Renowned filmmakers to mentor seven rising directors in a yearlong program leading to their debut feature films
Graphic Above Available HERE | Director Bios Available HERE
LOS ANGELES – August 4, 2025 – The Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) today unveiled the distinguished mentors for the 2025 class of its Rising Director Fellowship. The mentors are Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen (Hunger, 12 Years a Slave), Emmy and DGA Award-winner Reed Morano (The Handmaid’s Tale, I Think We’re Alone Now), Academy Award-nominee Mike Mills (20th Century Women, Beginners), BAFTA and DGA Award-winner Niki Caro (Whale Rider, Mulan), DGA Award-winner Amber Sealey (Out of My Mind, No Man of God), Independent Spirit Award-winner Susan Johnson (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Carrie Pilby), and Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-nominee Erica Tremblay (Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds). These influential filmmakers will help guide the 2025 cohort of AWD Rising Director Fellows through a yearlong program, at the end of which the Fellows will have a completed feature script, pitch materials, and filmed proof of concept.
Launched to bridge the gap between short-form success and feature filmmaking, the AWD Rising Director Fellowship supports five to seven outstanding directors each year with a curated program of mentorship, education, industry access, and the production of a proof of concept for their original narrative film. The 2025 program will culminate with an exclusive industry screening, spotlighting the Fellows’ work for agents, executives, and producers.
This year’s already announced selected directors are Mora Carew, Robin Cloud, Lisa Cole, Saray Bravo Guidetti, Dana Nachman, Jenn Shaw, and Allex Tarr. Each was selected through a highly competitive process that included vetting by AWD Icon Members and Advisory Board leaders, including Directors Jennifer Warren, Mary Lou Belli, Kelly Park, and Aida Rodriguez, as well as the Rising Director Fellowship Chairperson, Lesley Powers.
“We are honored to welcome such an accomplished group of directors as mentors to the 2025 Rising Director Fellowship,” said Kylie Eaton, Interim Executive Director of AWD. “Having these luminaries guide our Fellows is a powerful vote of confidence in the 2025 cohort, and a testament to AWD’s mission to create meaningful industry access and long-term career momentum for women and gender-expansive directors.”
The Rising Director Fellowship, now in its second year, is made possible by generous support from Largo.ai, Backstage, ShotDeck, Final Draft, ScreenCraft, Peerspace, Scriptation, Front Row Insurance, and Chemical Wedding, makers of Artemis Pro and Helios Pro.
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ABOUT ALLIANCE OF WOMEN DIRECTORS (AWD)
Founded in 1997, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to achieving gender parity in the entertainment industry by substantially increasing the number of working women and gender-diverse directors. Through craft enrichment, mentorship, and industry partnerships, AWD provides vital support to its over 600 directing and ally members, who range from emerging filmmakers to award-winning veterans. AWD believes representation matters and works to ensure stories are told from all perspectives. For more information visit: www.allianceofwomendirectors.org
Press Contact:
Christina Lee for AWD
christinaelizabethlee@gmail.com