How Luchina Fisher’s Award-Winning Trans Rights Short Became A Dwyane Wade-Produced Critical Sensation

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Despite a recent rise in conservative viewpoints in the U.S. that threatens the safety and rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, many are finding support and connection with one another. Luchina Fisher, the director of “The Dads” – a film that previously won her a Daytime Emmy in 2023 – debuted a new documentary at South By Southwest to showcase how families are responding to increasing prejudice nationwide.

Fisher’s short film gained attention after premiering at SXSW and was quickly picked up by Netflix. It highlighted the strong bond between fathers of transgender children who attended a nature retreat. This success led them to continue the retreats annually, build a larger community, and establish a foundation to support families with gender-expansive children – a concept Fisher discusses in detail. Now, Fisher is back with a new film that offers a deeper look at the families featured in The Dads and the challenges they’re currently facing after the recent election.

Brynn Fisher visited ScreenRant at SXSW to talk about the inspiring story of The Dads. The film started as a short, filmed in just one weekend, and grew into a full documentary with support from basketball star Dwyane Wade. Fisher also discussed how the changing political climate influenced her work on the film, and how seeing the film has inspired new people to offer their support.

The Dads: A Journey From Short To Feature Film

ScreenRant: Did you sit through your premiere screening? How did it feel?

I’ve heard some directors don’t sit through entire films, so having Dwyane Wade – our executive producer – and nine fathers flown in from around the globe, I really wanted to be present with them while they watched. The atmosphere was incredible – so much warmth, emotion, and even tears. It was exactly the feedback I needed.

ScreenRant asked about the origins of the project, noting it began as a short film two years prior that earned an Emmy award. They wanted to know what inspired its creation and how the idea first came about.

My first feature film was Mama Gloria, a story about a mother’s love. I had been working with these families, and in 2020, before the pandemic began, I was at an LGBTQ youth conference where I overheard Dennis Shepherd, Wayne Maines, and Frank Gonzales planning a trip – it might have been for hunting or fishing.

I was struck by the idea of these fathers venturing into the wilderness and then supporting LGBTQ+ youth – it felt like a powerful story. I proposed joining them and documenting their journey. We filmed it over a weekend in 2022 with a small crew – just five dads of transgender children and Dennis Shepherd – and kept it low-key.

We premiered that film here in 2023, and the next day, Netflix called!

ScreenRant: Amazing. Has it ever happened that quickly for you?

When asked if she expected the film to gain so much attention, Luchina Fisher chuckled and said, “That’s the answer!” They’d already received some interest before the festival, but her main goal was to make the 11-minute short film available to as many people as possible, especially viewers in Middle America. So, when Netflix contacted them, she knew it would reach a global audience. The response far surpassed anything they had hoped for, and Netflix was the ideal platform. Plus, they even brought Dwyane Wade on board!

ScreenRant asked: Who initially suggested expanding the project into a complete documentary, and what led to that decision?

Luchina Fisher explained that Stephen Chukumba, featured in the short film, sparked a larger movement. The film resonated with fathers, creating a sense of connection and community. This led them to create a foundation, organizing retreats and outreach to other dads nationwide. Ultimately, the film helped fathers connect with each other, understand themselves better, and find ways to better support their children.

I actually received the Daytime Emmy while a group of dads were meeting in Maine for their second retreat, which was really sweet. They were all watching the awards show by the fireplace, hoping I’d win. Dwyane Wade and I then sent them a quick video message. Luckily, Steven had thought ahead and brought a camera crew, and he shared the footage with me. Seeing it, I decided to get involved again and we started filming to see what we could create.

Initially, we were focusing on documenting family life and meeting the children involved. However, the political climate shifted, and our project took on a new, more pressing direction. We realized we needed to finish the film quickly, and thankfully, Dwyane Wade continued to support us from the start.

The Dads Is Meeting The Current Political Moment To Safeguard Children’s Futures

ScreenRant asked how the creators of The Dads managed to address rapidly changing circumstances in the show, given that some of those changes happened during production.

As a film buff, I found something really compelling in Luchina Fisher’s account. It sounds like Frank first hinted at needing to leave the country during a retreat – they were all opening up about their fears, and he specifically voiced a worry about potentially having to flee. That idea seemed to stick with him, and when the election results came in and these guys connected on Zoom, it became obvious he’d already made the decision to go. It felt like the election just confirmed what he already knew he had to do.

That’s when we really zeroed in on supporting the families involved, but it was tough when Frank had to step back a bit. We made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable during filming – whatever they needed, we were there. Ultimately, we all agreed it was important to keep going and document what was happening.

ScreenRant asked about the considerations made regarding how much of the children from these families to show publicly. Specifically, they wanted to know what discussions took place about protecting the children, taking into account factors like their age, how well-known they are, and whether the families were choosing to leave the country.

Absolutely. We’re talking about children as they grow up, and we all want them to succeed and be happy. We understand we’re documenting a specific time in their lives, but we don’t want that single moment to be all they’re known for. That’s why it was important to focus on the fathers’ experiences while also respecting the children’s privacy.

Hobbes has surprisingly become a fan favorite in the film. People seem to connect with him because he’s portrayed as a relatable, down-to-earth college student – someone who’s comfortable just being himself, enjoying fraternity life, and staying true to who he is. I think that authenticity is a key part of why the character resonates with audiences.

I noticed the show used the term “gender expansive” rather than “gender non-conforming.” Since language around gender identity is constantly changing, especially within LGBTQ+ communities, could you explain what “gender expansive” means to those who prefer that term?

Luchina Fisher believes the term ‘expansive’ is a better way to describe this concept than ‘non-conforming.’ She feels ‘expansive’ has a more positive and inclusive meaning, focusing on what something is rather than what it isn’t. Having observed changes in language during her own experiences raising her child, she’s pleased with this term because it feels comprehensive and welcoming.

Next Steps For Allies & Luchina Fisher Herself

If people learn about or watch The Dads and want to support the message, what simple actions can they take right away?

Luchina Fisher suggests starting with the short video if you’re short on time—it’s only 11 minutes long and shares powerful messages from fathers. The full video also highlights a partnership with the Ali Forney Center, a major organization helping LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness. This illustrates what happens when young people lack support from their families or other caring adults.

Even if you don’t personally know anyone who is transgender or LGBTQ+, you can still be a supportive ally. A great example of this is seen in ‘The Dads,’ who demonstrate how to learn and support others. Their journey wasn’t about having all the answers right away, but about being open-minded and willing to learn along the way.

Finally, can you share what projects you’re currently developing? What subjects are you planning to cover next?

Luchina Fisher is working on a project called ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ that explores the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ artists to American music. The project highlights how these artists have been central to shaping the sound of American music, despite often not receiving the recognition or celebration they deserve. Fisher believes it’s time to finally acknowledge their important role.

Billy Porter is involved in the project, and we’ve received funding from PBS. We’re revisiting a project called PitchBlack, which we were awarded for in 2023, and I’m aiming to complete it this year.

I was so excited to see “The Dads” premiere at SXSW on March 14th! If you’re interested in learning about future showings, where you can watch it, or how to support the important work they do, you can find everything you need at The Dads Foundation.

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2026-03-18 20:15