Refinery29’s Girl-Power ‘Shatterbox Anthology’ To Launch August 28th

Refinery29’s series of 12 short films is close to its premiere date. On August 28th, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the female-skewing media company will premiere the first episode of its Shatterbox Anthology, which only features projects written, directed, and animated by women.

The goal of Shatterbox is to shatter the barriers that keep women from being properly represented in the film industry (hence the name). When the project was first announced, Refinery29 noted that only 12 of the 100 highest-grossing films of 2014 had a female protagonist, and only 7% of the films released that year were directed by women.

To help change that trend, Refinery29 has enlisted the services of some of Hollywood’s most recognizable ladies. Chloe Sevigny was the first Shatterbox director to be revealed, and Refinery29 discussed additional films led by Kristen Stewart and Gabourey Sidibe at its 2016 NewFronts presentation.

None of those women, however, will factor in the first Shatterbox film to see released. Instead, Refinery29 is leading off with Watching You, Watching Me, a documentary written and directed by Pamela Romanowsky.

Beyond the Refinery29 website, Shatterbox films will also be available through Comcast’s Watchable service. “The goal always was to get the films in front of as wide of an audience as possible,” Refinery29 chief content officer Amy Emmerich told The Hollywood Reporter. “We also looked for partners who believed in the mission of what we were doing and why we were doing it.”

After Watching You, Watching Me arrives on the 28th, Refinery29 plans to release a new film each month until all of its Shatterbox Projects are live.