Director's Statement
Twenty years ago, I went on a cross-country road trip with a woman who would later become my wife and the mother of my children. We were young and just beginning to fall in love—so, naturally, we fought the entire way across America. As we drove through the Badlands and Michigan’s desolate Upper Peninsula, I came to realize that America is irritatingly beautiful. Some of the ugliest chapters in American history—like chattel slavery and the Trail of Tears—unfolded in the most breathtaking landscapes. When we reached Georgia, we decided to visit a plantation. At the ticket booth, the man wanted to charge both of us. I couldn’t believe they make Black people pay to visit plantations—as if we hadn’t already paid enough! We were at a pivotal moment in both our road trip and our relationship: Do we pay, turn back, break in, or break up? These questions echoed my own tender and unresolved relationship with race, queerness, and America—core themes of my film. The protagonist of Cottonmouth is Ayo, a young Black queer woman grappling with the legacy of slavery and the uncertainty of her romantic future. The film employs familiar rom-com conventions—such as whether opposites attract—while complicating the genre by centering a Black lesbian who is not yet “out” in the deep south. With comedic care and curiosity, Cottonmouth explores the generational trauma of slavery and its impact on race, love, and America’s persistent racial amnesia. Despite the heaviness of these themes, the film leans toward the light in the dark. Ultimately, queer and interracial love prevail—a hopeful ending that feels particularly needed in these heartbreaking times. The cinematography balances expansive landscape shots with intimate close-ups that capture the tension and desire between Ayo and Dana. Visually and tonally, the film seeks equilibrium—light and dark, drama and levity, tension and release.
Director, Writer, Producer - Ama Anane
Ama Anane (Writer, Director & Executive Producer) The product of Jamaican and Ghanaian parents, Ama Anane grew up in two of the wildest places on earth: Papua New Guinea and Las Vegas. Her scripts and standup explore the identities and experiences that divide and make us whole. Ama is currently part of the NBC Universal TV Writing Program and was named one of Austin Film Festival’s 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025. She currently works as a staff writer for a new Peacock-Universal television show. Cottonmouth is Ama’s directorial debut. Ama is also the founder of Good Influence Consulting, which works with nonprofits, foundations, and public institutions. She directed stakeholder engagement efforts for the 2020 U.S. Census in California, CA Reparations Taskforce, the Conrad Hilton Foundation, the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, and UCLA. A graduate of Emerson College and Columbia University, Ama serves on the governing board of Communities in Schools and lives with her wife and kids in Los Angeles.
Director's Statement
Twenty years ago, I went on a cross-country road trip with a woman who would later become my wife and the mother of my children. We were young and just beginning to fall in love—so, naturally, we fought the entire way across America. As we drove through the Badlands and Michigan’s desolate Upper Peninsula, I came to realize that America is irritatingly beautiful. Some of the ugliest chapters in American history—like chattel slavery and the Trail of Tears—unfolded in the most breathtaking landscapes. When we reached Georgia, we decided to visit a plantation. At the ticket booth, the man wanted to charge both of us. I couldn’t believe they make Black people pay to visit plantations—as if we hadn’t already paid enough! We were at a pivotal moment in both our road trip and our relationship: Do we pay, turn back, break in, or break up? These questions echoed my own tender and unresolved relationship with race, queerness, and America—core themes of my film. The protagonist of Cottonmouth is Ayo, a young Black queer woman grappling with the legacy of slavery and the uncertainty of her romantic future. The film employs familiar rom-com conventions—such as whether opposites attract—while complicating the genre by centering a Black lesbian who is not yet “out” in the deep south. With comedic care and curiosity, Cottonmouth explores the generational trauma of slavery and its impact on race, love, and America’s persistent racial amnesia. Despite the heaviness of these themes, the film leans toward the light in the dark. Ultimately, queer and interracial love prevail—a hopeful ending that feels particularly needed in these heartbreaking times. The cinematography balances expansive landscape shots with intimate close-ups that capture the tension and desire between Ayo and Dana. Visually and tonally, the film seeks equilibrium—light and dark, drama and levity, tension and release.
Director, Writer, Producer - Ama Anane
Ama Anane (Writer, Director & Executive Producer) The product of Jamaican and Ghanaian parents, Ama Anane grew up in two of the wildest places on earth: Papua New Guinea and Las Vegas. Her scripts and standup explore the identities and experiences that divide and make us whole. Ama is currently part of the NBC Universal TV Writing Program and was named one of Austin Film Festival’s 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025. She currently works as a staff writer for a new Peacock-Universal television show. Cottonmouth is Ama’s directorial debut. Ama is also the founder of Good Influence Consulting, which works with nonprofits, foundations, and public institutions. She directed stakeholder engagement efforts for the 2020 U.S. Census in California, CA Reparations Taskforce, the Conrad Hilton Foundation, the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, and UCLA. A graduate of Emerson College and Columbia University, Ama serves on the governing board of Communities in Schools and lives with her wife and kids in Los Angeles.
