My name is Leila Glenn and I’m a filmmaker and recent graduate from NYU, Tisch School Of The Arts, Film & Television program. TREADING was born from the overlapping geographies of my life: Berkeley, where my family’s stories of Black and Brown community shaped my understanding of boyhood, and New York’s Lower East Side, where I’ve lived for the past four years. In both places, I’ve seen boys like Kenyatta—brilliant, tender, and burdened by silence. I made this film to honor them, to break cycles I’ve witnessed firsthand, and to reflect the spirit, grit, and beauty of the communities that raised me. It’s a love letter to Black and Brown boys navigating the fragile space between youth and manhood, longing for connection but unsure how to ask for it.

As a filmmaker deeply influenced by his Bronx nativity, my producer, LaVar Hinkson, was immediately connected to the story I wanted to tell. He often says he gets stunted when asked to describe his upbringing because it’s tied to more than memory—it’s tied to identity, rooted in a deep love for a city he’s been proud to call home his entire life. His inclusion brought a vital authenticity to this production, helping craft TREADING into a story full of power and meaning, one that resonates with people who carry that same pride within them. Together, we are working to build a film that reflects the nuance, ache, and quiet hope of the boys it’s made for.