1. Lupita Nyong’o – East River
Short film without dialogue about the relationship between physical and emotional space. A lone traveler arrives in New York City and fashions deceiving relationships amidst the industrial ruins of the Brooklyn waterfront.
Watch it on Vimeo
2. Florence Pugh – The Falling
It’s 1969 at a strict English girls’ school where charismatic Abbie and intense and troubled Lydia are best friends. After a tragedy occurs at the school, a mysterious fainting epidemic breaks out threatening the stability of all involved.
Watch it on tubi
3. Kerry Washington – Our Song
Follows three friends, Lanisha (Kerry Washington), Maria (Melissa Martinez) and Joycelyn (Anna Simpson), best friends and members of their school’s marching band, through the hot streets of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. During the closing weeks of summer, the small moments and dramas that mean nothing and everything to a young girl navigating her way into adulthood start to accumulate. And the girls and their friendships change forever.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video
4. Nikohl Boosheri – The Wedding
Rami, a young Muslim man, is preparing for his wedding with Sara while fulfilling a queer sexuality in secret due to a strict religious and cultural upbringing.
Watch it for FREE on Filmocracy
5. America Ferrera – Real Women Have Curves
The story of a first generation Mexican-American girl and her passage to womanhood. Although she wants to go away to college, she must battle against the views of her parents, who think she should stay at home and provide for the family. As a compromise, she works with her mother in a sewing factory over the summer and learns some important lessons about life, helping her make a decision about her future.
Watch it on HBO MAX
6. Constance Wu – The Feels
Andi and Lu are excited to celebrate their upcoming wedding with a joint bachelorette weekend in wine country. On the first night, things get off to a rocky start when one of the brides admits that she’s never had an orgasm.
Watch it on Netflix
7. Nichole Sakura – Model Minority
Written and directed by ER (1994) castmember Lily Mariye, this gritty, sexually frank coming-of-age story has won 11 awards. Set in inner-city Los Angeles.
Watch it for FREE on Filmocracy