BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY - Jacksonville Film Festival | BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - OUT at the Movies International Film Fest
Women's Issues • Masculine Women • Gender Identity • Feminism • Identity Expression • Bullying • Children & TeensDate of Completion: 2021 | Run Time: 35 minutes | Language: English with English subtitles | Captions: Yes | Directors: Keagan Anfuso and Drew L. Brown | Producers: Laura M. Blair, Keagan Anfuso, Drew L. Brown, Ray Wood & Anja Crowsby
THE GREY AREA is the story of Keagan Anfuso, a young adult female who is more masculine than feminine. Since birth, her life has been heavily affected by antiquated definitions and stereotypes of gender in oppressive, strange, comical, and terrifying ways. Throughout the film, Anfuso shares her fears and insecurities caused by bullying and gender stereotyping, as well as her unique and surprisingly simple perspective on her place in today’s culture. Featuring re-enactments of Anfuso's experiences and interviews with other masculine women, THE GREY AREA helps viewers understand gender expression and how to support children, teens and adults to be themselves.
Educational Media Reviews Online | Reviewed by Jarvis Sparks, Librarian, Media & Student Outreach, Langara College
"[The Grey Area] presents a valuable perspective for a broader discussion of gender and discrimination in a women’s studies, LGBT studies, or sociological context."
Stephens College | Steph Borklund, Professor of Film
"The Grey Area is a phenomenal film and a phenomenal classroom tool for teachers at any level of education. It clearly, candidly, and creatively lays out the struggle and triumph of women in the LGBTQ+ community. As a college professor I’m looking forward to showing this film to the students in my LGBTQ Cinema class. It is the perfect film for incoming Freshman and for DEI offices to use for campus training. The Grey Area is the perfect, positive message young students need to hear!"
Nadia Ramoutar, Ph D
"The Grey Area is a significant cinematic journey behind the rigid curtain of American gender norms. It illuminates the pain and suffering needlessly forced on people who don’t experience it as black and white. This film gives an essential voice to those who linger in the grey area and who deserve to be seen and treated with respect and embraced with compassion."
School Library Journal | Maggie Knapp
"The takeaway is that no one should be asked to sacrifice their sense of self to fit into society’s view of what “feminine” looks like. This documents the experiences of Anfuso and other gender nonconforming people, from middle school years through adulthood, in an accessible way."
AWARDS
Best Documentary Short | OUT at the Movies International Film Fest
Semi-Finalist - Documentary Short | San Francisco Indie Short Festival
Best Short Documentary | Jacksonville Film Festival
Best Documentary Short | Through Women's Eyes International Film Festival
School Library Journal's 18 Films for Young Viewers About Pollution, Native American History, and More
Reel Affirmations: Washington DC's International LGBTQ Film Festival
LA Femme International Film Festival
ImageOut Rochester LGBT Film Festival
The Women's Voices Now Online Film Festival
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival
OUTwatch, Wine Country's LGBTQI Film Festival
Women on a Roll