The family unit is one of the foundational aspects of our society, so it’s no surprise that familial relationships are constantly explored in movies, books, and television. In some cases, family can be a source of support and love; in others, a source of pain and harm. In reality, most families fall someplace in between. For that reason, whether simmering in the background or playing out in the foreground, the complex connections between family members often make for ripe, relatable, and engaging material.

This round of crowdfunding picks is made up of projects that tackle the daunting subject of family through the lens of some of today’s most pressing issues. “We Came Forth” illuminates the struggles that accompany being related to someone who is severely depressed. “Malarkey” explores the challenge of leaving family behind and the close bond between sisters. Finally, “They” takes a highly personal look at the debate on gender-neutral parenting.

Here are Women and Hollywood’s latest women-created and women-centric crowdfunding selections.

“We Came Forth” (Short) – Written and Directed by Samantha Morris

According to the World Health Organization, 300 million people of all ages around the world struggle with depression, so the odds of knowing someone who battles the disorder are high. When that person is a close family member or friend, the stakes increase, and figuring out your role in aiding that person can pose a major challenge. “We Came Forth” grapples directly with this problem by taking a look at the relationship between two siblings.

The short film follows Hannah (Kit Zauhar) as she goes to a mental hospital to visit her younger brother, David (Paul Harrold), who struggles with severe depression and suicidal tendencies. When Hannah arrives at the hospital, she finds out that David has been put under high risk surveillance, and her attempts to help him are met with violent outbursts. As Hannah realizes that she might be the only person still trying to save David, someone who has become a virtual stranger to her, the choice between staying and leaving becomes one between deciding whose life is more important — hers or her brother’s.

Writer and director Samantha Morris navigates this heart-wrenching story with the dexterity and delicacy of someone who has had mental health struggles herself. After spending time in a mental hospital during high school, Morris began fearing that her younger siblings would end up in a similar place, fighting the same battles. In the Kickstarter director’s statement, she writes that “the question of whether or not one can stop another person from committing suicide has always been and will forever be a subject of heated debate.” Morris places her protagonist Hannah at the center of this debate, all the while challenging the tendency to glorify and inaccurately represent mental illness in film and television.

The script for “We Came Forth” was a finalist for numerous awards, including Best Short Screenplay at the 2017 Massachusetts Independent Film Festival and the 2017 Low Light Pictures International Screenplay Competition.

Support the Kickstarter campaign for “We Came Forth” here.

“Malarkey” (Short) – Written and Directed by Lindsay Allen

The prospect of leaving your family behind — whether it be to start college, a new job, or simply a new life venture — can often stir up complex emotions, particularly among siblings with close bonds. Leaving becomes even more challenging when you feel responsible for those you’re leaving behind. The question of putting your family above your own needs and desires is not a new one, but Lindsay Allen’s short film “Malarkey” aims to explore it from a more personal perspective.

“Malarkey” follows sisters Mallory and Mauve as the former prepares to graduate high school and ponders whether she should follow her dreams and escape her restrictive mother at an out of state college, even when that would entail leaving her sister behind. The situation is complicated by the fact that Mauve has Down syndrome, and Mallory feels strongly that she is her sister’s protector. As if that doesn’t sound complex enough, Mallory’s estranged father also works at the college she is considering, raising the issue of whether she should attempt a reconciliation. Though those are certainly hefty topics, the film’s Seed&Spark campaign promises to tackle them with dry humor and heart.

The story was inspired by Allen’s own experience having an older brother with Down syndrome, which sparked her desire to create an inclusive film that accurately portrays the disorder. In her director’s statement, she writes that part of her team’s goal was to “help make the film industry more inclusive for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” At the same time, “Malarkey” explores an issue with near-universal resonance: the daunting task of making big decisions about the future at a young age. What results is sure to be an emotional and thought-provoking film about how growing up may reconfigure the family unit in major ways.

Support “Malarkey” on Seed&Spark.

“They” (Short Documentary) – Directed by Louisa Rechenbach

Pink is for girls, blue is for boys. Or at least that’s what persistent marketing campaigns, abundant gender reveal videos, and general societal norms would have us believe. As discussions and criticisms of gender norms and unconscious gender bias have become more regular, so have conversations regarding how parents should raise their children — especially when they express their gender in a nonbinary way or come out as transgender. “They,” a short documentary by Louisa Rechenbach, grapples directly with these questions by following new parents Hobbit and Jake as they raise their child, Nush, completely gender neutral.

“When I think about Nush to be the sex that I know them to be, it changes my perception of who they are,” Hobbit says in the film’s Kickstarter campaign video. This is part of the reason why she and her partner have made the controversial decision to refuse to tell anyone their child’s biological sex and only use they/them pronouns. In doing so, they hope to allow Nush the freedom to express their gender freely, while also allowing themselves to get to know Nush’s personality without the pressure and influence of gender norms. It’s a rare and complex decision, to say the least.

Rechenbach’s film will allow viewers an inside look into Nush’s upbringing, building up to their first birthday party. Though parents like Hobbit and Jake are sure to attract outrage, that isn’t the intention behind the film. Instead, the film’s Kickstarter campaign explains that the filmmakers hope to explore “the efforts and beliefs of a family who challenges conventions and traditions.” By allowing people to see the dynamics of raising a gender-neutral child in an up-close and personal way, “They” will hopefully play a role in evolving our understanding of what it means to raise children free of gender expectations.

Contribute to the Kickstarter campaign for “They” here.

To be considered for Women and Hollywood’s biweekly crowdfunding feature, please write to womenandhollywoodinterns@gmail.com. All formats (features, shorts, web series, etc.) welcome. Projects must be by and/or about women.