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Academy Invitations to AlumNest Filmmakers
Chicken & Egg Pictures is extremely proud to share some big news: Five AlumNest filmmakers have been invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The new members include Project: Hatched 2020 grantee Erika Cohn (Belly of the Beast), 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee Katja Esson (Razing Liberty Square), 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Violet Du Feng (Hidden Letters), 2023 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Sonia Kennebeck, and Nest-supported filmmaker Nancy Schwartzman (Roll Red Roll, One Shot One Kill).
We also want to congratulate Lindsey Dryden (producer of Nest-supported Unrest) and Melanie Miller (producer of Project: Hatched 2021 grantee On The Divide) for their invitations!
Of the 2023 Class, 40% identify as women, 34% belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 52% are from 50 countries and territories outside the United States.
Congratulations to the Class of 2023!
Our Program Team is Now Complete!
Chicken & Egg Pictures is thrilled to welcome two new Program team members to our Nest: Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes and Industry & Artist Development Manager Tobi Phang-Lyn.
Elaisha and Tobi are joining our team at a pivotal moment for our organization. As outlined in our Strategic Plan for 2023-2025, we’re expanding our efforts to support women and non-binary filmmakers. By 2025, our goal is to increase the number of supported filmmakers and the amount of grantmaking by 50%. Learn more about our new team members below.
Elaisha Stokes
As the Senior Program Manager at Chicken & Egg Pictures, Elaisha oversees the Chicken & Egg Award and the Research & Development grants for mid-career filmmakers. She believes that the documentary craft is a means to increase gender diversity and inclusion, both in the arts and in the zeitgeist.
Previously, Elaisha served as a Senior Producer for CBS Original Documentaries, where she oversaw several documentary series for Paramount+ and other streaming platforms. Her documentary work has been featured on National Geographic, CNN, The New York Times, and Vice and her films have screened at BFI London, the Maryland Film Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival, London Shorts and Planet in Focus. She has received awards and grants from the Nation Institute, the Pulitzer Family, the Emmy® Foundation, and the Ontario Arts Council. In 2018, she was a Sundance New Voices fellow and a Cine Qua Non screenwriting fellow. Elaisha holds an MA in Documentary Filmmaking from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
“Making documentaries is challenging work. Filmmakers must rely on their creative vision and their perseverance to see the film through to completion. Despite assumptions that mid-career filmmakers have the necessary connections and resources to fund their projects, few organizations actually support them. Chicken & Egg Pictures is filling this industry gap by providing mentorship and funding opportunities to mid-career filmmakers, with the aim of elevating diverse voices and narratives in the documentary space. It is an honor to join this team and work to support beautiful, dynamic, and timely films by women and non-binary artists.”
Tobi Phang-Lyn
As the Industry & Artist Development Manager, Tobi Phang-Lyn works closely with the Program Director and Program team to provide filmmakers supported by Chicken & Egg Pictures with career-building opportunities, new networks, resources, and a vibrant community to deepen their craft and further develop their projects. She oversees the AlumNest and DocNest programs and is responsible for strengthening relationships between filmmakers and industry professionals.
Prior to joining Chicken & Egg Pictures, Tobi was the Membership & Marketing Manager at The Gotham Film & Media Institute where she oversaw Gotham Membership and public programming, helping independent filmmakers make valuable industry contacts, find collaborators, and advance their projects. She also led marketing efforts for the organization year-round and for the annual Gotham Week and Gotham Awards.
“I’m so inspired by how the Chicken & Egg Pictures team has imbued every part of their work with a commitment to core values surrounding equity, access, and social impact, and I’m looking forward to continuing to champion and provide filmmakers in our community with the support and resources they need.”
Six Nest-Supported Films at DC/DOX FEST!
We are egg-stremely proud to announce that six Nest-supported films and four AlumNest filmmakers were in the lineup for the first-ever edition of DC/DOX Fest!
Breaking the News
dirs. Chelsea Hernandez, Heather Courtney, Princess A. Hairston
prod. Diane Quon
Breaking the News a 2022 Critical Issues Fund Grantee had its DC Premiere.
How to Carry Water
dir. Sasha Wortzel
prod. Jess Devaney, Anya Rous, Colleen Cassingham
How to Carry Water was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as a part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series and had its DC Premiere in the “Shorts Program 3: Out/Spoken” section.
It’s Only Life After All
dir. & prod. Alexandria Bombach
prods. Kathlyn Horan, Jess Devaney, Anya Rous
It’s Only Life After All was supported through Alexandria Bombach’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and had its DC Premiere.
MnM
dir. Twiggy Pucci Garçon
prod. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney
MnM was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as a part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series and had its North American Premiere in the “Shorts Program 3: Out/Spoken” section.
The Eternal Memory
dir. & prod. Maite Alberdi
prod. Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue
The Eternal Memory was supported through Maite Alberdi’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and had its DC Premiere.
The Script
dir. Brit Fryer, Noah Schamus
prod. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney
The Script was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as a part of the QUEER FUTURES series and had its East Coast Premiere in the “Shorts Program 3: Out/Spoken” section.
From the AlumNest
- Confessions of a Good Samaritan
dir. Penny Lane
prod. Gabriel Sedgwick - Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
dirs. & prods. Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster - Kim’s Video
dirs. & prods. David Redmon, Ashley Sabin
prods. Deborah Smith, Dale Smith, Francesco Galavotti, Rebecca Tabasky - Your Fat Friend
dir. & prod. Jeanie Finlay
prod. Suzanne Alizar
Post written by Spring Intern Tess Caldwell
The Nest at Cannes Film Festival
Chicken & Egg Pictures is thrilled to see AlumNest filmmaker Sahra Mani’s film Bread and Roses in the lineup of 2023 Cannes Film Festival. 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Tata and Nest-supported filmmaker Voila Chajkouskaya’s 72 Hours are also selected for the CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator Showcase. The festival will take place between Tuesday, May 16 to Tuesday, May 23 in Cannes, France.
CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator is an annual program for female documentary filmmakers. It has three personalized modules where participants can work with experts to advance their projects, understand the industry landscape and prepare for the future. The CIRCLE network expands with each new generation, providing a valuable resource for its alumni as they continue their journey as filmmakers.
TATA
dir. & prod. Lina Vdovîi, Radu Ciorniciuc
prods. Monica Lazurean Gorgan, Erik Winker, Olivia Sophie van Leeuwen
TATA is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee selected for the CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator Showcase.
From the AlumNest
- 72 Hours – CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator
dir. Anna Savchenko
prods. Isabel de la Serna, Jean-Marie Gigon, Volia Chajkouskaya - Bread and Roses – Special Screenings Selection
dir. Sahra Mani
prods. Justine Ciarrocchi, Jennifer Lawrence
The Nest at Cannes
Biljana Tutorov, director of award-winning 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab Grantee The Last Nomads, is also the programme director of the CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator at the festival.
2017 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Kirsten Johnson is the president of Cannes Festival’s Œil d’or Jury which hands out an award to the best doc in Cannes’ Official Selection. On May 23, she will open the Doc Day morning session in a conversation with writer, director, and producer Guetty Felin.
Written by Spring Intern Tess Caldwell
Two World Premieres at Tribeca Film Festival
We are proud to see three Nest-supported films and four AlumNest films on the lineup for Tribeca Film Festival this year! The festival will take place from Wednesday, June 7 to Sunday, June 18, 2023 in our home base, New York City.
We are thrilled that for the first time, more than half of feature films in competition (68%) are directed by women, while 41% of all feature films are directed by women.
We are also egg-static that two of the three Nest-supported films on the lineup, Breaking the News and Q are having their world premieres! We hope to see you there.
It’s Only Life After All
dir. & prod. Alexandria Bombach
prods. Kathlyn Horan, Jess Devaney, Anya Rous
It’s Only Life After All was supported through Alexandria Bombach’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its New York premiere in the Spotlight+ section.
Get your tickets here.
Breaking the News
dirs. Chelsea Hernandez, Heather Courtney, Princess A. Hairston
prod. Diane Quon
Breaking the News is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund Grantee having its World Premiere in the Documentary Competition.
Get your tickets here.
Q
dir. & prod. Jude Chehab
Q is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab Grantee having its World Premiere in the Documentary Competition.
Get your tickets here.
From the AlumNest
- Kim’s Video – New York Premiere
dirs. & prods. David Redmon, Ashley Sabin
prods. Deborah Smith, Dale Smith, Francesco Galavotti, Rebecca Tabasky - Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food – World Premiere
dir. & prod. Stephanie Soechtig
prods. Ross Girard, Ross Dinerstein, Kristin Lazure, Rebecca Evans - Uncharted – World Premiere
dir. & prod. Beth Aala
prods. Everywoman Studios, Abby Greensfelder - Your Fat Friend – World Premiere
dir. & prod. Jeanie Finlay
prod. Suzanne Alizart
Written by Spring Intern Tess Caldwell
Machtat World Premiere + Four Nest-supported Films at Visions du Réel
Chicken & Egg Pictures is proud to see five Nest-supported films in the lineup for Visions Du Réel 2023. The festival will take place between Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 30 in Nyon, Switzerland.
We are sending special congratulations to the 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Machtat on their World Premiere!
Against the Tide
dir. Sarvnik Kaur
prods. Koval Bhatia, Quentin Laurent
Against the Tide is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee participating in the Grand Angle Section.
Get your tickets here.
Ciné-Guerrillas: Scenes From the Labudović Reels
dir. & prod. Mila Turajlić
prod. Carine Chichkowsky
Ciné-Guerrillas: Scenes From the Labudović Reels will be participating in the Grand Angle Section and was supported through Mila Turajlić’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award.
Get your tickets here.
Eat Bitter
dir. Ningyi Sun, Pascale Appora-Gnekindy
prod. Mathieu Faure
Eat Bitter is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab finalist participating in the Grand Angle Section.
Get your tickets here.
El eco / The Echo
dir. & prod. Tatiana Huezo
prod. Dalia Reyes
El eco / The Echo will be participating in the Grand Angle Section and was supported through Tatiana Huezo’s 2021 Chicken & Egg Award.
Get your tickets here.
Machtat
dir. Sonia Ben Slama
prods. Tania El Khoury, Cécile Lestrade, Elise Hug
Machtat is a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its World Premiere in the International Feature Film Competition.
Get your tickets here.
Vdr-Rough Cut Lab & VdR-Pitching Session
Our Daughters
dir. & prod. Chithra Jeyaram
2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Our Daughters will be participating in the VdR rough cut lab.
Florence from Ohio
dir. Stephanie Wang Breal
prods. Mynette Louie, Carrie Weprin
Florence from Ohio was supported through Stephanie Wang Breal’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and it is participating in the VdR-Pitching Session.
Meet our Team at Visions Du Réel
Representing Chicken & Egg Pictures, our Associate Director of Program Sabine Fayoux Cantillo will be in attendance at Visions Du Reel. While in Nyon, she’ll be participating in VdR-Pitching, attending VdR-Work in Progress, and taking 1-1 meetings with filmmakers.
Written by Spring Intern Tess Caldwell
Four Nest-supported films at Atlanta Film Festival 2023
Chicken & Egg Pictures is egg-static to see four Nest-supported films represented in the lineup of the 2023 edition of Atlanta Film Festival, which will take place from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 30 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Black Mothers Love & Resist
dir. & prod. Débora Souza Silva
prod. David Felix Sutcliffe, Adina Luo
Black Mothers Love & Resist is a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee competing in the Documentary Feature, Noir (Spotlight on Black Filmmakers), and New Mavericks (Women & GNC Directed + Starring) sections.
Get your tickets here.
Eat Bitter
dir. Ningyi Sun, Pascale Appora-Gnekindy
prod. Mathieu Faure
Eat Bitter is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab finalist competing in the Documentary Feature and Noir (Spotlight on Black Filmmakers) Sections.
Get your tickets here.
It’s Only Life After All
dir. & prod. Alexandria Bombach
prods. Kathlyn Horan, Jess Devaney, Anya Rous
It’s Only Life After All was supported through Alexandria Bombach’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and is competing in the Documentary Feature, New Mavericks (Women & GNC Directed + Starring), and Pink Peach (Spotlight on LGBTQ Stories & Perspectives) sections.
Get your tickets here.
Silent Beauty
dir. Jasmin Mara López
Silent Beauty is a 2019 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee participating in the Documentary Feature, New Mavericks (Women & GNC Directed + Starring), and ¡CineMás! (Spotlight on Latin American Stories and Perspectives) sections.
Get your tickets here.
Written by Spring Intern Tess Caldwell