| Tender | |
| Director: | Felicia Pride |
| Producer: | Felicia Pride Regina Hoyles |
| Starring: | Farelle Walker Trishauna Clarke |
| Music: | Asha Santée |
| Cinematography: | Ludovica Isidori |
| Editing: | Tess Karmann |
| Studio: | Felix & Annie |
| Distributors: | --> |
| Runtime: | 14 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Tender (stylized as tender) is a 2020 debut short drama film written and directed by Felicia Pride. It follows two generation X Black women (portrayed by Farelle Walker and Trishauna Clarke) who have to deal with the morning after a one-night stand. The film premiered at 2020 Outfest Fusion and was released online on May 4, 2020. Tender received the Lionsgate/STARZ Short Film Award at the BlackStar Film Festival.[1]
The film "explores the dynamic between two women who take a dive into a complex morning after a simple one-night-stand."
Tender is Felicia Pride's directorial debut.[2] She stated that she hoped to capture "the power of the bonds between Black women"[3] and to depict Black joy and connection.[4]
Regina Hoyles was the producer and Ludovica Isidori was the cinematographer. The film was produced by Felix & Annie, Pride's production company. The company used Gofundme to fundraise for the film, and earned over $10,000 from their $5,000 goal.[5]
By September 2020, a feature film version of Tender was under development.[6]
Tender premiered at 2020 Outfest Fusion.[7] It also showed at the Seattle Black Film Festival, the BlackStar Film Festival, and the 2020 American Black Film Festival.[8] On May 4, 2020, the film was released online on Vimeo and the release was featured on the Black diaspora film review website Shadow & Act.
In a review for The Root, Tonja Renee Stidhum wrote, "It is a special salve to witness two Black women with total agency loving up on each other and providing adequate space for each other in a world that suffocates us." Shelli Nicole wrote for Autostraddle, "It’s a look at the morning after, one not filled with regret and a quick escape but instead, one that becomes infinitely more intimate than the physical aspect of the night before."[9]