We are proud to share that our new short film, She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley, will have its world premiere at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival on Saturday, August 9, as part of the 11–1 PM Shorts Block.

This film is more than a profile—it’s a statement about the leadership we need right now. At a time when voting rights, reproductive freedom, and fundamental civil liberties are under direct attack, She Dared to Dream offers a powerful and timely portrait of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, one of the most courageous, principled, and visionary voices in American politics. The film captures her unwavering fight for justice, from her early days as a survivor and advocate in Boston to her current role as a bold legislator leading the charge against extremist efforts like Project 2025. As the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, Pressley has never waited for permission to speak up or take action—she has consistently challenged systemic inequity with clarity, compassion, and conviction.

Directed by Abby Ginzberg (NAACP Image Award Winning Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power) and produced by Sabrina Schmidt Gordon (To the End, Seeds), the film reflects the urgency of this political moment and the need to spotlight women who are not just breaking glass ceilings, but reimagining the institutions themselves. Pressley’s work to expand access to abortion, defend Black maternal health, and protect vulnerable communities is part of a broader vision for justice, one rooted in lived experience and community power.

She Dared to Dream is the inaugural piece in a new short documentary series dedicated to telling the stories of barrier-breaking women of color in public life. The project brings together a deeply collaborative, intergenerational team of women filmmakers, impact producers, and storytellers committed to advancing equity through film. It is our belief that these portraits will not only educate and inspire, but create space for real engagement, across classrooms, community forums, policy roundtables, and beyond.

This film is in direct conversation with our ongoing work on Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power, a feature documentary that continues to have an enduring and growing impact. That film, now streaming on Amazon Prime and Kanopy, remains an essential lens on American democracy, following Barbara Lee’s decades-long fight for justice, equity, and peace. From her early days as a single mother on public assistance to her historic role as the only member of Congress to vote against the war in Afghanistan—and now, as the newly elected Mayor of Oakland—Barbara Lee’s legacy continues to resonate. The film is still being screened in classrooms, community spaces, and policy forums across the country, serving as both a teaching tool and a call to action. Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power is not just a film—it’s a living movement. And in She Dared to Dream, we carry that movement forward by lifting up the next generation of leaders who are shaping our political future with that same moral clarity and unwavering resolve.

We are honored to premiere She Dared to Dream at the 23rd Annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF)—a festival that has long been a force in spotlighting films that matter. For more than two decades, MVAAFF has been a vital platform for stories that push boundaries, challenge systems, and celebrate the fullness of Black life and culture. Its unwavering commitment to socially impactful filmmaking makes it one of the most important cultural gatherings of our time. To return to MVAAFF this year with She Dared to Dream—and to share space with fellow filmmakers, movement leaders, and audiences deeply committed to justice—is both a privilege and a homecoming. This is where powerful storytelling meets purpose. This is where change takes root.