Maine Girls

A film by Yael Luttwak and Abigail Tannebaum Sharon

Maine Girls explores the important role that young people play in bridging cultural divides. How do you build trust and empathy among teenage girls who have grown up in places as geographically and culturally diverse as Somalia, Vietnam, and suburban Maine? You start with music, food, dance, and meaning-filled conversation. The feature documentary film follows 13 immigrant and non-immigrant girls participating in an innovative health program. Over eight weeks, they learn what it takes—and what it means—to make genuine friendships and lead by example.

With one million immigrants making their home in the U.S. annually, immigrant students are entering public schools in record numbers. Maine Girls explores this demographic shift brought the lives and experiences of young women from the Congo, Jamaica, Somalia, Vietnam, and Maine. Considered the “whitest” state in the nation, Maine offers a fitting backdrop for a film that takes place during the most anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim period in recent U.S. history.

The 2016 U.S. presidential election and recent terrorist attacks have fueled mistrust, fear, and violence against recent immigrants. Maine Girls illuminates how divided we are as a nation, while offering inspiration and concrete steps for healing. Post-screening Q&A with Maine Girls Co-Director Yael Luttwak and Co-Producer Sheila Kinkade.