3500+ Films - 2.5 million words – 1 million viewers! Founder and Curator Carmela selects some of our most entertaining, powerful and inspiring Gen Z/Millenial - cancer films at We Are Moving Stories. These include documentary and drama, shorts and feature length about women’s stories, assisted suicide, diversity, real-life stories - and technology.
Total length of this section: 24 films.
<WOMEN’S STORIES>
bare - The defiant act of shaving her head helps 25-year-old Ellie find hope in the face of a recent breast cancer diagnosis. Writer/Director/Producer Kerith Lemon:
““Who will I be without my hair, without my breasts.” The first time I read those lines in Rebecca Hall’s short story I knew I needed to make this film, especially since I had known her since we were young. I was swept away by the truthfulness of a 25 year old going through this, the breast cancer experience, one that is mostly portrayed in mainstream media as an older woman’s disease.”
June Falling Down - After wandering aimlessly for the year after her father's death, June Larson is returning home for Harley's wedding - her best friend and the love that could have been. Now, lost in grief over her father's cancer, she's not quite ready to let Harley go so easily. Length: 115 minutes. Writer/Director Rebecca Weaver:
“I made this film because I had to. I felt like I had no choice, it was just in me. I lost my dad from cancer in 2009. Ten months after he was diagnosed he was dead. I had just turned 22 years old, and it was a complete shock to both me and my family. Meanwhile, I had always loved film and I danced back and forth with becoming a director throughout college, but when I lost my dad, I realized that that was a story I had to tell. ”
Scotty's Vag - The night of a sorority hazing event, a college freshman learns just how far she’s willing to go to impress an older girl. Length: 15 minutes 35 seconds. Writer/Director Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz:
“Scotty’s Vag delves into how women grow into their power and sexuality in relation to themselves and each other, instead of in relation to men. You should watch this film to see an example of how these relationships are messier and less typically palatable than those we often see depicted.”
Playing Pretend - Two idiosyncratic young adult girls await the results of a pregnancy test in the crappy bathroom of the Chinese restaurant they waitress at. As a line of customers outside grows, so do their chances of getting fired. Lauren wants to leave, Bobbi knows she won’t. We watch the dynamic of their fun but toxic relationship as they try to keep their lives together and grow up. Length: 12 minutes 44 seconds. Director/Producer Kaitlyn Scardino:
“I wanted to tell a story for all the 20-something-year-olds out there who feel like they’re messing up or playing pretend in life. As a 20-something-year-old girl, I often look around and feel light years behind. I feel like I should already have a steady income, be in a relationship, and be happy… but that’s not even close to the reality of things. ”
<KIDS>
Pavement - Anna, a teen girl, stands barefoot on burning hot pavement after discovering her father has terminal cancer. Length: 5.45 minutes. Actor/Writer/Producer Emma Halleen:
“Everyone has experienced loss, and if you’re fortunate enough to have escaped that tragedy, then you’ve experienced helping a friend through grief. There is a messiness and confusion that accompanies grief and loneliness. I think a lot of people can relate.”
Dear Bella - Bella accidentally discovers her mother is mysteriously ill and moved into an isolated bedroom. Through her innocent attempts to rebuild the relationship, they become pen pals. As the separation begins to take a toll on their relationship, Bella is left no choice but to confront the harsh realities of life. Length: 8 minutes. Writer/Director/Editor Zaira B Aguilar:
“I was seven years old when my mother had her first battle with cancer. My parents’ shielded me from any knowledge of my mother’s cancer in an attempt to preserve my innocence. However, that did more harm than good. This film became the bridge of healing from that scary time in my life and a visual representation of love and forgiveness towards my parents.”
Finding God - The only thing on Kristian’s mind is playing video games with his friends but when he discovers his mother is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness he and his friends embark on an odyssey to find the man that can help – that is, if he exists. Length: 12 minutes. Writer/Director Brittany Franklin:
“Cancer is something that is prevalent in our society and is among the top leading health-related causes of death. But there are so many survivors living to tell their stories and the families and communities involved in their recovery that go untold. “Finding God” is one variation of a common experience, told through the eyes of a young boy, Kristian, who is deeply affected when his mom is early diagnosed. It is essentially a message of hope. ”
Fishing - Sixteen-year-old Lola has been stuck in her room for three days; she confesses to a camcorder the secret keeping her locked inside. Length: 8:32 minutes. Director/Producer Josie Charles:
“It’s hard speaking to this without giving spoilers! But at its core, the film explores the intensity of young love, emergent female sexuality and the impact of pornography. So if you’ve ever had a crush or a first kiss, there’s something in it for you. Though I’d be surprised (and a little worried) if anyone related to all of the specifics of Lola’s story...”
The Bird Watcher is the story of Saffron, a single mother of two, who after being diagnosed with cancer, embarks on a journey to re-connect with her estranged birth mother in the hopes of finding family for her children. Length: 89 minutes.
“Writer Roslyn Muir lost a sister to cancer and wrote The Birdwatcher in a way as a way to work through some of her emotions. She sent the script to director Siobhan Devine as the two had just made a short film called OMG together. This script just happened to cross Siobhan’s desk shortly after she had heard that a good friend had passed away after battling for years against cancer.”
<ASSISTED SUICIDE>
Perdóname (Forgive Me) - A Catholic woman is put at odds with her faith when her cancer-afflicted sister asks her to commit the ultimate sin. Length: 13.28 minutes. Writer/Director Tani Shukla:
“Personally, this film explores the ethical question I’ve had circling in my mind for quite some time now – What do you do when a member of your family requests assisted suicide, but they need you to do it for them? ”
All In Her Stride / Directed and Produced by Fiona Cochrane Leverne McDonnell was an Australian actor and a close friend and colleague. When she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer she wanted to make a statement about voluntary euthanasia, so we made a documentary together about how she lived her life and her death - both with great humour. While voluntary euthanasia has been legalised in some countries, it is not legal in Australia despite support for it by the majority of the population in opinion polls. Length: 55 minutes. Interview with Director/Producer Fiona Cochrane.
Quality Problems - Family To-Do-List: Throw perfect eight-year-old's birthday party, find wandering grandpa, and deal with cancer in the left boob. Length: 106 minutes. Writer/Director Brooke Purdy:
“I wanted to create something with heart and soul. I wanted to inspire anyone who struggles. Be it with Cancer, Alzheimers or just plain parenting in today’s world… and I wanted to do it with laughter. I am so proud and grateful because what is on the screen is beyond even my wildest dreams.”
<DIVERSITY>
Last Will and Testicle - A man reveals his testicular cancer diagnosis to his quirky friends and family. Length: 13 minutes:
“The most important thing to me was to be honest and real. Some of the scenes in the series actually happened to me when I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The best medicine, for me, was to turn shocking and potentially devastating situations into something worthy of a bit of laughter.”
Last Will and Testicle - Season 2 - A gay man struggles with his walking and talking lump of testicular cancer. Length: 20 minutes. Writer/Director Byron Lane:
“In Season 1, my character tells his quirky friends and family that he has cancer and tries to comfort them by saying he’ll be okay. In Season 2, he finds out that even though the cancerous tumor testicle is removed, there’s still the chance it could come back. So he’s struggling to cope with the reality he’s not really cured (at least not right away—testicular cancer, however, is one of the cancers with the best treatment success rates). His lump of cancer, played by brilliant actor Drew Droege, follows him around and threatens his peace of mind.”
Breaking Fast with a Coca Cola - After growing up in the secular households of their Turkish immigrant parents in the Midwest, Özlem and Ada are desperate to celebrate a tradition of their own. For the first time, they embark on a day of fasting and a night of feasting for Ramadan. Length: 14 minutes 2 seconds. Writer/Director/Producer Amy Omar:
“That summer taught us the power of religion as a creator of community and was an exercise of actively making a choice to incorporate a practice into our identity, rather than have it influenced by a parent. In an uncomfortable political landscape post 9/11, we proudly held up a religious practice that society advised us to downplay.”
Homesick - Cancer comedy webseries about an American idiot living in London with a woman battling cancer and her 9 year old daughter who loves to bully him. Based on real events with the actors playing themselves. Writers/directors Benjamin Dujardin and Pat Giguere:
“It’s a story we had to tell. It’s based on real experiences and we found it both entertaining and life-affirming. We were simply compelled to put it on screen for others to enjoy. We saw an opportunity to make a funny and heartwarming show that could raise money for cancer research and we couldn’t pass it up.”
To Autumn - A high school teenager going through a life crisis takes a cancer patient on the last ride of her life before she dies. Length: 9.10 minutes. Writer/Director Kyle Trytsman:
“The over-arching theme of To Autumn revolves around how human beings are conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments can often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one and how we, as human beings, can learn from these events/moments (Inspired by Kent Nerburn’s “The cab Ride I’ll Never Forget”). How, in this day and age, we don’t appreciate one another as life is lived too fast and inconsiderately. Ultimately we need more kindness and gentleness than technology and greed.”
As One - Jill and Mike are confronted with the unimaginable and must give each other strength to keep on moving. As they lace up their sneakers and put one foot in front of the other, they discover that through connection every mile has a story. Length: 14.40 minutes. Writer/Producer/Actor Tawny B Traversa:
“I wrote this short narrative honoring Team and Training which raises life-saving funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, my fellow teammates, my beautiful friends who are survivors, and in loving memory of those we have lost. As a participant in this endurance running program, I wanted to give back to the cause in my own way and speak to why this team is so incredibly important to me. ”
<REAL-LIFE STORIES>
Company Town - Company Town is a groundbreaking investigative documentary that tells the story of a modern day David vs. Goliath. Following pastor David Bouie’s journey to save his town. He’s up against one of the nation’s largest paper mill and chemical plants, Georgia-Pacific, owned by billionaire brothers Charles Koch and David Koch of Koch Industries, a company neighbors worked their entire lives for making products like, Angel Soft, Brawny Paper Towels, Quilted Northern, and Dixie paper cups. He galvanizes the town, revealing untold stories of cancer and illness. A Whistleblower bravely steps forward shedding light on Georgia-Pacific’s egregious business practices. Length: 90 minutes. Interview with Director Natalie Kottke-Masocco / Co-Director: Erica Sardarian.
Flipping The Script: When Parents Fight Back - Few know that children already in remission from cancer are forced by doctors into long term (2-4 year) chemotherapy - mostly to horrendous consequences. But parents are fighting back. They are demanding better. And they are finding a way through where none has been found before. Length: 1 hour 54 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Jeff Witzeman:
“It’s gripping. Just watch the trailer or the first 5 minutes of the film. You won’t be able to put it down. Viewers tell me they couldn’t believe how uplifting it was yet how much they laughed and cried through the whole thing.”
Labyrinth Journeys presents the stories of adults, teenagers, and children who use seven Washington, D.C. area labyrinths as tools for healing, rehabilitation, meditation, stress reduction, spiritual awareness and playful exploration. Length: 27 minutes. Writer/Producer Cintia Cabib:
“The people who are featured in the film describe their personal journey on the labyrinth and why they are drawn to this pathway. A breast cancer survivor, an Iraq War veteran, an individual facing unemployment, a mother caring for her ill son, an office worker seeking a peaceful oasis during the work day, and two high school students dealing with the stresses of school are among the individuals who share their experiences of walking the labyrinth. These personal stories touch on universal themes of healing, transformation, health and well-being, and spirituality.”
<TECHNOLOGY>
Detected - Cancer survivor Melanie Griffith tells the story of a device intended to save the lives of millions of women: a bra that detects breast cancer. Length: 15 minutes. Director/Producer Seth Kramer:
“Breast cancer is one of the leading killers of women worldwide. Technology used to detect the disease often finds it too late. Our documentary short offers an inside look at one man’s quest to create the world’s first cancer detecting bra, using Internet technology to spot the disease earlier, cheaper, and more accurately. ”
What Goes Wrong in Cancer? - The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a Melbourne institution and world leader in cancer research, treatment and diagnostics. Our award-winning Peter Mac biomedical animation reveals the invisible molecular world within cells and how this can become disrupted, leading to cancer. Length: 14.37 minutes. Writer/Director/Animator Dr Maja Divjak and Writer/Narrator Dr Clare Fedele:
“Cancer is something that we all find uniquely terrifying. And it is very sobering to learn that 50% of us will likely develop cancer in our lifetimes. We all know people or have had family members affected by cancer. Yet, very few people have any understanding of the biology of cancer and how it actually works.”
Zebrafish: Practically People, Transforming the Study of Disease is a 10-minute, groundbreaking science documentary, in which a close-knit group of scientists explain – in easy-to-understand language – how the simple Zebrafish is a largely untapped treasure trove for understanding, treating and curing human diseases, including (but not limited to): Cancers, e.g., pancreatic, breast, leukemia and glioblastoma •Diabetes •Heart disease •Opioid addiction •Alzheimer’s disease •Autism •Rare diseases, such as Prader-Willi Syndrome. Executive Producer/Director Jennifer A. Manner:
“Despite demonstrated success and the promise of further discovery, funding for Zebrafish research is minimal, since its benefits are not as well known or understood as other biomedical research models. However, these small, transparent fish yield large quantities of statistically accurate, reliable and fast data for disease modeling and drug screening. ”