In Jamaica—where legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals are virtually non-existent and trans communities face profound risk—Jacqueline grapples with the impending transition to her female identity while mourning the loss of contact with her son, Michael. As hostility closes in around her, she is forced to confront what it means to live authentically in a society that denies her dignity, safety, and belonging.

Director's Statement

Ten years ago, my collaborator, Jamaican playwright Stefhen Bryan, shared a haunting memory from his youth in Kingston: witnessing the brutal public attack of two gay men in a crowded market square. His story revealed the deep currents of fear and intolerance that still shape the lives of many LGBTQ+ Jamaicans. I felt an immediate pull to bring this truth to the screen. River Mamma emerged as a meditation on motherhood, gender identity, and the fragile threads of human connection. At its heart, the film asks: what does it mean to love a child while living one’s truth, especially when that truth defies cultural expectation?

Category: Drama, Festival Alum, Short.
Themes: Discrimination, Family, LGBTQIA.

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