Breaking Through The Lens
2026 BTTL PROGRAM
CINEMA
NON-PROFIT CONSULTING
GENDER EQUITY IN FILM
Breaking Through The Lens (BTTL) is a global non-profit dedicated to closing the gender gap in cinema by addressing its most persistent structural barrier: access to financing. Founded in 2018 at the Cannes Film Festival, the organisation supports women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ directors with projects in late-stage development, providing a tailored year-long programme of industry mentorship, development grants and curated investor access. Launched from a pitching event in a private villa on the Croisette, BTTL has since grown into one of the most respected initiatives of its kind, with activations at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. At the heart of the 2025–2026 cycle is the BTTL Action Grant — a $10,000 development fund open to feature film and documentary directors worldwide. Finalists join the annual Cohort, receiving one-to-one coaching, tailored introductions to leading financiers and sales agents, and travel support to present their projects at the Cannes Film Festival Investor Showcase. This cycle drew a record number of submissions from over 60 countries, with a jury assembled from the highest levels of the international industry — including Oscar-winning producers, BFI and Netflix executives, and Sundance Lab founders.
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Raffaella Rossiello serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Breaking Through The Lens, bringing to the organisation her distinctive expertise at the intersection of luxury communications and cultural diplomacy. Drawing on a decade as International Communication Director at Chopard — where she oversaw global brand strategy, Cannes Film Festival partnerships and celebrity relations — Raffaella shapes BTTL's positioning and visibility across international markets, from fundraising narratives to festival presence. As part of the 2026 programme launch, Rossiello Communications spearheaded the organisation of a high-profile panel at Cannes, bringing together prominent public figures and industry voices to amplify BTTL's mission and accelerate awareness of the 2026 Action Grant and Investor Showcase. The event united the worlds of cinema, luxury and social impact — a strategic intersection that defines both BTTL's ambition and Rossiello Communications' singular approach to cultural brand-building.
