Key Facts
Brazilian filmmaker Viviane D’Avilla’s documentary Let Us Be had its world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival on June 22, 2026. The film follows intersex individuals across the U.S., Brazil, and India, exposing the human rights crisis of non-consensual surgeries on intersex children and challenging rigid gender binaries.
Origin and Inspiration
D’Avilla’s journey began over a decade ago in India, where she met members of the Hijra community—a legally recognized third gender. Struck by the contrast between their sacred status and deep discrimination, she connected with intersex activist Gopi Shankar. Together, they traveled across India, leading to D’Avilla’s short film Gopi and a deeper urgency to portray intersex lives globally.
Subjects and Global Perspective
The documentary features Aanandh Rajappan (a Dalit intersex person in India), Hida Viloria (U.S. intersex activist), and Carolina Iara (first intersex elected official in Latin America). D’Avilla emphasizes that the intersex struggle is not just about geography or laws, but about how societies treat those who deviate from the norm.
Challenges in Telling Intersex Stories
D’Avilla notes that many intersex people are not ready to come out publicly, and there is widespread confusion between being intersex and transgender. This lack of understanding has led to few documentaries on the subject. She stresses the urgency of screening the film in the U.S., where LGBTQIA+ rights are under threat.
International Co-Production
Let Us Be is a U.S.-Brazil co-production between Dona Rosa and Social Construct Films. D’Avilla highlights the benefits of international collaboration for independent films, especially given Brazil’s limited funding. She insists on maintaining the film’s cultural identity while reaching global audiences.
FAQ
- What is 'Let Us Be' about? It's a documentary following intersex individuals in the U.S., Brazil, and India, highlighting their struggles against non-consensual surgeries and societal binaries.
- Who directed 'Let Us Be'? Brazilian filmmaker Viviane D’Avilla directed the documentary.
- Where did 'Let Us Be' premiere? It had its world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival.
- Why is the film relevant now? It addresses the urgent threat to LGBTQIA+ rights in the U.S., where intersex rights are being rolled back.