New York City’s Greenwich Hotel was abuzz Friday afternoon as women from all corners of Hollywood gathered to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the mentorship-focused Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program.
Guests at the luncheon — including Jenny Slate, Katie Holmes, Rachel Weisz, Selma Blair and The Gilded Age‘s Louisa Jacobson — were dressed to impress in head-to-toe Chanel, with signature tweed jackets on display in addition to quilted purses and other accessories. The French luxury fashion brand partnered with Tribeca Film nearly a decade ago to launch Through Her Lens, which supports the work of female and non-binary independent filmmakers. Acclaimed directors including A.V. Rockwell (A Thousand and One) have emerged from the mentorship program.
Kerry Washington, who serves on the advisory committee of Through Her Lens, told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m really proud to work for an initiative that’s all about protecting and amplifying women’s voices. Stories have such power to change culture and to reflect the importance of women.”
Known for playing White House fixer Olivia Pope for seven seasons of Scandal, Washington said that the role “changed [her] life.” She recently caught the attention of fans with a TikTok video including photos of her and onscreen love interest Tony Goldwyn, referring to “the Black wife effect.”
We Were the Lucky Ones star Joey King also spoke with THR on the carpet, saying of the Through Her Lens initiative, “I always find it really beautiful when companies don’t just say that they’re supportive of women filmmakers and non-binary filmmakers, but they really showcase that, and that’s why I think today is so special. I’m excited to be part of something that helps lift up minority voices.”
Martin Scorsese’s daughter Francesca Scorsese also attended the event.
Later in the day, Washington and fellow advisory committee members Patty Jenkins and Laura Karpman participated in a panel moderated by Perri Peltz at the nearby Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo. The group talked about fostering the next generation of female filmmakers, reflecting on the state of the industry and what needs to change in order to create an equitable playing field.
Jenkins, director of the DC blockbuster Wonder Woman, lamented Hollywood’s lack of diverse content
Washington reflected on the value of taking chances in such a risk-averse industry. Scandal, she recalled, was greenlit with some apprehension.
Discussing the possibility of finding success outside the Hollywood studio system, the panelists stressed the importance of women supporting each other’s projects.