Chicken & Egg Pictures at Cannes Marché Du Film

We are excited to announce that we will be attending the Marché du Film at Cannes for the first time to participate in Cannes Docs’ Doc Talks, joined by Chicken & Egg Award recipients filmmakers Ilinca Calugareanu (2023), Alisa Kovalenko (2024), and 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab recipient Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest director Viv Li. Viv will also premier her short film Across the Waters in the Competition section.

2022 (Egg)celerator Lab recipient The Wife Of director Volia Chajkouskaya and 2022 Critical Issues Fund recipient Intercepted are also part of the Cannes Docs programming.

The event will take place from Thursday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 22. More details below.

Saturday, May 18

Doc Talk > Filmmakers Collectives Rising up in Eastern Europe ⁠
2:00 PM GMT+2
Volia Chajkouskaya, Irina Gelashvili, Lyuba Knorozok, Marta Krzeptowska
Moderated by Selin Murat

East and Central European countries have experienced severe upheavals in the last 10 years, from right-wing governments and active aggressive wars to external political meddling. However, documentary cinema is bursting with creativity and captivating audiences across the world. Filmmakers in the region however find themselves in double-roles, both as artists pushing boundaries of documentary filmmaking and activists on the picket lines fighting for what is theirs or in the case of Ukraine, on the frontlines of war. A conversation with these ambitious and courageous filmmakers about how their filmmakers’ collectives support their everyday struggles and successes.

Sunday, May 19

Stil with headshots of Ilinca Calugareanu, Alisa Kovalenko, Jenni Wolfson

Doc Talk > Redefining Success on Our Own Terms
2:00 PM GMT+2
Ilinca Calugareanu, Alisa Kovalenko
Moderated by Jenni Wolfson

The Chicken & Egg Award provides unrestricted funding and mentorship to help women and gender-expansive filmmakers advance their creative and business goals at a critical juncture in their careers. Filmmakers Ilinca Calugareanu and Alisa Kovalenko, in conversation with Chicken & Egg Pictures CEO Jenni Wolfson, reflect on their award year and share their values, their breakthroughs, and what is at stake as they redefine success for themselves.

Monday, May 20

Special Screening: Intercepted
9:30 AM GMT+2
dir. Oksana Karpovych
prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío B. Fuentes

Still with headshots of Viv Li, Kiyoko McCrae

Doc Talk > Towards a Universal Values System in Documentary: Dismantling Borders for Greater Equity
2:00 PM GMT+2
Viv Li, Kiyoko McCrae, Alemberg Ang, Opal H. Bennett, Adam Piron
Moderated by Devika Girish

The Golden Age of Documentary, as the last 5 years have been labeled, may not have stabilized finances for the industry at large, but it has undeniably garnered more press and audience attention to documentaries. Our films play and win awards in the main competitions of A-List Festivals including Cannes, and are featured on the front page of major news outlets all over the world, making us more interconnected internationally than ever before. Under such scrutiny and when real life is involved, how can we work together to create a set of ethical or values-based guidelines to ensure equity, fairness, and safety? As our world currently feels turned upside down, let’s explore how our values are changing and if common ones can be agreed upon.

Five Supported Films at Hot Docs

The 31st edition of Hot Docs will take place across Toronto this year from Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, May 5. We are thrilled to announce that 2020 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Nishtha Jain’s film, Farming the Revolution, is having its world premiere along with 4 other supported films and 5 films from supported filmmakers are on the lineup this year!

Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference, and market, and embodies a deep commitment to gender parity, with 54% female directors in this year’s official selection, according to their press release. Two of our staff members will be in attendance so be sure to stay in touch via our social media channels for some exclusive content at the festival!

Farming the Revolution

dir. & prod. Nishtha Jain

prod. Valérie Montmartin

Still from Farming the Revolution — Still from *Farming the Revolution*

Farming the Revolution was supported through Nishtha Jain’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its World Premiere in the International Competition

7 Beats Per Minute

dir. Yuqi Kang

prod. Ina Fichman, Anita Lee

Long shot of a diver clenching her knees under water — Still from *7 Beats Per Minute*

7 Beats Per Minute was a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its Canadian Premiere in the Canadian Spectrum Competition.

A Photographic Memory

dir. & prod. Rachel Elizabeth Seed

prods. Sigrid Dyekjær, Beth Levison, Matt Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, Danielle Varga

A Photographic Memory was a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its International Premiere in the Persister section.

Intercepted

dir. Oksana Karpovych

prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Lucie Rego, Darya Bassel

Still from Intercepted. A lake is shown from the shoreline. Various people in bathing suits are shown wading in the far left and right of the frame. Two women and their grandson are in the middle, with their backs to the camera. In the far background, across the lake, recently bombed buildings are visible. — Still from *Intercepted*

Intercepted is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee having its Canadian Premiere in the Festival Favorites section.

Look Into My Eyes

dir. & prod. Lana Wilson

prod. Kyle Martin

Still from Look Into My Eyes — Still from *Look Into My Eyes*

Look Into My Eyes was supported through Lana Wilson’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its Canadian Premiere in the Special Presentations section.

Spotlight on Brett Story

2022 Chicken & Egg Award Recipient Brett Story will be engaging in an illuminating conversation with author and organizer Astra Taylor. Learn more about Astra Taylor in Conversation with Brett Story here.

From the AlumNest

Adrianne & the Castle – Canadian Premiere
dir. Shannon Walsh
prod. Ina Fichman

Power
dir. & prod. Yance Ford
prods. Sweta Vohra, Jess Devaney, Netsanet Negussie

We Did Not Consent
dir. Dorothy Allen-Pickard
prods. Rosa Harris Edmonds, Lindsay Poulton

Xixi – World Premiere
dir. & prod. Fan Wu
prods. Sona Jo, Venice De Castro Atienza, Yoonsoo Her

Yintah – Canadian Premiere
dirs. & prods. Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano
prods. Bob Moore, Katie McKay, Mila Aung-Thwin

Meet Our Team at Hot Docs

Black and white stills of Elaisha Stokes and Will Tamura

We are exhilarated that our Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes and Program Assistant Will Tamura will be in attendance at the festival. They will be attending Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported screenings and industry events. Make sure to say hi!

We Celebrate Seven Supported Filmmakers Joining the Academy

Square with seven images of supported filmmakers who received 2024 Academy Invitations.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited seven C&E-supported filmmakers to their esteemed Documentary branch. We’re delighted to uplift this wonderful acknowledgment of their talent and significant impact on the filmmaking community.

Jeanie Finaly, Rachel Lears, Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Mila Aung-Thwin, Keith Wilson, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, and Hemal Trivedi will become voting members able to participate in the Oscar nomination process and nominate new filmmakers to join the branch.

At Chicken & Egg Pictures, our mission is to shape a more equitable and just world with the catalytic power of documentary films by providing funding, mentorship and industry access to a global community of women and gender-expansive filmmakers.

As a result, let’s take a closer look at the diversity of the Oscars’ newest members. Of the entire 2024 class across all 17 branches, 44% identify as women, 41% belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 56% represent 56 countries and territories outside the United States. According to IndieWire, 20% of the voting members will now be international. The Documentary branch is one of the most diverse of the 17 Academy branches, representing 52 countries. We applaud AMPAS’s ongoing evolution to better reflect and represent the world we live in.

We can’t wait to see how our supported filmmakers, and indeed the whole class of 2024, will wield this extraordinary privilege and honor. Knowing their commitment to stories and perspectives that make our world a better place, we can bet it will be powerful.

Chicken & Egg Pictures founders Judith Helfand, Julie Parker Benello, Wendy Ettinger, and CEO Jenni Wolfson are also AMPAS members.

Welcome to the Nest, Mia Dooley!

Chicken & Egg Pictures is delighted to welcome Mia Dooley to our team as Development Assistant. Mia will provide key logistical and creative support to the Development department, aiding to nurture relationships with our community of supporters. She will also have a hand in supporting all other fundraising activities, events, and processes. Previously, Mia served as an Office Production Assistant at Motto Pictures, collaborating with Oscar-nominated and award-winning producers on documentary films in all stages of production. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where her passion for impact-driven, diverse storytelling drove her to develop a major of her own creation titled Bridging Documentary and Fiction in Film and TV.

She shares, “I’m thrilled to join the Chicken & Egg Pictures team at such a critical time in the organization’s history. As we expand our programs and support, I am excited to be a part of their groundbreaking efforts to usher in a new era of filmmaking. C&E holds an essential place in the documentary industry.”

Please join us in welcoming Mia Dooley to the Chicken & Egg Pictures team. We are so happy to have her on board and look forward to growing our Development Team.

Welcoming Communications Director, Hannah Thomas

Chicken & Egg Pictures is thrilled to welcome Hannah Thomas as our first-ever Communications Director. She will lead the organization’s storytelling efforts, strategizing the narratives that amplify our work, uplift our community, and contribute to making the film ecosystem a more equitable one.

“Today marks a pivotal moment as we warmly welcome Hannah Thomas to our team as our inaugural Communications Director,” said Jenni Wolfson, CEO of Chicken & Egg Pictures. “With her strong film roots and unique communications expertise, Hannah will shepherd an exciting new chapter in our journey. We have always been ardent champions of storytellers, and now we’re poised to step into our power as a storyteller in our own right. We look forward to seeing how Hannah guides us to new heights through the power of narrative.”

Previously, Hannah served in strategy leadership roles at social impact branding consultancies BBMG and Big Duck, helping businesses, nonprofits, and philanthropies navigate complex, high-stakes challenges in order to make the world a better place. She’s worked with organizations across spheres of social justice, arts and culture, education, philanthropy, environmentalism, and beyond. Hannah got her start learning the ropes of PR and marketing in the heart of NYC’s film community at BAM and Lincoln Center. She studied Film and Comparative Ethnic Studies at Columbia University.

“My professional experiences have taken me everywhere from well-worn, squeaky seats in beloved movie theaters to plush executive chairs in boardrooms and beyond. Across it all, I remain awed by the transformative power of a story well told. I’m fiercely committed to using my career, skillset, and leadership in service of the narratives that will steer us into a whole, just, and healed future. I believe my strategy and communications know-how, as well as my passion for the mission, make this opportunity a one of a kind fit for both Chicken & Egg Pictures and myself. I couldn’t be more excited to contribute to this emergent, urgent chapter in C&E’s extraordinary history.”

Supported Films at Sheffield DocFest 2024

We are thrilled to see four Nest-supported films in this year’s lineup for Sheffield DocFest and four supported films in the MeetMarket selection. There were also seven films from supported filmmakers across the festival. Among others, 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee The Boy and the Suit of Lights is having its World Premiere. The festival will take place between Wednesday, June 12 to Monday, June 17, 2024, and will be attended by two of our staff members, Kiyoko McCrae and Tobi Phang-Lyn. We hope to see you there!

In the Festival

Farming the Revolution

dir. & prod. Nishtha Jain, Akash Basumatari

prod. Valérie Montmartin

Women at farmers' protest — Still from *Farming the Revolution*

Farming the Revolution was supported through Nishtha Jain’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its UK Premiere in the Rebellions section.

Get your tickets here.

The Boy and the Suit of Lights

dir. Inma de Reyes

prod. Aimara Reques

A still from The Boy and the Suit of Lights. A close-up shot of a young boy wearing a grey suit and a yellow cloth draped over his left shoulder. Behind him, a crowd of people sits in stadium seating. He has short brown hair and brown eyes. — Still from *The Boy and the Suit of Lights*

The Boy and the Suit of Lights was a participant of the 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab and is having its World Premiere in the International First Feature Competition.

Get your tickets here.

Our Land, Our Freedom

dir. & prods. Meena Nanji, Zippy Kimundu

Our Land, Our Freedom was a participant of the 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab having its UK Premiere in the Strands section.

Get your tickets here.

Union

dir. & prods. Brett Story, Stephen Maing

prod. Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin Dicicco

Union was supported through Brett Story’s 2023 Chicken & Egg Award.

Get your tickets here.

In the MeetMarket

The 19th edition of Sheffield DocFest’s flagship pitching forum, the MeetMarket, will take place on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 of June 2024. The slate includes 50 documentary projects, in development or at production stage, to be pitched in one-to-one meetings to international and UK industry representatives and experts. In this year’s lineup, there are three 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantees as well as a Research & Development Grantee. Learn more:

Jaripeo

dirs. Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig

prods. Sarah Strunin

A cowboy looks at his phone in a cornfield at dusk. — Still from *Jaripeo*

Jaripeo is a 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee and is participating in the MeetMarket.

Vena Acuática

dir. Amada Torruella

prods. Seth Gadsden, Brenda Avila-Hanna

A woman stands in the middle of a greenhouse filled with growing crops. The woman is giving her back to the camera, she is wearing pants, a t-shirt, a blue backpack and she has her hands in her pockets. — Still from *Vena Acuática*

Vena Acuática is a 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee and is participating in the MeetMarket.

War on Women

dir. Maris Salumets

prods. Elina Litvinova, Volia Chajkouskaya

Close up to a pair of eyes. — Still from *War on Women*

War on Women is a 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee and is participating in the MeetMarket.

Green is the Fire’s Tint

dirs. & prods. Arya Rothe, Cristina Hanes, Isabella Rinaldi

Green is the Fire’s Tint was supported through our 2023 Research & Development Grant and is participating in the MeetMarket.

From the AlumNest

Bread & Roses | Festival Lineup
dir. Sahra Mani
prods. Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi

My Sweet Land | Festival Lineup
dir. Sareen Hairabedian
prods. Azza Hourani, Sareen Hairabedian, David Rane, Julie Paratian, Beth Levison, Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa | Festival Lineup
dir. Lucy Walker
prods. Charlie Corwin, Michael D. Ratner, Miranda Sherman, Dalia Burde, Christopher Newman

The Age of Water | MeetMarket
dirs. Isabel Alcántara, Alfredo Alcántara
prods. Lindsay Perna, Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson

The Noble Half (working title) | MeetMarket
dir. Khaula Malik
prods. Brit Fryer, Afnahn Khan

The Shape of Blue | MeetMarket
dir. Sybilla Patrizia
prod. Ina Fichman

Widow Champion | MeetMarket
dir. & prod. Zippy Kimundu
prod. Heather Courtney

Meet the Team at the Fest!

Program Director Kiyoko McCrae and Industry & Artist Development Manager Tobi Phang-Lyn are going to be in attendance at the festival. They will be taking meetings with filmmakers, watching supported films, participating in roundtable discussions, and hosting an alumni happy hour.

Chicken & Egg Pictures at the Hot Docs Forum

Congratulations to Farming the Revolution for taking home the Best International Documentary Feature award at the 31st edition of Hot Docs in Toronto. The film was supported through Nishtha Jain’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award. The festival also featured six supported films and five films from supported filmmakers in the lineup, multiple of which were premieres, and a spotlight on 2022 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Brett Story.

Our Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes and Program Assistant Will Tamura were in attendance at the festival and the Hot Docs Forum. This year’s Forum had “20 projects—represented by 22 filmmakers, 11 of whom are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) and 16 of whom are women—representing 18 countries” (Business Doc Europe) presenting to key funders, decisionmakers, filmmakers, producers, and observers. There were a total of 58 projects being pitched across the industry events. Among the projects were 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantees Anatomy of a Life, Jaripeo, War on Women, Holder of the Sky, and Matininó. There were also films from the following supported filmmakers: Leah Galant, Kelly Duane de la Vega, Mila Turajlić, Chelsi Bullard, Geeta Gandbhir, Mars Veronne, Yvonne Welbon, Carine Chichkowsky, Ina Fichman, Valérie Montmartin, Lorena Luciano, Filippo Piscopo, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Kenya Jade Pinto, Brit Fryer, and Sona Jo.

We are extremely proud of 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Anatomy of a Life on being awarded the Cuban Hat Award. This award, given to the best pitch as decided by Forum attendees, offers funding for powerful and unique projects. The award also includes numerous other gifts, including a feedback call with our very own Elaisha Stokes.

Learn more about the selected projects here.

Five Supported Films at DC/DOX!

Chicken & Egg Pictures is proud to announce that five supported films and six films from our alumni are included in the second edition of DC/DOX Film Festival. This year’s lineup consists of 60% filmmakers who identify as women or nonbinary. The festival will take place in Washington, DC, from Thursday, June 13, through Sunday, June 16.

A Photographic Memory

dir. & prod. Rachel Elizabeth Seed

prods. Sigrid Dyekjær, Beth Levison, Matt Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, Danielle Varga

A Photographic Memory was a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee.

Get your tickets here.

Intercepted

dir. Oksana Karpovych

prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Lucie Rego, Darya Bassel

Intercepted is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee.

Get your tickets here.

Look Into My Eyes

dir. & prod. Lana Wilson

prod. Kyle Martin

Look Into My Eyes was supported through Lana Wilson’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award.

Get your tickets here.

The Callers

dir. & prod. Lindsey Dryden

prods. Colleen Cassingham, Samantha Steele

Still from The Callers — Still from *The Callers*

The Callers was supported through the QUEER FUTURES series in collaboration with Multitude Films.

Get your tickets here.

Union

dir. & prods. Brett Story, Stephen Maing

prod. Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin Dicicco

Still from Union. A group of people wearing red walk in front of the camera. It is night time. Some of them wear facemasks. — Still from *Union*

Union was supported through Brett Story’s 2023 Chicken & Egg Award.

Get your tickets here.

In the Forum

The Reality Check Forum at DC/DOX is intended to be a dedicated space for fostering dialogue and collaboration within the documentary film community. This includes numerous panels, workshops, performances and masterclasses offering valuable resources and best practices for keen filmmakers. We are proud to have so many filmmakers from our community and our CEO Jenni Wolfson participating in this year’s forum!

Performance: Moore For Sale
Friday, June 14
With producer of 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Joonam, Keith Wilson
Panel: Treasure Maps – Finding Story in the Archives
Friday, June 14
With 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Rachel Elizabeth Seed
Panel: Filmmaking within a Cooperative
Friday, June 14
With 2020 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Kimberly Reed
Workshop: The Future of Funding
Saturday, June 15
With CEO Jenni Wolfson
Workshop: How to Stop Working for Free
Saturday, June 15
With 2019 Nest Knight Fellowship recipient Tiffany Fisher-Love
Panel: Subject/Matter
Saturday, June 15
With producer of supported film Dick Johnson is Dead, Katy Chevigny
Panel: State of the Industry
Saturday, June 15
With 2017 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Dawn Porter
Panel: Documentary and the Real World – Impact Case Studies
Saturday, June 15
With Project: Hatched 2021 grantee Maya Cueva
Panel: Behind the Scenes
Saturday, June 15
With Stephen Maing & Martin DiCicco of supported film Union and 2017 Chicken & Egg Award recipient Dawn Porter

From the AlumNest

Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr
dir. & prod. Kimberly Reed
prod. Robin Honan

And So It Begins
dir. & prod. Ramona S. Diaz

As Long As We Can | World Premiere
dir. Kristy Guevara-Flanagan

Familia 💖💎
dirs. & prods. Picho García, Gabriela Pena

In Due Season | World Premiere
dir. Ashley O’Shay
prod. Cherrelle Swain

Luther: Never Too Much
dir. Dawn Porter
prods. Trish D. Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith

Chicken & Egg Pictures at Cannes Marché Du Film

2022 (Egg)celerator Lab recipient The Wife Of director Volia Chajkouskaya and 2022 Critical Issues Fund recipient Intercepted are also part of the Cannes Docs programming.

The event will take place from Thursday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 22. More details below.

Saturday, May 18

Doc Talk > Filmmakers Collectives Rising up in Eastern Europe ⁠
2:00 PM GMT+2
Volia Chajkouskaya, Irina Gelashvili, Lyuba Knorozok, Marta Krzeptowska
Moderated by Selin Murat

Sunday, May 19

Doc Talk > Redefining Success on Our Own Terms
2:00 PM GMT+2
Ilinca Calugareanu, Alisa Kovalenko
Moderated by Jenni Wolfson

Monday, May 20

Special Screening: Intercepted
9:30 AM GMT+2
dir. Oksana Karpovych
prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío B. Fuentes

Lourdes Portillo (1944-2024)

We mourn the loss of our cherished Nest-supported and Eggspert filmmaker, Lourdes Portillo, who passed away this weekend in San Francisco at the age of 80.

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in Los Angeles, Lourdes was a passionate and pioneering filmmaker. Known for her unique hybrid style as a visual artist, investigative journalist, and activist, she created award-winning films about Latin American, Mexican, and Chicano/a experiences and social justice for over 30 years.

Since her first film in 1979, After the Earthquake/Despues del Terremoto, she produced and directed over a dozen works. These include the Academy®️ Award and Emmy®️ Award-nominated Las Madres: The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, La Ofrenda: The Days of the Dead, Columbus on Trial, The Devil Never Sleeps, Corpus: A Home Movie for Selena, My McQueen, Al Más Allá, Señorita Extraviada, and State of Grace.

Throughout her career, Lourdes tirelessly advocated for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the film industry. Her legacy will continue to thrive through her extensive work, the many individuals she mentored and supported, and those who will follow the path she paved.

Rest in power.