"Help Bring When Big People Lie to Cannes"

Back in 2008, before volunteering in Italy for two years, I took a solo trip to France with the Cloud Foundation for a short film festival dedicated to teen filmmakers. It was one of the first times I saw my work projected on a big screen—and internationally at that.

It’s taken a long, long time, but I’m incredibly proud to share that I now have a film officially playing in competition at the American Pavilion at Cannes. The film is called When Big People Lie, and if you follow me, you’ve probably seen me post about it.

This is a deeply personal story for me written and created as part of my AFI Conservatory experience, and the love it’s received from festivals like Telluride, POFF, AFI Fest, NewFilmmakers LA, and now Cannes has been humbling beyond words.

At first, I told myself I couldn’t go. But after speaking with mentors and peers, I’ve realized: I have to be there. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How often do you get to have your film shown at the epicenter of the global film industry?

A Quick Synopsis of When Big People Lie:

Elvis (Kaden Quinn) just turned eight, and for his birthday, his wish has sort of come true. His single mother Lola (Sasha Merci) has invited an immigrant stranger, Mohammed (Faruk Amireh) to live with them in exchange for money. The arrangement takes an unexpected turn when Lola and Mohammed plan an unconventional, seemingly impromptu wedding. Spiraling into a sea of confusion, Elvis navigates his newfound stepfather while half-remembering his biological one (Ajayi Jackson) in flits of collapsing memory and make-believe. When an unscheduled visit from authorities (Diane Sargent) surprises the family, it not only complicates his world, but risks everything he knows.

When Big People Lie is rooted in stories from my childhood in Boston, MA, drawn from the real experiences of immigrants like my mother and the unimaginable lengths she went to just to make sure I had what I needed.

When I wrote this story, I didn’t realize just how relevant it would be in today’s world. But to represent it on a global stage, I need help.

I’m trying to raise $5,500 to cover travel, food, and lodging (none of which I've gotten) to arrive by the 17th. If you believe in the power of independent storytelling, or just want to help someone reach a lifelong dream and start the machine for a feature on this very story, any contribution will help—truly.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for supporting stories that might otherwise go unseen.