FILM SYNOPSIS
Amma’s Pride is a poignant short documentary that chronicles Valli’s unwavering support for her trans daughter, Srija, as she navigates the trials and tribulations of falling in love, getting married, and fighting for state recognition of her marriage in a traditional small town in South India. When societal pressures push Srija’s marriage to the edge, Valli clings to the hope of a miracle.
MEET THE TEAM
SHIVA KRISH
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER,
CO-EDITOR
He likes making accessible stories that help people enter worlds unknown to them. In Amma’s Pride he uses tried and tested love tropes popularized in Indian Cinema.
CHITHRA JEYARAM
PODUCER, CONSULTING EDITOR
Her work dismantles stereotypes by centering narratives illuminating the perspectives, struggles, and complexities of the most fundamental social unit: the family.
D'LO
PRODUCER
They facilitate ‘writing for performance’ & 'healing trauma through comedy' workshops, and created the “Coming Out, Coming Home” writing workshop series for South Asian and/or Immigrant LGBTQ Organizations across the nation.
AHAANAA MALHOTRA
IMPACT PRODUCER
A graduate from Columbia University's Documentary Program 22', She is deeply passionate about leveraging the power of film to drive meaningful change through both urban and grassroots community engagement.
EMILIA TOLEDO
ASSOCIATE IMPACT PRODUCER
With an undergraduate degree in Justice and Peace Studies, she is passionate about film as a tool for social impact and community building as well as the expansion of ethical approaches to documentary filmmaking practices.
VENKAT
RAMANAN C.S.
CO-PRODUCER, EDITOR,
CO-CINEMATOGRAPHER
NAVEEN
KUMAR M.S.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
KISHORE
RAMACHANDRAN
CINEMATOGRAPHER
KARTHIKEYA
MURTHY
MUSIC COMPOSER
HARI PRASAD M.A.
SOUND DESIGN & MIX
SOFIA ASHRAF
SUBTITLER
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UMANAATH MONY
GRAPHICS
ANWESH SAHOO
POSTER DESIGN
The reason why this film is so important is that it captures the persistence of a mother’s love and pride for her child, which challenges the shame that results from transgressing societal expectations
and roles. I hope we can support
films like these to continue
changing the culture in India.
-Ryan S
FILM FESTIVALS
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
WINNER SHER VANCOUVER AWARD FOR BEST LGBTQ FILM ISAFF FILM FESTIVAL 2024
NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL 2024
UPCOMING SCREENINGS AND FESTIVALS
INDIA: AMMA'S PRIDE X GAYSI EVENT, INDIA
TBD, MUMBAI
WORLD PREMIERE: 64TH KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL, POLAND [ACADEMY QUALIFYING]
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE: BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL, US [ACADEMY QUALIFYING]
WEST COAST PREMIERE: MAKE NEWS: MAKE NOISE. PRESENTED BY MINORITIES IN FILM, US
NEW YORK PREMIERE: MAKE NEWS: MAKE NOISE. PRESENTED BY MINORITIES IN FILM, US
CANADIAN PREMIERE: INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL, CANADA
SOUTHEAST PREMIERE: OUT ON FILM: ATLANTA'S LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL, US [ACADEMY QUALIFYING]
NEW YORK: IMAGEOUT: THE ROCHESTER LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL,US
NEW YORK: WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL, US [ACADEMY QUALIFYING]
NEW YORK: NEWFEST: THE NEW YORK LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL, US
SOUTH AMERICAN PREMIERE: BELO HORIZONTE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, BRAZIL
NEW YORK: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FILM FESTIVAL, US
MIDWEST PREMIERE: ST LOUIS: ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, US
INDIA PREMIERE: INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA (IFFI), INDIA
INDIA: DIALOGUES CALCUTTA INTERNATIONAL LGBTQIA+ FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL, INDIA
PAST SCREENINGS
HOST A SCREENING
Our vision for Amma’s Pride is to create a more inclusive world for trans and queer individuals by fostering family and community acceptance. Join us in shaping a future of belonging by engaging key gatekeepers—lawyers, doctors, government officials, corporations, and others—who hold the power to open doors for trans and queer communities.
Host a screening at your school, workplace, community group, or local movie club to spark the transformative conversations that pave the way for change. Submit your request using the form below.
PATH TO PRIDE IMPACT TOUR
PHASE ONE will launch in late 2024, spanning five Indian cities. It will bring together the film's participants, the LGBTQIA+ community, families, allies, local thought leaders, policymakers, NGOs, activists, lawyers, and educators for panels, workshops, StoryCorps sessions, and discussions on topics like family acceptance, Understanding Transness 101, and Srija's historic verdict.
PHASE TWO Set for early 2025, will take Amma’s Pride to the grassroots level with screenings in village Panchayats across Tamil Nadu, the smallest units of governance in India. With plans to reach over 1 million people across 12,528 Panchayats, this phase will foster inclusive conversations about trans and queer rights, facilitated by local community leaders.
PHASE THREE will take place during Pride Month 2025, spanning five US cities. Like the India tour, we will collaborate with local partners and organizations. Most importantly, Valli and Srija will be there in person to share their powerful stories firsthand and culminate of our Impact tour.
GOALS
1
TO FOSTER SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR TRANS AND QUEER FOLKS THROUGH FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY.
2
RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SRIJA'S BRAVERY AND LEGAL VICTORY IN CHANGING HER FATE AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
3
TO CHALLENGE NOTIONS OF FAMILY AND LOVE, WE STRIVE TO CREATE COMMUNITIES AND SPACES WHERE CHOSEN FAMILIES CAN FLOURISH.
PRESS
WHERE DAUGHTERS BREAK AND MOTHERS BLOOM
She isn’t an activist fighting inner prejudice, nor a character grappling with societal expectations. She’s simply a mother, her heart beating instinctively for her child. Isn’t that, after all, the truest antidote to systemic hate—the simple, unshakeable love of a parent?
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INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF CANADA ANNOUNCES WINNERS
Sher Vancouver Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film. Jury Members: Onir (Filmmaker), Brandon Contreras and Matthew Curiano of The Homo Sapien Experience (Content Creators), Sundeep Morrison (Filmmaker/Actor) Winner: “Amma’s Pride” (Shiva Krish
AMMA'S PRIDE TELLS THE STORY OF TAMIL NADU'S FIRST REGISTERED MARRIAGE OF A TRANS WOMAN AND MAN
“Love is love, no matter what gender one is of,” says Shiva, adding that he set out to document Srija and Arun’s story based on this view. But as he got to know the couple and their family, he discovered the source of their strength: Srija’s mother.”
AMMA'S PRIDE REVIEW
“The reason why this film is so important is that it captures the persistence of a mother’s love and pride for her child, which challenges the shame that results from transgressing societal expectations and roles. I hope we can support the distribution and viewing of films like these to continue changing the culture in India."
BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH
MORE LGBTQ+ FILMS
“The inspiring documentary “Amma’s Pride” depicts the love Valli has for her trans daughter, Srija, in Thoothukudi, South India. When Srija tries to wed Arun Kumar, they are denied, and the couple seeks to validate their marriage and trans rights. However, Arun’s mother opposes Srija, and a series of events strain the couple’s relationship. As years pass, Valli hopes for her daughter’s happiness, and “Amma’s Pride” hinges on love winning out.”
“In the short documentary Amma’s Pride, director Shiva Krish shares the journey of Valli as she watches her trans daughter, Srija, fall in love and fight to marry in a traditional small town in south India. The film follows Tamil Nadu’s first registered marriage between a trans woman and a cisgendered man, zooming in on Srija’s biggest supporter, Valli.”
11 FILMS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS AT BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL
EXPERIENCE THE HEART
OF AMMA'S PRIDE AT
YOUR NEXT EVENT
Share the moving journey of love, acceptance, and resilience with your team. Hosting a screening of Amma's Pride at your corporate, institutional, or training program event can inspire meaningful conversations and foster a deeper connection to inclusion and allyship. Click below to bring this story to your space.
