What is this film actually about?

BRIDGES is a triptych feature composed of three shorts: First Rain, Equinox, and Solstice. BRIDGES invites us into the enchanting organic worlds of Yara, Ilhan, Quina, and Luciana, each of whom embodies, expresses and connects through water, air, earth, and fire, respectively.

Solstice - which we are shooting first, in August 2018! - centers on Quina and Luciana, the earthy / fiery mother and daughter pair who are faced with a world full of change and possibility when they finally venture out of their secluded home in the woods to return to the women's gathering where Quina once found community and love.

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Why this film now? -- a note from the writer/director

It’s safe to say that most current societies are oppressive and downright dangerous for large groups of people. I’ve always been drawn to explore possibilities for an alternate, healthier, more evolved society and I’m thrilled to the core that more and more groups of people are centering their imaginations and resources in visions of a radically different future.

At the same time, I believe that most of us have been, to varying degrees, deeply wounded and traumatized by the existing systems of oppression, and in many fundamental ways are operating from a survival response. In this story, I set out to inquire into how these survival mechanisms might inform or hinder our capacity to create a society of true inclusivity and liberation.

Also - that’s my kid in the video. I’m a queer feminist raising a girl of color outside of mainstream society, so the question of building a better future feels urgent to me, and ever since she was born I’ve tried to be very intentional about giving her tools to thrive despite living in a patriarchal, deeply misogynistic and racist culture.

What I wasn’t prepared for was all the ways in which this new generation is ready to teach us about the world they want to build and how they want to define gender and cultural identity for themselves. There is a sense of humility and curiosity that we want children to have - but we need to embody that ourselves first. Like Quina in Solstice, we are challenged with learning from our youth, and must embrace growth and change as the only constant in life, or risk getting stuck in what we once decided was “evolved” but probably isn’t anymore.

Why we need your support

It's no secret that the film industry is incredibly male-dominated, white, and hetero-centric. In order to tell stories with a queer female gaze that reflect experiences and identities outside of the mainstream, we have to go the indie route, and raise funds ourselves to build our own productions where we can elevate women, trans* people and/or people of color behind and in front of the camera.

Crowdfunding is an incredible 21st-century opportunity not just for indie filmmakers to do just that, but for you as an audience-member to get to participate in the decision-making process of what kind of content you want to see more of.

So if you want to see more quality and thoughtful feminist, queer content, if you love esoteric symbolism and language (all you #brujxs out there!), if you love seeing brown people onscreen, or simply want to help tilt the extreme gender inequity in filmmaking, you are invited to join our team of supporters and make movie magic with us!

--> Check out our cool incentives - and fyi, EVERY person who donates, at any level, will get a social media shoutout & be entered into a monthly raffle for a suprise between June & November!

The team

    
Florencia Manóvil, Writer & Director    María León, Line Producer & Asst. Director

Dawn Valadez, Associate Producer           Gabriela Quintana, Production Coordinator

      
Tijana Petrovic, Director of Photography   Jesse Kerman, Editor

--> Want to help out during production? FILL OUT THIS FORM! <--

   Natalie Camunas, "Quina"

   

Dalila Ali Rajah, "Dahlia"                                D'Lo, "Jasper"

Kayen Manóvil, "Luciana".                     Rain Dove, "Onyx"

Mandahla Rose, "Yara"                              Giovannie Espiritu, "Violeta"/ Child acting coach

BONUS!
Watch "Dyke Central" here on Seed & Spark,
it helps us raise a little extra cash!