Indie films are emerging as a response to global women's healthcare crises, presenting supernatural narratives that intersect with women's rights. Films like Kylie Aoibhean's "The Dysphoria" depict horror elements based on personal experiences with gender-affirming surgery. Nancy Urich's "Feed" explores the challenges of motherhood through folklore. Filmmaker Connie Shi's "The Rebirth" portrays empowerment through a character's newfound abilities after taking an abortion pill, encapsulating hope and the importance of fighting for future change.
"It almost felt like I had to sell my soul to do it," said filmmaker Kylie Aoibhean, whose experience traveling to Thailand from Sydney, Australia for gender-affirming surgery inspired "The Dysphoria." The horror short follows a young woman who makes a ghastly deal with a witch in exchange for her problematic boyfriend.
In "Feed," a stomach-churning creature short, filmmaker Nancy Urich and her co-writer Stephanie Johns unpacked their difficult experiences as young moms in Canada through some lesser-known Icelandic folklore. "Breastfeeding is natural, but it's not obvious how it works," said Urich.
"Women are fucking superhuman," said filmmaker Connie Shi, who directed herself in the harrowing action short, "The Rebirth." The multi-hyphenate New York filmmaker stars as a waitress stuck dealing with customers - when she realizes the abortion pill she just took has also given her superpowers.
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