ABOUT THE FILM

In the 1950s, Grace and her older sister spend every summer at their grandparents’ house down South. Now that she’s 16, she’s made to follow her family’s religious tradition and get baptized. When Grace learns that a repentance is required before the ritual, she begins to question the budding romantic feelings she has for her best friend, Louise.

Shot on 16mm film and set within a fleeting summer in the Black American South, Grace exists in conversation with many works of art created in the Black Southern Gothic genre. This time though, it’s through a queer lens that explores the interiority of a Black queer girlhood.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:

Natalie Jasmine Harris is a Black queer filmmaker from Maryland passionate about telling coming-of-age stories. Her short film, Grace, premiered at The 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and her NYU thesis film, Pure, received The DGA Student Film Award and was acquired by HBO. Natalie is a 2024/2025 Sundance Ignite Fellow and has participated in artist programs with Film at Lincoln Center, GLAAD, SFFILM, Outfest, and more. Her work has been featured in publications including Teen Vogue, The Baltimore Sun, and The Huffington Post.