Watch Kylie (2022), the intimate and moving documentary short film by Sterling Hampton IV. Discover the powerful & unforgettable true story that everyone is talking about.
🌺 Kylie (2022) — Documentary Short Film by Sterling Hampton IV
Some stories bloom quietly, but their impact is thunderous. Kylie 2022, directed by Sterling Hampton IV, is a documentary short that captures the life of a young woman navigating the intersections of identity, vulnerability, and strength. It’s a portrait of courage told through intimate visuals and heartfelt testimony.
This short documentary explores the experience of a Black ballerina navigating the ballet world while performing on the streets of Los Angeles.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Documentary / Biography 🎭
- Director: Sterling Hampton IV 🎬
- Runtime: ~5 minutes ⏱️
- Country: United States 🇺🇸
- Language: English
- Release: 2022 (festival circuit)
- Style: Intimate, observational, emotionally raw
Watch the short:
📖 Story in Brief
- The Subject: Kylie, a young woman whose life embodies both fragility and resilience.
- The Struggle: She confronts personal challenges — from health to identity — with honesty and vulnerability.
- The Journey: Through candid interviews and poetic visuals, the film traces her path toward self‑acceptance.
- The Resolution: Kylie’s story becomes a beacon of hope, showing that strength often hides in the quietest places.
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
- Close‑up intimacy: The camera lingers on Kylie’s expressions, gestures, and silences, making the personal universal.
- Minimalist storytelling: No grand spectacle — just raw honesty and lived experience.
- Visual poetry: Everyday settings (bedrooms, sidewalks, mirrors) become metaphors for inner landscapes.
- Tone: Gentle yet powerful, balancing vulnerability with empowerment.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
- Identity & selfhood: The courage to define oneself beyond external labels.
- Resilience: How vulnerability can transform into strength.
- Representation: Giving voice to stories often overlooked.
- Empathy: Inviting audiences to see Kylie not as subject, but as mirror.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Authentic storytelling: Kylie’s voice is central, unfiltered, and deeply human.
- 🎨 Visual intimacy: Makes small moments feel monumental.
- 🏆 Festival presence: Celebrated for its emotional resonance.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves viewers wanting more of Kylie’s journey.
- 🌀 Minimal narrative arc: Focuses on mood and testimony rather than plot.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Kylie is less about spectacle and more about presence. Sterling Hampton IV crafts a film that listens — to pauses, to laughter, to the weight of silence. Kylie’s story reminds us that resilience isn’t loud; sometimes it’s the quiet decision to keep going, to keep being, to keep loving yourself.
Key Personnel and Production
| Role | Name |
| Subject | Kylie Jefferson |
| Director / Producer / Editor / Colorist / Composer | Sterling Hampton IV |
| Cinematographer | Adam Shattuck |
| Camera Operators | Adam Shattuck & Sterling Hampton IV |
| Drone Operator | Joey Killeen |
| Executive Producer (Production) | Sterling Hampton IV |
| Production Company | Clash of The Artistic Minds |
| Executive Producers (LA Times Partnership) | Nani Walker & Leslie Lindsey |
| Associate Producer (LA Times Partnership) | Williamena Kwapo |
Festival Recognition
| Festival | Award / Recognition |
| Urbanworld Film Festival | Winner Best Short Documentary |
| Doc LA Film Festival | Winner Best Short Documentary |
| 1.4 Awards | Winner Silver |
| Sundance Film Festival | Nomination Best Short Documentary |
| American Film Institute / AFI Film Festival | Nomination Best Short Documentary |
| Official Latino Film Festival | Nomination Best Short Documentary |
| Tribeca Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Hot Springs Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Calgary International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Cleveland International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Philadelphia International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Chelsea Film Festival | Official Selection |
| San Luis Obispo Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Dances With Films Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Fargo Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Walla Walla Movie Crush Film Festival | Official Selection |
| LA Shorts Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival | Official Selection |
| LA Indie Film Festival | Official Selection |
🔍 Find More & Watch
- FilmFreeway listing — synopsis and festival details
- IMDb page for Kylie — credits and release info