We are moving stories

“I wanted to explore the power of female friendship. Set in 1984, Brave Little Army is the story of how four girls - Em, K, Lu and Dee - meet at age 12 and become friends forever. It’s the first film in a trilogy.”

“You should watch this film because Ella (played by Maddie Holliday) is everyone at 14! If you’re female or male – you have felt what she feels. And I think that’s nice, to watch things we can relate to that make us feel what we felt when we were young.”

“People who have watched the film often tell us that they really appreciate us telling this story as it wasn’t common until recently to see queer rom-com, not to mention a coming-of-age queer rom-com that celebrates love, friendship, and family.”

“I think the piece of dialogue that Celine says to Maggie about how she’d rather be selfish than miserable, is a really core theme and question that the film proposes. The challenge hinted at here is the tension between choosing to live your life in a way that pleases other people (in this case, family) at the expense of your own happiness, or living for yourself in spite of how it might disappoint or upset others.”

“We hope to find even just one person that can relate to our story and can see themselves represented in media.”

“I made this film because I’ve always been attached to coming of age stories, however most of the queer films I’d seen in this genre were often about coming out and/or rooted in tragedy. I wanted to tell a story about a confident young girl who had a crush on another girl and whose problems were not about being gay.”

“Being a teenager, going through puberty and growing up can be really difficult experiences, and all of this is magnified when you’re queer. I wanted this film to show people how growing up queer comes with its own unique hardships as well as its own unique beauties, and I also wanted to really celebrate the resilience of the kids that go through the worst possible stuff every day, but still manage to shine so brightly and bring so much colour to the world.”

“I have always been interested in adolescence and the burgeoning sense of identity. Eight years ago, I met a trans youth while working as a school social worker, and was very moved by her depth, resilience and self-awareness. Some part of me filed away that sense of her complexity, and it stayed with me for several years until I felt moved to begin an exploration of younger trans identity in Austin, Texas.”

“We made the film because we had never seen a character like Jamie exist on film, a big teen who discovers he’s attracted to big men, whose desires and emotional life are treated with dignity and given center stage. ”

“I see so much of myself and the human condition within Dembe’s story. October is about identity, desire, fear, and jealousy as much as it’s about coming out as a transwoman in Uganda. I hope people can see themselves in Dembe too - whether they’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or not.”

“I made my film to address many things that were in my heart. Homelessness is an issue that I’ve always wanted to bring to light because people who are going through it are often forgotten about. My family’s personal history with homelessness was enlightening in how thin the line is and how quickly it could happen to you. So many of the stories are complex and unique and deserve to be humanized. ”

“SUPERGIRL tells a heartwarming, personal, and empowering story that sheds light on the fascinating subcultures of competitive powerlifting and modern Orthodox Judaism. It also highlights a strong young female protagonist who breaks stereotypes, which I think we need to see in the media now more than ever. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and hopefully it will inspire you to pursue your own dreams.”

“Hekademia breaks new ground because it delves into social science fiction from the perspective of a teenage girl. Science fiction is so often from a male-dominated, heteronormative perspective, and this film moves beyond that into new territory. It also asks questions about the adolescent relationship to technology that have become increasingly relevant, especially after over a year spent relying on technology as our primary mode of communication.”

“It’s surprising just in the variety of ways different people relate. I expect other people who grew up in small southern American towns to relate. And a lot of people who grew up in the 70s are fond of the 1970s retro aspect of the film. But I’ve had people with really different backgrounds come up and tell me a story about themselves and I’ve realized that they were able to see themselves in these characters in ways I had never expected.”

“Coming of age films are universal as everyone has been a teenager or is a teenager at some point in their lives. But this film isn’t just about having crushes, it’s more about the feeling of starting your life and not knowing how that’s supposed to work.”

“I lived the life that these girls are living and I understand having good intentions and yet still making bad decisions. I think we can all look back on the stupid things we did as teens and those of us who prevailed and ended up turning out to be reasonably responsible citizens, can get a laugh out of seeing it on screen...If you like somewhat racy material that’s not exactly PC, you may enjoy this film.”

“There are not many coming-of-age stories that portray the surreality of being a Latina immigrant, partially raised by an American, in Florida. As soon as the movie manifested in my brain, I knew it had to be made because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to see on screen.”

“If you like a coming-of-age period drama, taking a walk down memory lane, I guess this would be the right film for you!”

“My goal was to represent the kinds of women that I recognize in my day-to-day life – women who are proactive, have their own point of view and fuck unapologetically. I also wanted to speak about Croatia’s current generational problem: a lack of opportunities for young adults who are therefore forced either to settle for the few accessible options or emigrate.”

“Friendship. Coming of age. The feeling of being on the periphery of someone else’s tragedy and how helpless it feels to know you cannot stop the pain they will endure.”

“There’s some solid themes of mid-twenties existential crisis in there. But I think a lot of us have hit that point in our twenties where we were faced with the reality of growing-the-f***-up and life isn’t just fun and games anymore. It’s time to get real about your career, and for some who choose something like “Loz” that’s really about “chasing your dreams” it’s the reality of realising it’s actually bloody hard and gruelling and a total shit fight. And then there’s boys and the heartbreak and the hope that some one can save you from the mess you’re trying to avoid haha.”

“Well I think the very personal theme of a young girl discovering her true identity is very relatable. In fact male or female, we all make discoveries as we grow up and often they are life changing, as in this film. On a universal level the theme involves lost love, grief over that loss and an unexpected new love and relationship. The cycle of life.”

“Loss is inevitable; life brings with it a series of ups and downs. ‘Rosetta’s Blues’ is centered around this experience - a girl’s journey of coming to terms with losses and what it takes to move forward. Naturally people deal with grievances differently, Rosetta is a bit dramatic, but that is a characteristic that makes her endearing.”

“To enjoy a journey into the 1970’s past and get to know quirky characters who are trying to overcome big family losses and find unique paths in life.”