Olivia Wilde Says Filmmakers Need Backers Who ‘Believe in Your Insane Idea’ at Breaking Through the Lens Sundance Panel

Breaking Through the Lens used its Sundance perch to put financing — not just representation — at the center of the equity conversation.

The global nonprofit hosted a panel Tuesday at the Canon Creative Studio in Park City, where it also announced the winner of its 2026 Action Grant. The discussion brought together Olivia Wilde, producer and MountainA co-founder Sophie Mas, impact-driven producer Saba Zerehi and Imagine Documentaries president Sara Bernstein to examine the structural barriers facing independent filmmakers, particularly women and LGBTQIA+ creatives.

BTTL CEO and founder Daphne Schmon opened the event by outlining the organization’s mission to close the gender gap in film by tackling what she described as the industry’s most persistent choke point: access to capital. She then revealed the five finalists for the 2026 Action Grant and named the winner, “I Brought You Into This World,” directed by Brittany Ferrell.

“We founded Breaking Through the Lens to move beyond conversation and into action,” Schmon said, emphasizing the organization’s focus on funding as a lever for real change.

Moderated by BTTL board member Liz Cardenas, the panel spanned personal career journeys and candid reflections on power, isolation and sustainability in the film industry. Mas emphasized the importance of partnering with financiers who share a project’s vision, while cautioning against funding that demands creative compromise. Zerehi spoke to the challenges of producing, describing it as a lonely role where building the right team often requires careful navigation to stay true to one’s values.

Wilde, reflecting on her experience following her Sundance directorial debut, warned against the pressure placed on emerging filmmakers — especially women — to immediately leap into larger studio systems. “You need people who will believe in your insane idea,” she said. Bernstein corroborated that sentiment, recounting the professional disorientation she felt transitioning from commissioning to producing after leaving HBO.

The Action Grant provides $10,000 to support a concrete step in production and is open to women and LGBTQ+ filmmakers with projects in late-stage development. BTTL received a record number of submissions from 60 countries. The finalists and winner will join the organization’s 2026 cohort, receiving mentorship and the opportunity to pitch investors at Cannes.

For Wilde, the panel’s setting was its own reminder of why the work matters. “There’s so much doom and gloom,” she said. “But we’re here telling stories. It’s inspiring to be here.”