Blood Buddies (2022)

A nerdy pre-teen has a terrible feeling about her first time away from home at crafts camp - she's literally sick about it. So far, she hasn't got the classes she wanted, her tummy aches, her emotions are wonky, and her bestie dumps her for a new friend. Feeling abandoned and anxious, a few uncanny coincidences open her up to new possibilities. 'Blood Buddies' feels like a female version of 'Stand by Me' crossed with 'Mean Girls'. Enigmatic pre-teens who navigate the liminal space between nice and nasty, struggle to work through their transition into womanhood. It's alive to adolescent obnoxiousness but also to their capacity for empathy. This film is a sensitive, dramatic story about self-esteem and relationships - with touches of comic relief. It explores gender-based expectations to 'fit the norm', and encourages celebration and belonging during an emotionally challenging moment of puberty.