As April showers rain down this month, we're finding energy and power thinking about fractals. Say what? Fractals are never-ending patterns that replicate across scale. They appear all over nature: think of a fern or a seashell, a river or a lightning strike. In her seminal book on movement building, Emergent Strategy, writer, organizer, philosopher, and great Instagram follow adrienne maree brown suggest that the large is a direct reflection of the small.
The good news: as big as our collective problems may seem, their solutions might be embedded in how we approach our every day decisions and relationships. That provides some solace—but also cuts us no slack. At Chicken & Egg, as so much swirls externally, we're taking a beat to look inward. How are we showing up to the work of our mission, looking after each other as team members, and moving through change as it happens hour by hour? What practices are we hoping to grow and replicate, like waves gathering power on the open sea?
How we do the work is the work. It might be as simple as that, and as hard.
Read on for news about Cannes, CPH:DOX reflections, recent community wins, and beyond. Thanks for being here with us.
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See you at the Côte d'azur! |
We’re thrilled to be back at Cannes Docs this year. Program Director Kiyoko McCrae will participate as a Jury member for the eight Docs-in-Progress showcases from around the world (which will include two of our supported filmmakers' projects: Brett Story’s The Production of the World and Viv Li’s Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest).
Plus, we'll present the inaugural Chicken & Egg Vision Award, given to a woman or gender-expansive filmmaker whose film offers a creative vision and the potential to create change. The Award includes a $5,000 cash prize, one year of mentorship, and AlumNest membership.
Stay tuned for our report back next month!
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Notes from CPH:DOX: a pipeline of new talent
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CPH:DOX only continues to grow as an invaluable space for C&E to find and build relationships. This year, Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes participated in a panel at CPH:FORUM 2025 during Industry Week. Program Coordinator Will Tamura was there too–connecting with inspiring peers, exploring new collaborations, and learning about exciting projects in the works. We hosted an intimate AlumNest happy hour for meaningful catch-ups as well as a series of industry roundtables to connect with additional filmmakers who weren't pitching at the forum.
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Addressing disparities: Anonymous Was A Woman report findings
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In 2024, Anonymous Was A Woman ran a first-of-its-kind study aiming to gain a better understanding of women artists’ lives and careers, and the factors contributing to their successes and challenges. We’re chewing on findings from their newly-released report. Some highlights include:
✦ Gender bias is still prevalent–68% of respondents say gender discrimination has had either a “negative” or “strongly negative” impact on their experience.
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✦ 50% of respondents feel they cannot speak freely without fear of career consequences. The concern is especially pronounced among artists under 40 and artists of color.
✦ 84% of respondents 65+ say they experience age discrimination (so do 73% of respondents 40-64 years old, and 41% under 40!).
✦ Respondents work 36% more hours than the average American woman, but they spend less than half that time actually making art (the rest goes toward other paid work and admin).
✦ Women artists thrive in community—79% of respondents cite artistic community and networks as key to their careers.
This data offers valuable affirmation–if not new news. It reflects a lot of what we hear from our filmmakers and, consequently, strive to address through our work. Read on for more from the report.
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Recent community wins & upcoming screenings |
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| HotDocs (April 24–May 4)
Catch supported films on the big screen in Canada:
✦ Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics
✦ Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni’s Cutting Through Rocks
✦ Sasha Wortzel’s River of Grass
✦ Violet Du Feng’s The Dating Game
✦ From the AlumNest: Amber Fare’s Coexistence, My Ass! and Isabel Castro’s Selena y los Dinos
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| Tribeca (June 4–15)
The fest will feature three World Premieres from the C&E community:
✦ Angela Tucker’s The Inquisitor
✦ From the AlumNest: Cecilia Aldarondo’s Dear Ms. Revolution In Print, Zippy Kimundu’s Widow Champion
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Film spotlight: My Dear Théo
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“Kovalenko is at once a wife, a mother, a soldier and a filmmaker, embodying multiple identities in a landscape where survival often necessitates the erasure of selfhood. Yet she resists this erasure, affirming her existence and her emotions through her letters and footage.” —Davide Abbatescianni, Cineuropa
Alisa Kovalenko’s My Dear Théo is fresh off its world premiere at CPH: DOX’s International Competition, and its festival momentum shows no signs of slowing.
Supported through Alisa’s Chicken & Egg Award in 2024, My Dear Théo is a love letter from the frontlines of the war in Ukraine that bridges the filmmaker’s memories with her son’s. Though revisiting footage of those she lost at the front brought pain, she discovered what she called "life encapsulated"—the light, tenderness, and love that persists in the heart even after death. Her poetic narration and healing journey deeply move us, as does the film's invitation to remember that all mothers, wherever they are, share a universal desire: to survive so their love can endure through their children.
Next stop for My Dear Theo: Opening night of Crossing Europe Film Festival on April 29.
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Exploring creative sustainability at Atlanta Film Festival |
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Catch Board President Nekisa Cooper at the Atlanta Film Festival Creative Sustainability Summit on April 28. She’ll share industry insights alongside filmmaker Sav Rodgers, Christie Marchese (Kinema), Jermaine Johnson (3Arts), Bem Joiner (Atlanta Influences Everything), and Rick Estimond (Formation Talent Agency).
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Have you heard? We're turning 20 and celebrating accordingly!
Join us on June 3 as we toast two decades of Chicken & Egg Films championing women and gender-expansive filmmakers. Their stories have challenged norms, shifted perspectives, and sparked change—and we’re just getting started. Be part of this unforgettable night as we honor our past and kick off an exciting new chapter. Get your tickets to our cocktail-style celebration now!
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The 2026 (Egg)celerator Lab Open Call is still accepting applications! Find more information about applying on our website. Questions? Watch a recording of our team's informational webinar from April 3.
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