Proof of Concept, the Netflix-backed accelerator program supporting women, transgender and non-binary filmmakers, founded by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Emmy-nominated producer Coco Francini and Dr. Stacey L. Smith, has announced its second batch.
The eight filmmakers selected are Taylor Bakken, Jessica Barr, Azmahan Bukerat, Rachel Goldberg, Jessica Kozak, Alejandra Lopez, Sam Mandic, and Olivia Peace. Each selected project will receive $50,000 to create a short film designed as a proof of concept for a larger feature or series. Filmmakers also receive creative mentorship and industry access. These films will premiere in select showcases later this year.
“We built this program to provide tangible support to filmmakers whose work might otherwise go unnoticed and to create space for their ideas to develop,” said Dirty Films partners Blanchett and Francini. “By investing in their projects and supporting their creative development, we are working to expand access and ensure more inclusive and dynamic storytelling reaches audiences.”
Taylor Bakken, Jessica Barr, Azmahan Bukerat, Rachel Goldberg.
“These eight filmmakers have an incredible depth of skill and originality, and we believe it is important to provide more opportunities to support their projects,” said Dr. Smith, founder of USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. By investing in strong voices and removing barriers that have historically limited access to the industry, we aim to bring these talented creators to life and ensure they have an authentic path to success in the entertainment industry.”
The proof-of-concept accelerator was launched in 2024 to address some of the key obstacles facing stories about women, transgender, and non-binary people being created. (Earlier this year, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative reported that only 7% of the directors of 1,900 films were women, and women and girls accounted for 39% of the lead actors in the top films of 2025.)
In its first year, the accelerator funded 10 short films, which subsequently screened to acclaim at numerous film festivals, including CinePride, Miami, Seoul, Hamptons, American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Busan, American Documentary & Animation Film Festival (AmDocs), HollyShorts, and the American Pavilion in Cannes. The first group’s award-winning projects include “Ella,” directed by Niki Taylor Roberts, which won an NAACP Image Award; “The Man Who Photographs Flowers,” by Yu Li, winner of two Oscar-nominated festivals, San Luis Obispo and Amdocs. and Nate Gualtieri’s “Queerbait,” which won at CinePride.
Jessica Kozak, Alejandra Lopez, Sam Mandich, Olivia Peace.
The eight filmmakers in the second group and their projects are: For more information about the program and recipients, please visit the proof of concept website.
Taylor Bakken “Mushroom Man”
Set in a world where moss is equated with beauty and mold is a terminal dampness, Mushroom Man is an outcast whose fungi contain healing properties, which he uses to keep his lover alive.
Jessica Barr “Mitzvah”
As a 13-year-old prepares for her bat mitzvah while her mother battles cancer, an evening with two older teens provides her with a fleeting escape from grief and her first taste of independence.
Asmahan Bukerat “Oracle”
The documentary follows 14-year-old Hasna, who grows up in the ancient caves of Petra and balances her teenage life with her responsibilities in the community. Guided by her two grandmothers, she navigates daily life, sheep, and tourists as a looming threat to her secluded home threatens the continuation of her ancestral way of life.
Rachel Goldberg: “Oh my god!”
A young woman desperately searches for the bathroom and accidentally gets caught up in a bizarre dispute with her best friend.
Jessica Kozak “Open Your Eyes”
After the death of their mother, estranged sisters Alice and Cole are reunited in their childhood home, but old childhood wounds are exacerbated by the arrival of a strange neighbor.
Alejandra Lopez “The 51st State”
A young Puerto Rican woman is stopped at a militarized checkpoint and soldiers discover the explosives she was carrying, sparking a war between the 51st State and the Resistance.
Sam Mandich “Hey Mister”
A teenage girl sheltered while awaiting her Catholic faith befriends a new girl in town who invites her to see the world differently. But as her growing sexuality spirals further out of control, she comes face to face with a new version of herself who believes she is possessed.
Olivia Peace: “Congratulations, you won!!!”
Woman at risk of eviction wins free home online! All she has to do is prove her existence.
