While We Still Have Time

I always knew I had a unique upbringing. Explaining to people that I had lesbian parents and a distant sperm donor father would always raise eyebrows. I can remember vividly being at a house party, expressing to a stranger my struggle to find inspiration for a narrative film. They took one look at me and said ‘Babe, you’ve already got your story. It’s your life story.’

When my Dad John was diagnosed with cancer later that year, I felt a pressing need to understand not just his life and the man he was, but the dreams he had, the challenges he faced and the wisdom he had accumulated over the years. Our time was limited.

And so, I set out on a journey to explore the intricate layers of my relationship with my enigmatic sperm donor father, whose story was largely unknown to me. In an attempt to get a better glimpse into his life I started to follow him everywhere with a camera, particularly inspired to explore his work during the AIDS crisis. I wanted to capture his dedication to educating younger generations about the AIDS pandemic and his passion for advocacy.

As I delved into his past, I discovered that this project had become an opportunity to reflect on my own experience growing up with same-sex parents. The film evolved into a dual journey: one of both understanding my father’s legacy, while embracing my own.

While We Still Have Time is a lasting record of our journey together and has deepened our relationship in ways I could never have anticipated - an invaluable and lasting gift. My hope is that this film can encourage audiences to reflect on those relationships in their own lives: ask questions, stay curious and embark on their own quest for connection - while you still have time.