Meg Ryan is taking on a new role behind the scenes as part of the 2026 Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program. The actress and filmmaker has joined the program’s jury alongside Halle Berry, Regina King, Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Ella Rubin.
The 11th edition of Through Her Lens will take place in New York City from September 22 to 24, 2026. The three-day program supports emerging women and non-binary filmmakers through mentorship, workshops and funding opportunities.
Meg Ryan Joins the 2026 Through Her Lens Jury
Ryan is joining a group of established film professionals who will evaluate the projects presented during this year’s program.
The 2026 jury includes Halle Berry, Regina King, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Ella Rubin and Meg Ryan. Tribeca lists Ryan as an actor, director and writer, reflecting the broader filmmaking experience she brings to the program.
The jury will hear presentations from the participating filmmakers during the final stage of the three-day workshop. The winning project will receive production support through the program.
Who Is Joining Meg Ryan on the Jury?
The panel brings together talent from different areas of the film industry.
- Meg Ryan — Actor, director and writer
- Halle Berry — Actor, director and founder
- Regina King — Actor, director and producer
- Autumn Durald Arkapaw — Director of photography
- Ella Rubin — Actor
According to Tribeca, the group will help select the project that receives the program’s main production grant.
What Is Through Her Lens?
Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program was created by Tribeca and CHANEL to support emerging filmmakers.
The initiative focuses on women and non-binary writers, directors and producers based in the United States. It combines artistic development with industry mentorship and financial support.
For the 2026 cycle, five projects were selected to participate. The filmmakers take part in workshops, individual consultations, peer sessions and industry conversations designed to strengthen their projects before the final presentation.
The 2026 Filmmakers and Their Projects
Tribeca’s 2026 participants are developing five short-film projects.
They include Break, Camouflage, Cold Embrace, Cowards and Grippy Socks.
The projects cover different stories and themes. For example, Break follows a young Black surfer whose desire for public attention begins to affect her relationship with the water. Camouflage centers on an 11-year-old girl navigating mandatory military training in Shenzhen in 2007.
Other projects explore subjects ranging from experimental therapy to childhood friendship and identity.
Celine Song and Other Filmmakers Will Mentor Participants
Ryan and the other jurors are not the only established names involved in the 2026 program.
The mentor lineup includes Celine Song, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Aleshea Harris, Fala Chen and Gina Prince-Bythewood.
The mentors will work with participants during the three-day workshop. Their sessions are designed to help filmmakers strengthen their scripts, creative ideas and approaches to bringing their projects to the screen.
What Does the Winning Filmmaker Receive?
The program offers substantial financial support to the selected project.
Tribeca says the winning filmmaker receives a $120,000 grant to produce the short film, along with specialized guidance and mentorship. The other four participants each receive a $10,000 development prize to continue developing their projects.
That structure means the program supports the entire group, rather than providing financial assistance only to the final selected project.
Meg Ryan’s Filmmaking Work Beyond Acting
Ryan’s involvement in Through Her Lens also reflects her work outside her best-known acting roles.
She returned to the director’s chair for 2023’s What Happens Later, a romantic comedy in which she starred opposite David Duchovny. Ryan directed the film and also received writing and executive producer credits.
The film marked another chapter in Ryan’s career as a filmmaker. Her participation in the Tribeca program now places her in a setting focused on helping emerging creators develop their own projects.
When Is Through Her Lens 2026 Taking Place?
The 11th edition of Through Her Lens is scheduled for September 22–24, 2026, in New York City.
The program continues a partnership between Tribeca and CHANEL that has supported emerging filmmakers through workshops, mentorship and funding. Tribeca says the initiative was established in 2015.
For Ryan, the 2026 program adds another behind-the-scenes filmmaking opportunity to a career that has included acting, directing and writing.