‘You Go Girl!’ Starring Tiffany Mann — Short Film Review
“You Go Girl!,” directed by Sundance alum Shariffa Ali and co-written by Ali, Kamilah Long and Courtney Williams, premiered in the Shorts Program at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. This marks Ali’s second year, as her debut virtual reality short ATOMU was an official selection at Sundance in 2020.
The 13-minute short narrative film follows Audrey (Tiffany Mann), a New York City comedian who can make a joke of any situation. After receiving devastating news, Audrey travels to the beautiful mountains of Oregon where she is faced with a staggering challenge.
Set in two contrasting locations — a comedy club and an Oregon trail — “You Go Girl!” tells the story of a woman on a quest to overcome her physical and emotional struggles. Tiffany Mann takes full command of Audrey as a comedian conquering the stage as she works towards her big break; and as a woman conquering her fears out in the mountains following a major loss. Audrey’s inner journey is powerfully familiar and reflective of reality.
The film balances comedy and grief with nuanced specificity. Ali uses humor, fear, vulnerability, loss, peace and the beauty of a natural environment to express a poignant message — one that we can all benefit from. “You Go Girl!” celebrates Black mothers, life, healing, and self-discovery.
In speaking about the project, Ali notes: “This film began as a love letter to my mom – all her passion, quirks, and resilience. Throughout the pandemic, it has morphed into therapy. Black women are fierce. We care for each other deeply. We belong everywhere. Amid such trying times, You Go Girl! is an affirmation for us – less an escape into the outdoors and more a spiritual journey to celebrate our Black mothers. My hope is that everyone may use Audrey’s humor as medicine. Relish the peace and beauty of Nature. Embrace joy through heartbreak. Let this film be an elixir of healing.”
Shariffa Chelimo Ali is an international creative leader committed to advancing radical change through the power of art and activism. Originally from Kenya and raised in South Africa, Ali has been a resident of New York since 2013 where she works primarily as a director of theater, film, and VR (previous Sundance Selection Atomu), community organizer and professor at Princeton University.
Director: Shariffa Ali
Screenwriter: Shariffa Ali, Kamilah Long, Courtney Williams
Performer: Tiffany Mann
Producer: Adrian Alea, Courtney Williams, Kamilah Long
Executive Producer: Nataki Garrett, Adrian Alea, Shariffa Ali
Director of Photography: Tyler Maddox
Editor: Selinda Zhou
Production Designer: You-Shin Chen
Original Score: Elu Eboka
Sound Designer: Eric Raber
Colorist: Marika Litz
Consulting Producer: Gary Kout
Principal Cast: Tiffany Mann
