Mama Bears is a touching, family-focused documentary that examines the intersections of motherhood, faith, pride, politics, and community. Originally premiering at the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) in 2022 and going on to win numerous awards, this film tells the stories of two conservative Christian mothers overcoming their own prejudices to become fierce advocates for their LGBT children, and a young lesbian whose lifetime of denial serves as an example of why that parental support is so important.
The film’s message of finding community, acceptance, and unconditional love permeates throughout the entirety of its 90-minute runtime—even the painful parts that show the hatred and discrimination these parents are fighting so hard against. Director Daresha Kyi’s decision to focus so specifically on these three families turns what could have been a rather generic documentary on LGBT advocacy into a truly intimate and heartfelt exploration of what it means to be a mother and to really show up for your kids in the ways they need you to (not just in the ways you think they do).
The Video Project is streaming this incredible documentary online free until November 20th with a video introduction from the filmmaker. To watch it, follow this link or paste the following URL into your browser: https://www.videoproject.org/mama-bears-preview.html