Help a 16yo Director Get to Her 1st International Screening

I am in shock - but the best kind.

My short film about female friendship loss called Are We Okay was just accepted into the Vancouver International Youth Film Festival, and it’s screening on opening night. It’s an incredible opportunity to share my work on an international stage - but I need your help to get there!

I’m 16 years old, and I come from a low-income household. My family supports me in every way they can, but we simply don’t have the resources to fund an international trip like this on our own; especially with only two weeks to book everything.

I’m aiming to raise $8,000 to cover the costs for me and my mum (my chaperone) to travel from Australia to Vancouver and attend the festival.

Your support will help cover:

Why This Film Matters

Are We Okay is a short film I wrote and directed about female friendship loss and bullying. It follows Abby, a girl whose best friend is slowly and painfully pulling away from her– something many girls experience but rarely talk about honestly. For anyone interested, you can watch the first scene/teaser trailer here.

This story is incredibly personal to me. I poured everything I had –emotionally and creatively– into telling it with care, because I know how isolating that kind of loss can feel.

After I finished the film, I held a private screening at IDEAcademy with over 60 attendees. My cover pic is from the screening, me on the left with the core cast :)

The audience response at the screening emotionally impacted me. Parents and teen girls came up to me afterward and said things like:

“I cried, it was basically exactly what happened to me.”

“This is what my daughter has gone through”

“This should be shown in schools.”

That’s when I decided I had to keep sharing it, and so I submitted it to film festivals around the world. And VIYFF now wants to screen it on their opening night!

Why Attending VIYFF is so Important

Being selected for the Vancouver International Youth Film Festival –and for opening night– is more than just a cool milestone. It’s a real step forward toward my dream of making Are We Okay into a full-length feature film.

As a young, female director trying to break into the industry, I know how rare these chances are– and how much they can open doors.

VIYFF’s vision is to serve as the bridge between the film industry and youth filmmakers: nurturing and showcasing rising stars in youth filmmaking and bridging connections to experienced professionals.

I want to take full advantage of what they offer to participants/attendees, especially bridging connections, as success in the film industry heavily relies on networking.

Attending this festival in person means that I can:

How You Can Help

Attending VIYFF in Vancouver is a pivotal opportunity for me to get in-person feedback and take this project to the next level - but I can't do it without your help.

If you believe in:

Then please consider donating to help make this trip possible, or sharing this page with others who might want to support. All donated money will be going to my mother’s bank account for her to handle, since I’m a minor.

NOTE: If you're able to help, please donate as soon as possible. I need to secure plane tickets by the 16th of May to take advantage of affordable fares and ensure I can attend the Vancouver International Youth Film Festival.

Thank you so much for helping me take this next step.

Ziva Taylor