Mama Bears

Premiered June 20, 2023

Directed by

Daresha Kyi

Conservative, Christian beliefs have defined their lives. Now they’re championing their LGBTQ+ children.

EXPLORE THE FILM

About the Documentary

They call one another “mama bears” because of the ferocity with which they fight for their children’s rights. Although they grew up as fundamentalist, evangelical Christians praying for the souls of LGTBQ+ people, these mothers are now willing to risk losing friends, family, and faith communities to champion their kids—even if it challenges their belief systems and rips apart their worlds.

The Filmmakers

Daresha creates both narrative and documentary film and television in Spanish and English. Her second feature, Mama Bears, is about how conservative, Christian mothers are transformed when they accept their LGBTQ+ children. Her short, Texas Strong, won two Webbys and an Emmy, and her first feature, Chavela, screened in over 40 countries.

Laura Tatham is creative documentary producer currently working on the feature What We Carry, having most recently completed the feature Mama Bears (‘22 SXSW, Independent Lens) and the short Black Beauty (‘22 Inside Out). She was a 2020 Film Independent Documentary Lab fellow and a 2020 + 2022 WIF/Sundance Institute Financing Intensive fellow.

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