Tender (film)

Tender (stylized as tender) is a 2020 debut short drama film written and directed by Felicia Pride. It follows two generation X Black women (portrayed by Farelle Walker and Trishauna Clarke) who have to deal with the morning after a one-night stand. The film premiered at 2020 Outfest Fusion and was released online on May 4, 2020. Tender received the Lionsgate/STARZ Short Film Award at the BlackStar Film Festival.[1]

Tender
The poster depicts two Black women with thick natural hair laying in bed and wearing pajamas. The woman on the left stares directly at the camera. The woman on the right is turned towards her partner, holding her close, and gazes up at her face.
Directed byFelicia Pride
Written byFelicia Pride
Produced byFelicia Pride
Regina Hoyles
StarringFarelle Walker
Trishauna Clarke
CinematographyLudovica Isidori
Edited byTess Karmann
Music byAsha Santée
Production
company
Felix & Annie
Distributed byVimeo
Release dates
  • 7 March 2020 (2020-03-07) (Outfest Fusion)
  • 4 May 2020 (2020-05-04) (Vimeo)
Running time
14 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The film "explores the dynamic between two women who take a dive into a complex morning after a simple one-night-stand."[2]

Cast
  • Farelle Walker as Kiana [3]
  • Trishauna Clarke as Lulu[3]

Production

Tender is Felicia Pride's directorial debut.[4][5] She stated that she hoped to capture "the power of the bonds between Black women"[2] and to depict Black joy and connection.[5]

Regina Hoyles was the producer and Ludovica Isidori was the cinematographer.[1] The film was produced by Felix & Annie, Pride's production company.[2] The company used Gofundme to fundraise for the film, and earned over $10,000 from their $5,000 goal.[3]

By September 2020, a feature film version of Tender was under development.[6]

Release

Tender premiered at 2020 Outfest Fusion.[7] It also showed at the Seattle Black Film Festival, the BlackStar Film Festival, and the 2020 American Black Film Festival.[8][9] On May 4, 2020, the film was released online on Vimeo and the release was featured on the Black diaspora film review website Shadow & Act.[2]

Critical reception

In a review for The Root, Tonja Renee Stidhum wrote, "It is a special salve to witness two Black women with total agency loving up on each other and providing adequate space for each other in a world that suffocates us."[1] Shelli Nicole wrote for Autostraddle, "It’s a look at the morning after, one not filled with regret and a quick escape but instead, one that becomes infinitely more intimate than the physical aspect of the night before."[10]

Awards

References
  1. Stidhum, Tonja Renee (2020-06-30). "Felicia Pride, on the 'Vulnerability, Sensuality, Softness and Hardness' of the Women in Her Short Film, Tender". The Root. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  2. "New short film 'Tender' explores what happens after two women have one night stand". TheGrio. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  3. Brabham, Mia (2019-10-06). "Smashing Hollywood's Standards with Felicia Pride". Harness Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  4. Sandoval, Lapacazo (2020-10-08). "Writer Felicia Pride steps behind the camera to direct her first short film "Tender" — a look at a woman's sexuality". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  5. Mangum, Trey (2020-05-04). "'Tender' Explores Two Women And Their Intimate Morning After A One-Night Stand". shadowandact.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  6. Wong-Shing, Kim (2 September 2020). "27 Movies About Queer Women of Color You Can Stream Right Now". Glamour. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  7. Desk, TV News. "Outfest Fusion Announces 2020 Lineup". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  8. "Seattle Black Film Festival 2020 celebrates its 17th year and goes online with screenings and events". The Seattle Times. 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  9. Cummings, Sinead (2020-08-27). "'Miss Juneteenth' crowned BlackStar Film Festival winner". www.phillyvoice.com. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  10. Nicole, Shelli (2020-09-11). "Find Yourself In The Black Femme Supremacy Film Festival". Autostraddle. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
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