Proof of Concept, an accelerator program supporting women, trans and nonbinary filmmakers founded by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Emmy-nominated producer Coco Francini and Dr. Stacy L. Smith, and supported by Netflix, has announced its second cohort.
The eight selected filmmakers are Taylor Bakken, Jessica Barr, Asmahan Bkerat, Rachel Goldberg, Jessica Kozak, Alejandra López, Sam Mandich and Olivia Peace. Each selected project receives $50,000 to produce a short film, designed as a proof of concept for a larger feature or series; filmmakers also receive creative mentorship and industry access. The films will premiere in a curated showcase later this year.
“We built this program to provide tangible support for filmmakers whose work might otherwise be overlooked, and to create space for their ideas to evolve,” said Blanchett and Francini, partners at Dirty Films. “By investing in their projects and supporting their creative development, we are working to expand access and ensure that more inclusive, dynamic storytelling reaches audiences.”
Taylor Bakken, Jessica Barr, Asmahan Bkerat and Rachel Goldberg.
Dr. Smith, founder of USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, added: “These 8 filmmakers have incredible depth of skill and originality, and we believe it’s critical to create more opportunities to support their projects. By investing in new voices and removing the barriers that have historically limited access to the industry, we aim to ensure that these talented creatives have a real pathway to bring their stories to life and thrive in the entertainment industry.”
The Proof of Concept accelerator launched in 2024 to address some of the key obstacles facing stories about women, trans, and non-binary people from being made. (Earlier this year, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative reported that just 7% of directors across 1,900 movies were women and that women and girls made up 39% of leading actors in the top movies of 2025.)
In its first year, the accelerator funded 10 short films, which have gone on to receive significant acclaim and screen at numerous film festivals, including CinePride, Miami, Seoul, Hamptons, American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Busan, the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival (AmDocs), HollyShorts and at the American Pavilion in Cannes. Award-winning projects from the first cohort include: “Ella,” from director Niki Taylor-Roberts, which won at the NAACP Image Awards; “A Man Who Takes Pictures of Flowers,” from Yoo Lee, a winner at San Luis Obispo and AmDocs, two Oscar-qualifying festivals; and “Queerbait,” from Nate Gualtieri, a winner at CinePride.
Jessica Kozak, Alejandra López, Sam Mandich and Olivia Peace.
The eight filmmakers in the second cohort and their projects are listed below. Full details on the program and recipients can be found on the Proof of Concept website.
Taylor Bakken, “The Mushroom Man”
Set in a world overtaken by moisture where moss is equated with beauty and mold is terminal, the Mushroom Man is an outcast whose fungi contains healing properties that he uses to keep his lover alive.
Jessica Barr, “Mitzvah”
As a 13-year-old girl prepares for her Bat Mitzvah while her mother battles cancer, a night with two older teens offers her a fleeting escape from grief-and a first taste of autonomy.
Asmahan Bkerat, “The Oracle”
This documentary follows Hasna, a 14-year-old growing up in Petra’s ancient caves, balancing teenage life with the responsibilities of her community. Guided by her two grandmothers, she navigates daily routines, sheep, and tourists, all while an encroaching threat looms over their secluded home, challenging the continuity of their ancestral life.
Rachel Goldberg, “Holy Shit!”
A young woman’s desperate search for a bathroom gets her inadvertently caught up in a bizarre shakedown with her best friend.
Jessica Kozak, “Open Your Eyes”
When estranged sisters Alice and Cole reunite in their childhood home after their mother’s death, old childhood wounds are compounded by the arrival of strange neighbors.
Alejandra López, “The 51st State”
A young Puerto Rican woman is stopped at a militarized checkpoint where soldiers uncover explosives she was carrying — igniting the war between the 51st state and the resistance.
Sam Mandich, “Hey Mr.”
Leading up to her Catholic confirmation, a sheltered teenage girl befriends a new girl in town who invites her to see the world differently. But as her burgeoning sexuality slips further out of her control, she’s confronted by a new version of herself – one she believes to be possessed.
Olivia Peace, “Congratulations, You’ve Won!!!”
A woman on the brink of eviction wins a free house online! All she has to do is prove she exists.
