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MSPIFF43 Emerging Filmmaker Competition Winner

ABOUT THE FILM

In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, Mira is a successful student shouldering high expectations from her parents and her teachers. But as she wrestles with new desires and ample curiosity inspired by the handsome Sri, she finds herself at odds with the school’s strict rules and her mother’s incessant involvement in her new romance. As Mira strives to escape the watchful eyes of her teachers, mother and fellow students and find time alone with Sri, Mira approaches learning about love with the same dedication that she applies to her studies, resulting in sometimes comic and shocking conclusions. 

MSPIFF43 Emerging Filmmaker Competition Jury Statement: A unanimous choice, we appreciate many aspects of this touching and subtle film. The film begins in a familiar manner, presenting the story of a young girl’s coming-of-age, but it quickly subverts expectations and unravels traditional modes of telling such a story. The film’s compelling narrative shows a young girl who simultaneously learns and unlearns the rules that govern gender and sexuality, as she explores her own desires and learns to respect and appreciate the desires of others. Most notably, the film represents a complex and nuanced mother-daughter relationship. Rather than shy away from the frustration and competition that many cultures often encourage in female relationships, Girls Will Be Girls uses these well-worn tropes to upend their dominance, and instead, presents a relationship between women that comes from a place of care, support, and mutual respect. We can’t wait to see what the filmmakers do next!