As a young filmmaker comes of age, she unearths stories of sexual assault experienced by her mother, her peer group, and eventually herself. Along the way, she meets survivors, perpetrators, and experts. Together, they explore the gray areas of sex, power, and consent: seeking to break cycles of harm and uncover radical possibilities for healing.
Coming soon!
With raw vulnerability and multifaceted perspectives, Watch You Rise envisions a future where youth voices lead the way in reshaping how we approach sex education, justice, and healing, creating a culture of accountability and care.
Youth face many barriers to receiving accurate, inclusive education about sexual intimacy, consent, and abuse. A lack of information, combined with rampant misuse of power, fuels cycles of harm, breeds shame, fear, and trauma, and leaves young people without essential tools they need for protection and equality.
Every 56 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, a reality that drives home the urgency we face today in the realm of sexual education through advocacy, coalition building, and policy.
THE TALK, ACTUALLY Impact Campaign
The WATCH YOU RISE social impact campaign, THE TALK, ACTUALLY is a grassroots movement organized by young people for young people who are starting conversations that change the culture around sex, consent, relationships, and power. We teach others to do the same.
We have the ability to work outside the system and stop harm head-on. Growing up in a digital culture saturated with sex but lacking in real information on how to navigate it, is why we are the most vulnerable.
We will pursue these goals through the following key strategies: youth-led screenings + discussion guide, online social media campaign, legislative advocacy, and permanent website resource.
Team
Isabella Grace Cohn is the director, co-writer, and a producer. Other producers are Elizabeth Woodward, alongside Marina Hunt at WILLA, an award-winning production and distribution company nominated for Oscars and Emmys and honored with a Social Impact Media Award.
Indya Moore (Ryan Murphy's POSE), Dr. Annie Farmer (Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell survivor), Mary Recine (LIFT, JOAN DIDION: THE CENTER MUST HOLD), and Judith Helfand (Oscar-Nominated CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS) are Executive Producers.
Maria Marrone (Slamdance Award Winner THE RITUAL TO BEAUTY) is the editor and co-writer. Roger Neill (20TH CENTURY WOMEN) is the composer, Danae Gosset created the animation, and Jake White (EUPHORIA - S2) is our colorist. Bassel Al-Rahim and Gisela Fulla Silvestre (MIJA, IT'S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL) did our sound design, and Rabab Haj Yahya (Emmy-nominated ANOTHER BODY, Sundance premiere COEXISTENCE MY ASS) was our consulting editor.
Amanda Lebow (CAA Documentary Specialist and Distribution Strategist) is our sales agent and representative.
RAINN, YWCA USA (specific to Week Without Violence), some YWCA chapters, I Have The Right To, EducateUS, and Trump Epstein Memorial Reading Room are our partners. Dr. Andrea Foot is our film and impact campaign’s psychological and ethics advisor.
Director Isabella Cohn’s TEDx talk 2024