Filmmaker Statement

Ick! Unless you've been living under an internet-free rock, you've probably come across the term. It’s that sudden, visceral feeling of repulsion when someone you’re attracted to says or does something that instantly flips the switch to “oh absolutely not.” The first time I heard the word, I laughed... and then immediately remembered my first encounter with it. It’s a funny word, sure, but also a surprisingly potent one and the perfect lens for exploring the messy, shifting nature of desire. Ick is a dark comedy-drama about a teenage girl confronting the lies she’s been told about sex, the confusion of desire, and the painfully awkward experience of losing her virginity (plus a reminder not to fake your first orgasm). At its core, the film asks: What are we really teaching young women about sex? Anaïs begins to question what she wants, what she’s supposed to want, and what she’s allowed to say no to. The conversation around consent has come a long way, but real life is murkier.