Tender (film)

Tender
Directed byFelicia Pride
Written byFelicia Pride
Produced byFelicia Pride
Regina Hoyles
StarringFarelle Walker
Trishauna Clarke
CinematographyLudovica Isidori
Edited byTess Karmann
Music byAsha Santée
Production
companies
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

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]

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. ^ a b c Stidhum, Tonja Renee (June 30, 2020). "Felicia Pride, on the 'Vulnerability, Sensuality, Softness and Hardness' of the Women in Her Short Film, Tender". The Root. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "New short film 'Tender' explores what happens after two women have one night stand". TheGrio. May 4, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Brabham, Mia (October 6, 2019). "Smashing Hollywood's Standards with Felicia Pride". Harness Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Sandoval, Lapacazo (October 8, 2020). "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 October 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Mangum, Trey (May 4, 2020). "'Tender' Explores Two Women And Their Intimate Morning After A One-Night Stand". shadowandact.com. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Wong-Shing, Kim (September 2, 2020). "27 Movies About Queer Women of Color You Can Stream Right Now". Glamour. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  7. ^ "Outfest Fusion Announces 2020 Lineup". BroadwayWorld. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  8. ^ "Seattle Black Film Festival 2020 celebrates its 17th year and goes online with screenings and events". The Seattle Times. July 9, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Cummings, Sinead (August 27, 2020). "'Miss Juneteenth' crowned BlackStar Film Festival winner". www.phillyvoice.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Nicole, Shelli (September 11, 2020). "Find Yourself In The Black Femme Supremacy Film Festival". Autostraddle. Retrieved September 21, 2020.