Breaking Through The Lens

Breaking Through The Lens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit on a mission to make gender equality in cinema non-negotiable. Founded at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival in direct response to the stark underrepresentation of women behind the camera, we have identified the financing stage as the most critical barrier standing between women and LGBTQIA+ directors and the screen, and we are committed to dismantling it. Through action grants, fiscal sponsorship, expert-led workshops, industry mentorship, and curated investor introductions at the world's most prestigious film festivals, we move beyond advocacy into tangible, results-driven impact. We believe that access to funding should never depend on gender or proximity to power, and that the boldest stories deserve the resources to be told. By connecting exceptional filmmakers with the capital, tools, and community they need to bring their visions to life, Breaking Through The Lens is reshaping the future of global cinema, one story at a time.