A non-profit initiative that advocates for gender equality in film by offering vital support at the financing stage by way of grants, curated meetings and industry mentorship. Our program is open to directors of marginalized gender who have a feature-film in development.
2025 BTTL Action Grant
Presented by Campari
| Opening Sunday May 19th.
This May, we will be launching our second annual Action Grant, together with Campari, Official Partner of the Cannes Film Festival. This Grant intends to help directors of marginalized gender, including women, non-binary and trans filmmakers, to take concrete action towards moving their feature into production with a 10,000 Euro commitment.
“Both Campari and cinema are intrinsically linked by the similar belief that icons inspire unforgettable creations; whether that be Campari as an aperitif at the heart of mixology, or the creative talent within the film industry. It’s why we are so pleased to continue our partnership for a third year with Breaking Through The Lens at Cannes Film Festival and support the important work they do in advocating for a more equitable film industry.”
- Julka Villa, Head of Global Marketing, Campari Group
STARSHIP TRAVEL GRANT
Presented by
In 2024, we launched our innaugural “Starship Travel Grant" presented by Space Pilot Media, through which each of our BTTL Finalist Teams will receive a $1k grant towards travel to the Cannes Film Festival.
THE FILMS
APPLICATIONS FOR our next CYCLE WILL OPEN at cannes ON SUNDAY MAY 19TH 2024.
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
<8%
FEMALE DIRECTORS OF TOP 100 FILMS
Last year less than eight percent of the top one-hundred films worldwide were directed by women.
+300
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
We received over two-hundred applications for our last cycle.
54
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Applicants submitted projects from around the world, spanning fifty-four different production countries.
Our Mission
Breaking Through The Lens (BTTL) launched at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival with a simple yet powerful vision to help women feature-film directors get their projects made. Our founders – a Director, Writer and Actor working on a film together – received a rare opportunity to host an intimate pitching event in the private villa of an investor, and BTTL was born.
We have since expanded to world renowned festivals such as Venice, Toronto and Berlin, hosting dynamic events. Each year, our Official Jury selects five feature films or documentaries in development, which enter our Core Showcase Program and gain the opportunity to present their projects to leading executives and investors. Throughout the year, we lead seminars and workshops with a focus on financing. Our mission is to be a valuable resource for underserved filmmakers, one that is intersectional, multicultural and results driven.
“
In an industry that has favored
the male voice for so long…
Breaking Through The Lens
is changing that dynamic.
Liza Foreman, Front Page Cannes Market News
Get Involved
We are planning to expand Breaking Through The Lens to other major festivals around the world and to create a supportive network for women through every stage of making their feature films. Find out how you can join us on this journey.
ATTEND our EVENTs
Our events are strictly invite only. However, we will evaluate individual requests on a case by case basis. Please include your company affiliation.
STAY INFORMED
Applications for the €10,000 Chopard x BTTL Action Grant are now closed. They will re-open Summer 2024. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Whether you are a sponsor, filmmaker, industry or volunteer, we would love to hear from you. We are always looking for new collaborators to grow our initiative.