The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and Reel Sisters are presenting an evening of notable award-winning and family-centered short films on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 7 pm, in honor of Women's History Month. The collection represents uplifting characters who keep their families intact through life challenges, featuring works from acclaimed directors including Tamika Lamison and Maria de la Cruz Rudloff.
Tickets are $17, with discounts available for BAM and Reel Sisters members, and can be purchased at https://www.bam.org. The event showcases seven short films that explore themes of family, resilience, and identity through diverse female perspectives. This presentation is significant as it amplifies voices often underrepresented in mainstream cinema during a month dedicated to recognizing women's contributions.
The lineup includes "Shallow End," directed by Maria de la Cruz Rudloff, which follows twenty-something Agatha as she pieces together her life after a lengthy stay in rehab. This film is particularly notable as it was Reel Sisters' 2025 Oscar qualifying short. Another featured work, "Superman Doesn't Steal" directed by Tamika Lamison, is a coming-of-age story set in 1970s Atlanta during the child murders, seen through the eyes of nine-year-old Harriet and her brother who are fascinated with superheroes.
Other films in the collection address various challenges faced by women and families. "Laundry" follows a couple whose lives are shattered when their six-year-old son suffers a severe accident, starring Tobias Truvillion and Danielle Moné Truitt. "The Knife" explores a young Black Irish woman's anxiety during her 20-week pregnancy scan when unexpected complications arise. "Gloria" features a Chinese woman in her 70s who finds new purpose in teaching herself Spanish while struggling with memory issues. "Musica Quarantena" is an animated short about a little girl whose love for her bedridden Papa inspires a town in lockdown to make music from their windows.
The importance of this event extends beyond entertainment, as it provides a platform for women filmmakers of color during Women's History Month. Reel Sisters, presented by African Voices, is the first Oscar qualifying film festival in the nation devoted to women of color and has showcased over 10,000 films by women of African, Asian, Native American, Indian, Latina and Arabic descent since its founding in 1997. For information about Reel Sisters, visit https://www.reelsisters.org.
BAM, which has been a thriving multi-arts complex for more than 160 years, attracts over 750,000 people annually to its Brooklyn campus. This collaboration represents BAM's commitment to presenting visionary and cutting-edge work while providing a welcoming cultural stage for global and local communities. The film showcase offers audiences an opportunity to engage with stories that reflect diverse experiences while supporting women filmmakers during a significant cultural observance.
