The Grand Illusion

A group of over 30,000 conservative, Christian mothers in America, spread across the country but connected through private Facebook groups, help one another overcome the teachings of their churches and call themselves "mama bears"--because of how ferociously they fight for the civil rights of their children and the entire LGBTQIA+ community. Although they may have grown up as fundamentalist, evangelical Christians, mama bears are willing to risk losing friends, family, and faith communities to keep their offspring safe--even if it challenges their belief systems and rips their worlds apart.

MAMA BEARS is an intimate, thought-provoking exploration of the journeys taken by two "mama bears", Sara Cunningham and Kimberly Shappley, and Tammi Terrell Morris, a young lesbian whose struggle for self-acceptance perfectly exemplifies why the mama bears are so vitally important.

“The three families in Mama Bears provide a kaleidoscopic lens for understanding the tensions between faith, gender and sexuality.” Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

“Mama Bears, a new documentary by award-winning director Daresha Kyi, is a breath of fresh air at a time when it can feel especially hard for trans kids and their parents to breathe… a story of the transformative power of unconditional love we should all be reminded of, especially in dark times… a powerful film, full of humanity and heart.” Rachel Shatto, The Advocate