We spend our lives dancing between the freedoms we recede and the freedoms we retain as we grow. Excited and afraid. The universal ‘coming of age’ story can lead us to a better understanding of identity, gender, race, and faith. Fables and fantasy allow us to approach subjects that trigger passionate debate, with grace, hope and a touch of the magical.

‘Submerge’ is set in a distant future, in a grounded fantasy world, and loosely inspired by the traditional Wampanoag story of Moshup – an ancient spirit who takes to the sea in the form of a whale. Filmed on Martha’s Vineyard, the ancestral lands of the Wampanoag, the island’s natural beauty eliminated the need for sets or special effects, revealing hidden locations off the beaten path that seem worlds away.

As both a writer and filmmaker, I’m drawn to genre films that use sharp eyes to examine our world – finding inspiration in the work of writer-directors like Jordan Peele, Mariama Diallo, or Rod Serling. What makes the ‘Submerge’ lens unique is that the examination is done through a framework of empathy and beauty. It is a poignant meditation for everyone embracing change in their life or creating space for the unknown within themselves.