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Halle Berry Says Anti-Violence Film and Portraying a ‘Female Way of Dealing With Violence’ Is ‘Something the World Needs Right Now’ While Presenting Tribeca’s Through Her Lens Winners
Gem Little and producer Kseniya Yorsh won the Chanel x Tribeca Through Her Lens award for “Cowards”, securing full financing to make the short film. Halle Berry said its anti-violence message and portrayal of a female approach to conflict felt especially important, while the programme highlighted women’s creative agency and the need for stories told from their perspectives.
Set in 1999 Chicago, “Cowards” follows 11-year-old Diamond as a friendship crisis makes her question the toughness she has been taught to adopt. The decision followed three days of workshops, mentoring and industry discussions, with a jury including Berry, Regina King, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Ella Rubin and Meg Ryan; mentors included Celine Song and Gina Prince-Bythewood.
In short
- “Cowards” won full financing through Tribeca’s Through Her Lens.
- The short explores youth violence through a young girl’s perspective.
- Halle Berry praised its anti-violence message and female viewpoint.
Explained simply
Through Her Lens is a film programme run by Tribeca and Chanel to support women filmmakers. It gives selected teams mentoring and industry workshops, and an award can provide funding to make a short film.
The programme focuses on helping women shape and tell stories from their own perspectives. “Cowards” is set in 1999 Chicago and follows an 11-year-old girl facing a crisis in a friendship and questioning what it means to be tough. The film’s focus on handling conflict without violence connects to wider discussions about how stories portray violence and whose experiences they show.
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