You Don’t Have to Like Me
2025 NOMINEE - BEST NYC FILM
2023
United States
10 mins
Short Film Competition
| Safiyah Chiniere | |
| Trevania Layne | |
| Jalese Ayana (Masc Woman), Samuela John (Fem Woman) |
YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE ME delves into the harsh realities of a woman who presents as masculine, grappling with insecurities that threaten to consume her whole being. It captures the moments when disownment can lead to crippling self-judgment, when you feel like nothing more than a shadow of yourself. It’s a testament to the resilience, beauty, and strength of those who defy societal expectations, shedding light on the many facets of being a woman in a world that so often attempts to define and confine us.
About the Director
Safiyah Chiniere has a deep love for storytelling and filming. She uses film to amplify the stories and the voices of people of color, women and femmes. The specific space of Safiyah’s subject matter gives a firm footing to develop a visual style necessary to operate within the fertile interior spaces of these communities. It presents a stimulating approach to capturing the faces, bodies, and various expressions of intimacy all while maintaining wholehearted and sincere storytelling.
Interviews
Photos (Click on Photo to View)
