The 2026 Cinema Eye Honors revealed their nominations, and filmmakers from Women Make Movies’ Production Assistance Program — along with distinguished Program alum — made an extraordinary showing across Feature, Short, Broadcast, and Audience Choice categories. Notably, three of the nominees for Outstanding Feature are directed by WMM filmmakers: SEEDS (dir. Brittany Shyne and made with the support of our Production Assistance Program), COVER-UP (dir. alum Laura Poitras), and THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (dir. alum Geeta Gandbhir, who is also co-director of WMM release LOVE THE SINNER).
SEEDS and COVER-UP received a total of FIVE nominations each, the second highest total in the awards this year. Brittany Shyne, director of SEEDS, is the most nominated individual this year, with four of her film’s nominations attributed directly to her. Poitras is now the most nominated individual in Cinema Eye Honors history, with 16 career nominations, including the 3 individual nominations she received this year. Alum and WMM filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir also made history this year with nominations for three separate projects across the Feature Film, Short Film, and Broadcast categories including THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR, THE DEVIL IS BUSY, and HARLEM ICE.
WMM PA Program Nominations at a Glance
WMM PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FILM NOMINATIONS
SEEDS — dir. Brittany Shyne
- Outstanding Feature
- Outstanding Direction
- Outstanding Cinematography
- Outstanding Sound Design
- Outstanding Debut
APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS — dir. Petra Costa
- Outstanding Production
- Audience Choice Prize
COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! — dir. Amber Fares
- Audience Choice Prize
WMM PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALUM NOMINATIONS
COVER-UP — co-dir. Alum Laura Poitras
- Outstanding Feature
- Outstanding Direction
- Outstanding Editing
- Outstanding Original Score
- Audience Choice Prize Longlist
- Poitras is now the most nominated individual in Cinema Eye Honors history (16 nominations).
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR — dir. Alum & WMM Filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir
- Outstanding Feature
- Outstanding Direction
- Audience Choice Prize Longlist
- Gandbhir is also recognized this year for:
THE DEVIL IS BUSY — dir. Alum & WMM Filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir
- Shorts List
HARLEM ICE — dir. Alum & WMM Filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir
- Anthology Series
FOLKTALES — dirs. Alum Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing
- Outstanding Cinematography
- Outstanding Original Score
- Outstanding Sound Design
- Audience Choice Prize Longlist
