Kering collaborates with Sundance to support female film-makers

Luxury fashion conglomerate Kering has partnered up with the Sundance Institute 'Women at Sundance' Fellowship program to offer year-long support to six female film-makers.

The initiative, which was developed to help film-makers over cover potential obstacles they may encounter whilst creating a career film, will see six film-makers from the Institute's program receive a year-long, individualized scheme including one on one mentorship, coaching and access to networking opportunities.

"Women make up 50.8 percent of the US population and yet only 4.2 percent of the 100 top grossing films are made by female directors," said Francois-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of the Kering Group. "However, each year for the last 13 years, 25 percent of American directors at the Sundance Film Festival have been female. I am thus very excited and proud about Kering supporting 'Women at Sundance' Fellows. Empowering women to succeed and encouraging a more diverse film industry is essential when we consider the impact that films have on our ways of thinking and behaving. Sundance Institute is doing this in a very pragmatic and exemplary way."

In addition to supporting the program, Kering will team up with Sundance Institute to further develop its 'Women in Motion' program and offer the selected fellows customized training sessions to help them develop their leadership skills. Together the two will host a panel discussion based on the 'Women in Motion' program to promote openness and diversity in the film industry, set to take place in April 2016, in New York.

"We have always believed that diverse artists and perspectives are critical to the health and vibrancy of independent storytelling," added Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute. "We are grateful for Kering's support in helping us raise awareness of the importance of gender equality in entertainment and empowering women film-makers."