Gotta Be Me!

This program celebrates stories of unique, fun, and ferocious folks who are rejecting stereotypes and living their authentic selves. Stories on this reel include a boy who wants to wear a dress to his First Communion; a documentary reconsidering the symbolism of hair on our bodies; and a young child that recalls the moment when she told her mother “I am not a girl”. Thought-provoking films that leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

bristling – Body hair — we spend a lot of time dealing with it, but how much time do we spend thinking about it? In this playful film, five people talk about their body hair and the decisions behind it. (2020 / 8 mins / Switzerland / dir. Marlen Schmid / in German w/English subtitles)

I AM SKYLAR – I Am Skylar is the emotionally compelling story of an articulate girl who is thoughtfully defining her future and the woman she is to become. Skylar faces the complexities of being a transgender girl on the cusp of puberty with refreshing honesty and unshakeable dignity. (2019 / 15 mins / Canada / dir. Rachel Bower / in English)

MOMMA HAS A MUSTACHE – MAMA HAS A MUSTACHE is a short, quirky, fully animated documentary about gender and family, as seen through children’s eyes. Driven completely by audio interviews of kids ages 5-10, the film uses these sound bytes combined with clip-art and mixed media to explore how children are able to experience a world outside of the traditional gender binary. (2021 / 10 mins / USA / dir. Sally Rubin / in English)

JUST JOHNNY – Johnny has one simple request: He wants to wear a dress to his First Communion. But it turns out that request is not so simple because it forces his community to confront their prejudices and fears as they attempt to support him, including his own Dad. (2021 / 21 mins / Ireland / dir. Terry Loane / in English)

JOYCHILD – A young child recounts the moment when they told their mother “I’m not a girl” for the first time. (2020 / 6 mins / USA / dir. Aurora Brachman / in English)