Twenty-something Sonja (Olivia Hargroder, superb in her feature film debut) is an ambitious, sassy, raging bundle of creative energy whose dreams of artistic self-expression are only matched by her desire for independence. Born with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), she refuses to allow biology to be her destiny and defies all obstacles—and people—that block her way. But when her mom dies, Grandma Doris has other plans for Sonja—in a board-and-care facility. Sonja's anger and grief find an empowering outlet when her friend Hakim, a Sudanese refugee, introduces her to krump street dancing. First-time director Genevieve Clay-Smith collaborated with a fully inclusive cast and crew on this funny, fiery, and family-friendly film that provides a uniquely compelling and beautiful testament to the power of resilience, independence, and love. Produced by Bus Stop Films, a company dedicated to end-to-end inclusivity in film production. —K.D. Davis
MICHELE TURNURE-SALLEO: Producer