Beyond She: A Tapestry of Femininity - The Collection

Femininity is woven from threads of culture, fading memories, desire, shimmers of defiance, and the liminal spaces of self-discovery. It has long been weaponized, and legislated; often by those who have no stake in its realities. But beyond the noise there’s the lived experience: messy, fluid, full of contradictions.

Beyond She: A Tapestry of Femininity invites audiences into a collection of films that unravel what it means to exist within, alongside, and beyond traditional notions of femininity. This showcase reminds us that femininity is a force and identity is not prescribed but explored.

FILM LOG LINES

A Real One: A bright teenager learns the power of true friendship when a closely-held secret is discovered.

Caluim: A black actress receives very peculiar treatment on a film set made up of a white crew.

Chhaya: Somewhere between fantasy and paranoia, a comically absurd doctor’s appointment cracks open, unraveling the psyche of a survivor grappling with sexual assault. Drawing on the epic action of "RRR" and the mythic storytelling of "Pan's Labyrinth," "Chhaya" is crafted as a visual odyssey and an emotional unraveling. It ventures into the darkest corners of Jiya's mind, where her desire to flee from her past is as strong as her need to face it. The film's daydream sequence starts playfully but gradually takes on a surreal, haunting quality, embodying the inescapable nature of her experiences. The film is steeped in the history of suppressed female anger, an echo of stories like Draupadi's from the Mahabharata. Through "Chhaya," we question the inherited legacy of silent endurance and challenge the convention of muted female rage.

Forked Tongue: After moving back in with her overbearing mom, a recently unemployed 20-something starts creating juicy audio erotica under a male pseudonym and struggles to keep her identity and her hobby a secret when her fanbase explodes.

Mar from Marisa (Mar de Marisa): Marisa, after waking up to a call from her mother, finds herself immersed in introspection amidst mysterious events. She is startled by a strange sound of the sea, something unusual since moving to her husband’s city. When Marisa investigates the source of the sound, she discovers that her bedroom door mysteriously leads to a beach in her hometown. Involuntarily drawn to the ocean, she walks until she drowns in a complex of agony. At least, until awakening comes.

SIN-SFO: As they drive to San Francisco, married couple Angie and Danny debate a decision which will change their lives forever.