging writers, directors and producers mingled with industry giants in a rustic Greenwich Village penthouse. As hors d’oeuvres and a never-ending supply of lemon water were passed around the room, the crowd awaited the announcement of this year’s Chanel x Tribeca Through Her Lens program which awards one team full financing to produce their short film.
This year’s award went to writer and director Gem Little and producer Kseniya Yorsh for their short film “Cowards.”
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Kseniya Yorsh and Gem Little
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I note that there’s something beautiful about being able to ground yourself in the future, in a good way, given the current news cycle. She corrects me: “In a great way.”
Emerging from the three-day experience, King says she’s taking off her blinders. “When you have experienced success, you can find yourself guilty of losing the peripheral. Having this experience reminds me that everything is not right in front of me.” This year’s mentors included Past Lives” and “Materialists” filmmaker Celine Song, playwright and filmmaker Aleshea Harris (“Is God Is”), producer Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, actress Fala Chen and “The Woman King” director Gina Prince-Bythewood. Through it all, King thought about her next film as a director, grateful that her sister, Reina King, has been her filmmaking partner through it all. “That could be [us] in this room,” she smiles. “We’re still in rooms pitching like that.”
