In Amy Jenkins’ Adam’s Apple, she and her son, Adam Sieswerda, film constantly over the course of his transition, documenting minor and major moments as the family slowly replaces pronouns and expectations, and relationship dynamics evolve to reflect a key reality that has changed for them. It’s not always an easy process, but this film covers it all, ensuring that audiences have a chance to engage with the authentic people within it, particularly Adam as he is able to become the man he now knows he needs to be.
Awards Buzz spoke with Jenkins and Sieswerda about how this film came together as they began to look at the footage they had captured. From Sieswerda’s point of view:
“I knew from the second half of high school on that I wanted to contribute to a narrative and use the story that I had because I knew as a teenager, I wanted to see someone like me just growing up, and growing up with joy. But it wasn’t until we sat down in the actual editing process that we figured out what the story was going to be. For me, I was always just thinking about the joy and the vulnerability in stories that I wanted to watch as a younger trans person growing up, particularly with joy, I think, just watching people who look like you and who are like you grow with joy, even if it’s alongside struggle, shows you that your personhood is a very beautiful thing and not just one defined by tension. That was my motivating factor behind what I wanted to share and what I didn’t want to share.”
Watch the video to hear Jenkins’ take on a universal story about parents raising a teen who just happens to be trans and how Sieswerda feels things are now in terms of available cinema that shows trans joy.
Adam’s Apple makes its world premiere in the Documentary Spotlight at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival.
