We are thrilled to welcome and celebrate the third annual cohort of our Accelerator Lab for first- and second-time filmmakers: The Youth, directed by Eunice Lau (SINGAPORE / US) & Arthur Nazaryan (US) Number 387, directed by Madeleine Leroyer (FRANCE) Reentry (working title), directed by Jennifer Redfearn (US)
The Accelerator Lab supports ten projects helmed by women nonfiction directors across the globe working on their first or second feature-length documentary, with a special focus on underrepresented voices.
“Community-building is key to this program,” says Chicken & Egg Pictures Program Director Lucila Moctezuma. “While the Accelerator Lab for first- and second-time filmmakers certainly helps women filmmakers to enter the industry pipeline, it also provides them with a community of support that helps them to stay in the pipeline. The reality of being a film director is that it can often feel daunting and isolating. By explicitly encouraging peer-to-peer mentorship among our cohort, we provide emerging filmmakers with a chance to bond with and learn from one another, to help one another carve a space for themselves in the industry, and to equip them with the strength of a community they can rely on throughout their careers."
The 2018 Accelerator Lab filmmakers will meet in person for the first time during their retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat Center from March 18-24, where they will get to know each other and watch each other's footage, participate in workshop sessions like "Fundraising Pillars and Best Practices," and prep to pitch their films at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June.
