Hi! We are Monica and Annika, long-time friends from high school who hold differing roles in their family. Monica is the youngest, while Annika is the oldest -- and this story is shaped and informed by these two perspectives. Although we both have different birth orders, we encounter the same restrictions of expectations of the roles we are supposed to swallow - namely within familial birth order and gender binaries.

Logline: Two young siblings get ready for their father’s anniversary church service under the tensions and boundaries of their household.

Impact:
At the core of the story, it's about siblinghood, belonging, and finding solace and solidarity in our relationships with our siblings and family.

We believe that these are themes that resonate universally, and we hope to be able to connect with anyone who has ever felt restricted by societal expectations.

Where you come in:
Making a short film is expensive! We need funds to pay our hardworking crew, wonderful talent, locations, crafty, production design, equipment/gear, etc. With your help, we'll be able to cover a big portion of these costs.

Timeline:
Production Mid-April
Post Production May-August
Festival Circuit September

Of everything that I am in this world, my favorite thing to be is a little sister. I bury myself deep into this title because nothing makes me feel safer. I’m not sure if my siblings could say the same though.

There are a lot of responsibilities that older siblings are forced to shoulder. I hold immense gratitude for their unspoken guidance and character blueprint. I am who I am because of who my brother is. This film is written with these feelings in mind. It’s a deep ode to all the older siblings out there, especially mine.

Annika Olives, eldest sibling
My mom says that I was born an adult. Perhaps my soul already understood the gravity of being not only the oldest child, but the first grandchild on both sides of my family. “Ate”—older sister in Tagalog—is the role I was destined for. 

I’ve always been plagued by the need to set a good example for my brother and cousins. But, like this film shows, with the heavy burden comes the heavier blessing. Nothing makes me happier than family—to watch these babies grow up, create minds of their own, and achieve their greatest dreams.