Director Jessica Rae Attending.
Based on director Jessica Rae’s own experiences growing up in Minneapolis, Raise Your Hand follows best friends Gia and Lila, two midwestern teens of color growing up and facing the challenges of youth. At once raw and honest, and capturing the vicissitudes of teenage life, Raise Your Hand is a vibrant, inspiring film.
Gia and Lila are lifelong friends balancing school and personal connections with their family, friends, boys and neighborhood, including the corrupt local police. Gia struggles to maintain her grades and sort through a tumultuous relationship with her mother and stepfather. She is encouraged to write a play about her life, and soon finds herself bringing her fellow students, and their experiences, together in what becomes a testament to their perseverance and the power of story.
Director Biography
Local filmmaker Jessica Rae holds an MFA from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television and a BFA in Theater Directing from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Her short films include “Soleil” (2007) and “Girl in Tank” (2012). Raise Your Hand (2021) is her debut feature.