This month’s crowdfunding picks feature nuanced works by women directors looking to tell stories that don’t get told often enough. These picks examine family relationships, brazen female heroes, and the scary experience of starting out in a new place.

First up, there is “Dressed as Girl,” a teen drama about a girl who tries to fit in despite her religious beliefs and immigrant heritage. She finds friendship in the other outcasts in her new school. Another story that considers the experience of being torn between American culture and another is “Yemi’s Dilemma,” which will thrust its viewers into the world of three Nigerian-American sister. These sisters have to balance the needs of their traditional Nigerian family with the American culture they have come to identify with.

With your help, “No Man’s Land,” will add some much needed female voices to the horror film industry, as a supernatural western starring bounty hunting, gun-slinging Ree Cutter, who finds herself trapped by a stalking creature. And finally, the story of “Brian,” told through the eyes of his filmmaker sister Heather, will examine the person behind the autism and show those unexposed to the disease what life with autism can be like.

Here are May’s women-helmed crowdfunding picks:

“Dressed as Girl” — Directed by Anna Gordon
Directed by a graduate film student from Pace University, this drama follows young Fern Bush, who moves to a new neighborhood and attempts to fit in. Unfortunately, her Chinese heritage rubs the other kids the wrong way, until she meets Ontario, a moonlighting drag queen, and a young artist named Katrina. The trio develop a relationship that transcends boundaries — in the town’s gay bar. You can bring this heartwarming setup to fruition, by donating to the project’s Kickstarter page here until May 9.

“No Man’s Land” — Written and Directed by Robyn Watkins
This female powered horror film is a feature length supernatural western, set in a small dusty town. Heroine Ree Cutter wants to improve her little town, by doing as her father did — bringing in criminals with a bounty on their head. Ree’s work is interrupted when a predator stalks her, and she has to use her her upbringing on “guns and bullets” to survive. The horror film scene is notorious for its ill treatment of female characters, but you can be part of bringing an empowering horror film for women to production by donating on the Indiegogo page here until May 17.

“Yemi’s Dilemma “— Written and Directed by Sade Oyinade
Director Sade Oyinade is a senior producer on the TV One staples, “Unsung” and “Unsung Hollywood.” Oyinade’s crowdfunding project, “Yemi’s Dilemma,” is about three first generation Nigerian-American sisters whose American and Nigerian cultural habits collide — causing trouble in the family. The oldest sister, Yemi, is expected to marry a Nigerian man, but the decision she will make changes the family dynamics. Funds from this crowdfunding campaign will go to production and post-production fees, including equipment, wardrobe, actor and crew fees, and editing. This film could use your donations on the Indiegogo page here, before the campaign ends on May 6.

“Brian” (Documentary) — Directed by Heather Cassano

Filmmaker Heather Cassano chronicles the life of her brother Brian in this documentary, from his graduation onward. The film focuses on their sibling relationship and Brian’s life with autism. The film is shot from Cassano’s perspective, and aims to show her brother’s personality beyond the disability. This will be the first feature length film from this director, whose goal is to reach audiences who are unfamiliar with autism. The campaign is running on Kickstarter here until May 31.