Seven supported films at Athena Film Fest!

We were thrilled to see seven Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported films and five supported filmmakers on the lineup at this years’ 14th annual Athena Film Festival. The festival took place between February 29 and March 3, at Barnard College. Congratulations all!

Breaking the News

dirs. Chelsea Hernandez, Heather Courtney, Princess A. Hairston

prod. Diane Quon

Still from Breaking the News Film. Editor-at-large Errin Haines is smiling directly at the camera in a pink sweatshirt that reads "Represent."
Still from Breaking the News

Breaking the News is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund Grantee.

graphic of a film reel

Hummingbirds

dirs. Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras

co-dirs. & prods. Jillian Schlesinger, Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Diane Ng, Ana Rodriguez-Falco

prods. Leslie Benavides, Rivkah Beth Medow

Silvia and Beba smile as they point their middle finger at the fire-work lit sky. There is a red light on Beba's middle finger, and a green light on Silvia's.
Still from Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab finalist.

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Is There Anybody Out There?

dir. Ella Glendining

prod. Janine Marmot

Still from Is There Anybody Out There? Ella Glendining is on a a medical bend with her belly uncovered
Still from Is There Anybody Out There?

2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Is There Anybody Out There? participated in multiple sections, including a panel entitled Keeping the Industry Door Open: Beyond the “Trend” of Disability.

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MnM

dir. Twiggy Pucci Garçon

prods. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney

Still from MnM. Close up to the face of a person while a hand is using a brush to paint their eyelids.
Still from MnM

MnM was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as a part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series, and streamed in the “Shorts: A Legacy of Change” section.

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Q

dir. & prod. Jude Chehab

Still from Q
Still from Q

Q is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee.

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The Script

dir. Brit Fryer, Noah Schamus

prod. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney

Still from The Script. In a set, a person with their back to the camera, talks to two other persons that are sitting in chairs in front of a table. To the right and left, there are camera crew people.
Still from The Script

The Script was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series. 

graphic of a film reel

Twice Colonized

dir. Lin Alluna

prods. Emile Hertling Péronard, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Stacey Aglok, Bob Moore

The main character of Twice Colonized, Aaju Peter, in a close-up shot holding her hands in front of her face so her traditional tattoos on her hands and her chin are visible.
Still from Twice Colonized

Twice Colonized is a Project: Hatched 2023 grantee.


From the AlumNest


Post written by Communications Assistant Tess Caldwell

Six Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported films and filmmakers at True/False Fest!

We were extremely proud to see two (Egg)celerator Lab premieres in the lineup of this years’ True/False festival. The lineup also included two films supported through the Chicken & Egg Award and two shorts by supported filmmakers featuring in the lineup of this years’ True/False festival! The festival took place between February 29 and March 3, in Colombia, Missouri. Congratulations to all of the films featured!

A Photographic Memory

dir. & prod. Rachel Elizabeth Seed

Still from A Photographic Memory

A Photographic Memory was a participant of the 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab and had its World Premiere at True/False Fest.

graphic of a film reel

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.

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There Was, There Was Not

dir. Emily Mkrtichian

prod. Mara Adina

Four women stand on a mountain at sunrise gathering flowers
Still from There Was, There Was Not

There Was, There Was Not was a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab finalist and had its World Premiere at True/False Fest.

graphic of a film reel

Union

dirs. Brett Story, Stephen Maing

prods. Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone

Union was supported through Brett Story’s 2022 Chicken & Egg Award.


From the AlumNest


Post written by Communications Assistant Tess Caldwell

Supported films at the SXSW Film Festival

We are extremely grateful to have three (Egg)celerator Lab grantees premieres and an Alumni film at this year’s South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival! The festival will take place between March 8-16, 2024. Congratulations all! 

7 Beats Per Minute

dir. Yuqi Kang 

prods. Ina Fichman, Anita Lee

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

7 Beats Per Minute is a participant of the 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab and will have its World Premiere in the Documentary Spotlight.

graphic of a film reel

The In Between

dir. Robie Flores

prod. Alejandro J. Flores, Kellen Quinn

Still from The In Between

The In Between is a participant of the 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab, took part in the 2018 Diversity Fellows Initiative (past program), and will have its premiere in the Documentary Competition.

graphic of a film reel

Songs from the Hole

dir. & prod. Contessa Gayles

prods. Richie Reseda, David Felix Sutcliffe

Close up of a pair of feet jumping in a bed.
Still from Songs from the Hole

Songs from the Hole is a participant of the 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab and will premiere in the Visions Program.


From the AlumNest


Post written by Communications Assistant Tess Caldwell

Supported Filmmakers Win Awards at Cinema Eye Honors

We are extremely proud to have three supported films, and three supported filmmakers, take home wins at the 17th edition of the Cinema Eye Honors Awards. The awards ceremony took place on Friday, January 12 at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem. Congratulations!

The Eternal Memory

dir. & prod. Maite Alberdi

prod. Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue

Still from the Eternal Memory
Still from The Eternal Memory

The Eternal Memory was supported through Maite Alberdi’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and won awards for Outstanding Achievement in Direction and in the 2024 Unforgettables Honorees section.

graphic of a film reel

Twice Colonized

dir. Lin Alluna

prods. Emile Hertling Péronard, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Stacey Aglok, Bob Moore

The main character of Twice Colonized, Aaju Peter, in a close-up shot holding her hands in front of her face so her traditional tattoos on her hands and her chin are visible.
Still from Twice Colonized

Twice Colonized is a Project: Hatched 2023 grantee and was named a 2024 Unforgettables Honoree.

graphic of a film reel

Q

dir. & prod. Jude Chehab

Still from Q
Still from Q

Q is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab Grantee that won the Spotlight Award


From the AlumNest

  • Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games | Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking
    dirs. & prods. Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster 
  • Confessions of a Good Samaritan | 2024 Unforgettables Honorees
    dir. Penny Lane
    prod. Gabriel Sedgwick
  • Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project  | Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design, 2024 Unforgettable Honorees
    dirs. & prods. Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster
  • Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields | Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Editing 
    dir. Lana Wilson
    prods. Jack Turner, Christine O’Malley

Post written by Communications Assistant Tess Caldwell

Best of the Nest 2023

It’s been an amazing year of remarkable growth here at Chicken & Egg Pictures as we put our 2023–2025 Strategic Plan into action. We are excited to share with you our Best of the Nest, a showcase of the incredible work we were able to accomplish in 2023, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our amazing team, the guidance of our supportive Board Members, and the generous backing from our supporters.

This year’s Best of the Nest features a summary of our year with impressive numbers, a celebration of our filmmakers and the remarkable stories they tell,  an update and spotlight on all of our programs, and, of course, a heartfelt thank you to all of those who make our work possible. 

Thank you for being a valued member of our community.

31 Oscar-eligible films from our community!

Congratulations to the 14 Chicken & Egg-supported films and 17 from our Alumni community on the list of documentary features and shorts eligible for the 96th Academy Awards®! We encourage you to catch these films in theaters and on streaming platforms. The Oscars® Shortlist will be announced on Thursday, December 21, so stay tuned.

Against the Tide

dir. Sarvnik Kaur 

prod. Koval Bhatia, Quentin Laurent

Still of Against the Tide. Two men go through the content of their fishing net, there are a fish and plastic trash.
Still from Against the Tide

Against the Tide is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee.

Find about upcoming screenings here.

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Bad Press

dirs. Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, Joe Peeler

prods. Conrad Beilharz, Garrett F. Baker, Tyler Graim

Indigenous journalist Angel Ellis sits in front of Mvskoke Media wearing a bandana , sunglasses and a "I Voted" sticker on her blue T-shirt. She's smoking a cigarette while scrolling through her cell phone on a warm summer evening.
Still from Bad Press

Bad Press is a participant of Project: Hatched 2023.

Find out about upcoming screenings here.

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Eat Bitter

dirs. Ningyi Sun, Pascale Appora-Gnekindy

prod. Mathieu Faure

The upper half is characters Luan and Thomas' faces and Thomas prays to the left of their faces; and the lower half is the back of Thomas' head and him getting ready to dive in the yellowish river.
Stills from Eat Bitter

Eat Bitter is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab finalist.

Find out about upcoming screenings here.

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El eco / The Echo

dir. & prod. Tatiana Huezo

prod. Dalia Reyes

Still from El Eco. Two young kids sit on a large rock jutting out from the side of a grassy hill. They are facing away from the camera. In front of them is a grassy valley with sheep grazing in it.
Still from El Eco/The Echo

El eco / The Echo was supported through Tatiana Huezo’s 2021 Chicken & Egg Award.  

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Joonam

dir. Sierra Urich

prod. Keith Wilson

A mother and daughter stand under opposite ends of a grape arbor together, harvesting grape leaves. A grandmother is seen sitting in the background with a walker in front of her. Each woman appears to be separately lost in thought.
Still from Joonam

Joonam is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee.

Find out about upcoming screenings here.

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MnM

dir. Twiggy Pucci Garçon

prods. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney

Still from MnM. Close up to the face of a person while a hand is using a brush to paint their eyelids.
Still from MnM

MnM was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as a part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series and is eligible for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film.

graphic of a film reel

PAY OR DIE

dirs. & prods. Rachael Dyer, Scott Alexander Ruderman

prod. Yael Melamede

PAY OR DIE
Still from PAY OR DIE

PAY OR DIE is a participant of Project: Hatched 2023.

Now streaming on Paramount +

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Plan C

dir. & prod. Tracy Droz Tragos

PLAN C strategy meeting 2021. A group of people gathers around a table with plates and drinks while a person writes on a whiteboard.
Still from Plan C

Plan C is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee.

Find out about upcoming screenings here or watch on demand here.

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Razing Liberty Square

dir. Katja Esson

prods. Ann Bennett, Corinna Sager, Ronald Baez

A young person is reclined in a thin column. There is a construction behind them.
Still from Razing Liberty Square

Razing Liberty Square is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee.

The film will open theatrically in Miami on January 26 and the Broadcast Premiere will be on Independent Lens on January 29.

graphic of a film reel

Reality Winner

dir. & prod. Sonia Kennebeck

prod. Ines Hofmann Kanna

Still from United States vs. Reality Winner. A young woman, Reality Winner, is standing in a field in front of a house. She has a serious expression. The light is low and the background is out of focus.
Still from Reality Winner

Reality Winner was supported through Sonia Kennebeck’s 2023 Chicken & Egg Award.

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Songs of Earth

dir. & prod. Margreth Olin

prod. Lena Faye-Lund Sandvik

Still from Songs of Earth

Songs of Earth was supported through Margreth Olin’s 2022 Chicken & Egg Award.

graphic of a film reel

The Eternal Memory

dir. & prod. Maite Alberdi

prod. Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue

Still from the Eternal Memory
Still from The Eternal Memory

The Eternal Memory was supported through Maite Alberdi’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award.

Now streaming on Paramount +.

graphic of a film reel

Total Trust

dir. Jialing Zhang

prod. Knut Jäger

Main characters in The Total Trust standing in front of the ocean.
Still from Total Trust

Total Trust was supported through Jialing Zhang’s 2021 Chicken & Egg Award.

Check out their list of upcoming New York screenings here

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Twice Colonized

dir. Lin Alluna

prods.  Emile Hertling Péronard, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Stacey Aglok, Bob Moore

The main character of Twice Colonized, Aaju Peter, in a close-up shot holding her hands in front of her face so her traditional tattoos on her hands and her chin are visible.
Still from Twice Colonized

Twice Colonized is a participant of Project: Hatched 2023.

Find out about upcoming screenings here.


Alumni filmmakers eligible for Best Documentary Feature

  • Anonymous Sister
    dir. & prod. Jamie Boyle
    prods. Marilyn Ness, Elizabeth Westrate
  • The Lady Bird Diaries 
    dir. & prod. Dawn Porter
    prod. Kim Reynolds
  • Victim/Suspect
    dir. & prod. Nancy Schwartzman
    prods. Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Alice Henty, Rachel de Leon, Amanda Pike
  • Who I Am Not
    dir. Tunde Skovran
    prods. Andrei Zinca, Danielle Turkov, Paul Cadieux, Patrick Hamm, Amy Shepherd, Edith Weil, Daniel Szandtner, Janos Kovacs 
  • You Were My First Boyfriend
    dirs. Cecilia Aldarondo, Sarah Enid Hagey
    prod. Ines Hofmann Kanna (prod. of Reality Winner)

Alumni filmmakers eligible for Best Documentary Short Film

  • Bone Black: Midwives vs the South 
    dir. Rebecca Richman Cohen
    prod. Yoruba Richen
  • Rest Stop
    dir. Crystal Kayiza
    prods. Brit Fryer, Jalena Keane-Lee
  • The Recall
    dir. Imani Dennison (POV Shorts Co-Production Fund Grantee)
    prod. Flor Tejada
  • The Feeling of Being Close to You
    dir. & prod. Ash Goh Hua

Post written by Communications Intern Tess Caldwell

Five Supported and AlumNest Films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival!

We are proud to have two Chicken & Egg-supported films and three films from our filmmaker community at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, we are thrilled to see 2020 Chicken & Egg Award Recipient Maite Alberdi being honored with the annual Vanguard Award during the Opening Night Gala at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The festival’s US documentary competition slate is made up of 50% women, and the World Competition slate is made up of 67% women. Chicken & Egg Pictures is committed to supporting women and non-binary filmmakers and we’re proud to see so much representation in this years’ competitions. The festival will take place from Thursday, January 18 through Sunday, January 28, 2024, in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. We hope to see you there!

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.

Get your tickets here.

graphic of a film reel

Union

dirs. Brett Story, Stephen Maing

prods. Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone

Chris Smalls appears in Union by Brett Story and Steve Maing, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. | Photo by Martin DiCicco
Still from Union

Union was supported through Brett Story’s 2022 Chicken & Egg Award and is participating in the U.S. Documentary Competition.

Get your tickets here.


From the AlumNest


Shoutouts

We are thrilled to see 2020 Chicken & Egg Award Recipient Maite Alberdi being honored with the annual Vanguard Award during the Opening Night Gala. The award annually honors artists whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence. In an interview with Variety about receiving the award, Maite said, “The Eternal Memory is a film that has taught me so much about the infinite ways of telling, looking at and working with real-life stories and I am proud and humbled to be among such an extraordinary group of filmmakers who have been given this recognition.” Congratulations, Maite! 

We are also proud to have two longtime collaborators featuring films in the lineup this year. An Eggspert on our team, Joslyn Barnes is executive producing Conbody VS Everybody, and Carla Gutierrez, an advisor in our labs, is directing FRIDA. Congratulations!


Meet Our Staff

We are also excited that our Chief Executive Officer Jenni Wolfson, Program Director Kiyoko McCrae, and Associate Director of Development Rebecca Celli will be in attendance at the festival. They will be attending Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported screenings and industry events. Make sure to say hi! 


Post written by Communications Intern Tess Caldwell

The Nest at Sarajevo Film Festival 

We are proud to see Chicken & Egg Award recipient Mila Turajlic’s film Non-Aligned: Scenes From the Labudović Reels and an AlumNest film on the lineup for Sarajevo Film Festival this year! 

Our very own Program Manager Iva Dimitrova has also been selected as a part of the three-member jury for the Documentary Competition. The festival will take place from Friday, August 11 to Friday, August 18, 2023, and will be attended by two of our staff members. We hope to see you there!

Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels

dir. & prod. Mila Turajlić

prod. Carine Chichkowsky

Stevan Labudović in the archives of the Yugoslav Newsreels surrounded by reels of films he shot during the Algerian Liberation War.
Still from Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels

Non-Aligned: Scenes From the Labudović Reels was supported through Mila Turajlić’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award.

Get your tickets here.


From the AlumNest


Meet our Team at Sarajevo Film Festival

Representing Chicken & Egg Pictures, Development Manager Allison Villegas Roman and Program Manager Iva Dimitrova will be in attendance at the festival. Together, they will participate in industry events and network with filmmakers. They will also be briefly attending the Rough Cut Boutique, as well as other industry events offered through the festival’s CineLink Industry Days.

Iva will be a part of the 3-member jury for the Documentary Competition. For her role, she will be watching 20 regional films (21 countries from the Caucasus to the Balkan) that are a mix of short, medium-length, and feature-length, and award the following prizes: 

  • The Heart of Sarajevo for the best film 
  • Human Rights award for the best documentary that deals with an H.R. topic
  • Special jury Award
  • Best short film- Heart of Sarajevo

Post written by Communications Intern Tess Caldwell

Three Nest-supported Films at Blackstar Film Festival

We are proud to see three Nest-supported films and two AlumNest films on the lineup for Blackstar Film Festival this year! The festival will take place from Wednesday, August 2 to Sunday, August 6, 2023, in Philadelphia, and will be attended by three of our staff members. We hope to see you there!

The Script

dir. Brit Fryer, Noah Schamus

prod. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney

Still from The Script. In a set, a person with their back to the camera, talks to two other persons that are sitting in chairs in front of a table. To the right and left, there are camera crew people.
Still from The Script

The Script was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series and is having its Philadelphia Premiere.

Get your tickets here.

graphic of a film reel

Sol in the Garden

dirs. & prods. Emily Cohen Ibañez and Débora Souza Silva

Still from Sol in the Garden. A woman in profile to the camera is inside a greenhouse, touching the leaves of a guava tree.
Still from Sol in the Garden

Sol in the Garden is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee having its East Coast Premiere.

Get your tickets here.

graphic of a film reel

MnM

dir. Twiggy Pucci Garçon

prod. Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney

Still from MnM. Close up to the face of a person while a hand is using a brush to paint their eyelids.
Still from MnM

MnM was supported in partnership with Multitude Films as part of the QUEER FUTURES (2022) series and is having its Philadelphia Premiere.

Get your tickets here.


From the AlumNest


Meet our Team at Blackstar Film Festival

Left to Right: Kiyoko McCrae, Tobi Phang-Lyn, Kat Zhao

Representing Chicken & Egg Pictures, our Program Director Kiyoko McCrae, Industry & Artist Development Manager Tobi Phang-Lyn, and Development Assistant Kat Zhao will be in attendance at this year’s Blackstar Film Festival. They’ll be supporting our alumni films, expanding our connections with filmmakers and industry, participating in discussions about field-wide challenges, and more! The team is particularly interested in the conversations generated by the panels that speak to the politics of curation, the aesthetics of BIPOC filmmakers, disability justice, and the experiences of queer filmmakers.


Post written by Communications Intern Tess Caldwell

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.”