Name: Boss Cat
Director: Genevieve Clay-Smith
Released: 2026
Duration: 99 min

Desperate for independence, Sonja discovers the vibrant world of krump dancing, where she embraces expressiveness, challenges social judgement and finds her people.

When her mother suddenly dies, Sonja (played by impressive newcomer Olivia Hargroder) is thrown into tumult. Dealing with early-twenties existential angst and a sense of responsibility for her teenage younger sister Emma (Julia Savage, Blaze, MIFF 2022), she has a lot on her plate. Suddenly under the care of her controlling grandma and – as a young woman living with Down syndrome – constantly faced with a society that judges what she’s capable of, Sonja is desperate to be herself and take charge of her own life. When a chance encounter with the charismatic Hakim (Elijah Williams, Home and Away) leads her to a krump class, Sonja discovers a life-changing outlet for expression.

Since her Tropfest-winning 2009 short Be My Brother, filmmaker Genevieve Clay-Smith has long been an advocate for stronger onscreen representation of people of diverse backgrounds and identities; her 2018 short Inclusion Makes the World More Vibrant effectively distils her mission statement in its title. Filled with energy, enthusiasm, optimism and a gentle dose of provocation, Clay-Smith’s debut fiction feature is a moving, empowering, feel-good Aussie film.

Writer/director Genevieve Clay-Smith and lead cast member Olivia Hargroder are guests of the festival and will be in attendance at both metropolitan sessions of the film.

The Saturday 22 August session of this film is sensory-friendly. All sessions of the film are open-captioned and audio-described, and the introduction and post-film Q&A for both metropolitan sessions will be Auslan-interpreted. More information about our Access offerings is available here.