Say My Name

Looking into the depth of the uniqueness of identity through the meanings in our names is a profound way to highlight our collective humanity and how vital it is to honor out ancestors by saying the names in the native way.

The short film offers a platform for people of different ethnic backgrounds to express all the meaning behind their names and how much rich history and culture they carry. It's a beautiful example of embracing identity and taking pride in where they come from. Without demanding it, the film is successful in its message of how important and humbling it is to say your name the way it was meant to be said.

And there's no greater away to see a human being than to start with their name. It's such a simple act, yet forces humanity to connect and be vulnerable. That's simultaneously what makes it the hardest. Mariam Meliksetyan navigates this balance with such specificity and purpose. She connects humanity by grounding it in ancestral roots and promotes empathy by bringing identity back to the core of self love. We need more authentic stories like this if we are going to find healing across barriers and more brave young filmmakers like Meliksetyan. This is a short that will have a profound and lasting positive impact.