MEET FRÉDÉRIC TCHENG

“Mentoring is a two-way street for me. I like to give where I can, but I get a lot out of it too. I'm interested in people and the creative process.”

Frédéric Tcheng, courtesy of the artist.

Frédéric Tcheng is a French-born filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York. His films have premiered in Venice, Toronto, Sundance, Telluride, CPH:Dox and Tribeca. His most recent film Invisible Beauty (2023), co-directed with trailblazer activist Bethann Hardison, was released by Magnolia Pictures and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary. In 2019, Frédéric directed the documentary Halston, a CNN Films production and Amazon Original. His award-winning directorial debut Dior and I was released in 2015 by The Orchard. Previously, Frédéric had co-directed the 2011 acclaimed documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, which the New York Times called “dizzily enjoyable.” He also co-produced and co-edited Valentino: The Last Emperor, the 2009 hit documentary shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar.

Frédéric has served as a filmmaking mentor for Queer|Art, a non-profit LGBTQ+ arts organization. He holds an engineering degree from France and an MFA in filmmaking from Columbia University.

Work

Mentor Profile

Queer|Art|Mentorship will be accepting applications from emerging artists across the country. Are you open to working with someone remotely, or would you prefer they are based in the same city as you?

“I am open.”

What interests you about mentoring?

“Mentoring is a two-way street for me. I like to give where I can, but I get a lot out of it too. I'm interested in people and the creative process.”

Given your experience and interests, what kind of emerging artist do you feel best positioned to support?

“I would like to work with an artist who knows what their work is about and are interested in exploring different ways and finding the best version of that work. Someone who can listen to feedback from another artist.”

As a mentor, what would you like to offer an emerging artist? What would you like to receive?

“I love to offer feedback - whether it's a script, a rough cut, a text. I am a problem solver. I will help you find creative solutions. I love a two way dialogue and engagement. We can go see films together.”

Have you had mentors of your own? Who have they been?

“So many people have impacted me as 'mentors.' Some have been friends, some have been collaborators, or peers, and some have been the subjects of my films.”